White Kilt Hose

[Kilted Karl]

Dear All,

Long ago there lived an evil Scotsman. He wore a kilt that reached FAR below his knees and a flatcap (sometimes a pith helmet). His name was Dr. White Hose. Deep in his castle he concocted an insidious plan to cover the world with white-kilt-hose-wearing people. Many years later his plan has almost succeed....

At least this is the story I have been able to piece together from my travels around X marks the Scot.

I was wondering if some of you might be able to elucidate about white kilt hose as well as other little known (at least among newbies) peculiarities of Scottish dress?

Thank you very much, and...er... did I get the story wrong?

Your Obedient Servant,

Karl

[Ryan Ross]

First off, I'm pretty sure you got the story right.

Secondly, as near as any of us can tell, the white hose thing got started by the kilt rental companies, when they realized that they didn't want to stock a bunch of different colors of hose, and that white was the only color that would technically go with any tartan (though it looks good with almost none, to most eyes).

One thing that I've noticed in the last few years is that I'm really starting to not like the look of a sporran chain, save for really formal occasions and when the chain is of a very high quality. I think a plain leather strap almost always looks better (and is better for the health of the kilt). Just one of those random personal taste things that isn't in the rule books anywhere.

Not really sure why everyone hates the flatcap so much; I guess because it doesn't seem to culturally mesh... but I'll admit to wearing a ball cap most of the time, whether kilted or no, so...

[Spartan Tartan]

I believe the flatcap is stylistically British, rather than Scottish. It is for this reason that I understand the negative feelings toward the flatcap exists--or so I am led to understand. Persnally, I have no problem with them.

As to kilt length, I think you will find that is really more of what makes each person comfortable. I am sure you will get a lot of opinions across the board

[MacMillans son]

I believe the flatcap is stylistically British, rather than Scottish. It is for this reason that I understand the negative feelings toward the flatcap exists--or so I am led to understand. Persnally, I have no problem with them.

As to kilt length, I think you will find that is really more of what makes each person comfortable. I am sure you will get a lot of opinions across the board

As far as I know, the Scots are British I understand the issue to not be about the flat cap itself, as many Scots are known to wear them, ...just not with the kilt.

I too may be corrected though.

[xman]

As far as I know, the Scots are British

And as far as I know, you're a Yank. Perspective is everything.

[macwilkin]

Post deleted. Didn't see the .

T.

[hkjrb623]

As far as I know, the Scots are British I understand the issue to not be about the flat cap itself, as many Scots are known to wear them, ...just not with the kilt.

I too may be corrected though.

Never say that in a Scottish pub. Those are fighting words.

[Jock Scot]

As far as I know, the Scots are British I understand the issue to not be about the flat cap itself, as many Scots are known to wear them, ...just not with the kilt.

I too may be corrected though.

That is pretty much how it is.

Like any form of civilian clothing that is worn in the free world it is down to the individual to choose how, when and what he wears and if he , in the kilt's case, chooses to ignore traditions, conventions, aesthetics and even other people's thoughts and advice then there is really little more to be said. Other than, on occasion, you will stick out like a sore thumb in the kilted crowd and that may ,or may not, affect your enjoyment and thinking.

The real trick, skill even, is to dress within the basic guidlines and still have the personal flair, yes satisfaction too, that avoids the peas in the pod look and does not offend either the eye, or others. In the end though, the choices are down to the individual to make.

[Spartan Tartan]

As far as I know, the Scots are British I understand the issue to not be about the flat cap itself, as many Scots are known to wear them, ...just not with the kilt.

I too may be corrected though.

Touché

[Phil]

I always enjoy a good white hose 'rammy'* (as we say in this part of the world) and this opportunity to round off the year is not one to be missed. Not coming from a background where your dress was prescribed by a written code and where even your very thoughts were regimented in a particular direction, I have had the luxury of forming my own choices as to what I wear and how I wear it. White, although not strictly defined to be a colour, is, nevertheless, generally regarded as such. That any one individual should then decide that one particular colour from the spectrum of shades available must on no account be worn surely belies belief but that is the fact that we all must face.
I think we all now know that old story about the kilt-hire companies foisting white hose upon us as a cheap option, although I do recall kilt-hire in the 1960's coming with tartan hose (and a shoulder plaid). The only assumption I can make from this is that wearing white (or off-white) hose smacks to the beholder as the wearer being a cheapskate who can't afford his own outfit and that the beholder may condescendingly look down upon such a tainted individual in the way that such snobs have done since time immemorial. We can imagine stone age man looking down upon his neanderthal neighbour because the animal skin wrapped around him was too short or some other feature allowed him to feign superiority over another human being. It is human nature after all - Burns wrote of it in 'The man's a man for a that' and everyone will have experienced it at some time or another.
I think what I am trying to say is that every individual should have the freedom to make their own choices as to how they dress and that no-one has the right to criticise their choice provided that it does not offend the generally accepted standards of decency within society. I can well imagine the type of reaction certain individuals might display at someone in white hose not being 'one of us' or 'who let the hoi-polloi in' but that is a deficiency in their character and outlook and not one I could ever espouse. So there you have it

*rammy (Scots) - a free-for-all, a disturbance, scuffle