Hose Suggestions

[imbrius]

Since I got my first pair of House of Cheviot hose at a Highland Games last year, I've become convinced that anything else just won't do.

Since then I've acquired

• Lewis in Navy
• Clansman Argyll-top in Ancient
• Rannoch in Blue Lovat
• Rannoch in Ochre
• Rannoch in Burgundy

I figured ochre for outdoor or informal daywear, navy and burgundy for formal daywear, and blue lovat and Argyll-top ancient (hose leg is ancient green) for evening wear.

I found that I like the patterned-top hose I've seen in some older photos here. HoC makes a line called Chequers that I really like the look of. Can anyone else suggest models / colours? I find that I like bright colours for outdoor wear (hiking, games, etc.) and darker colours for daywear in the office. Since I own neither diced evening hose nor full Argyll hose, I've been sticking to ancient/lovat self-coloured hose for evening wear since those are colours in my kilt.

[Pleater]

It sounds like an expensive infatuation - I have been making my own hose for quite some time - over 50 years now, and there is nothing to beat a perfectly fitting pair of socks - particularly at the end of a long day, providing they are worn inside perfectly fitting boots of course.

Have you thought of making your own fancy tops to add to plain hose?

Anne the Pleater

[imbrius]

It sounds like an expensive infatuation - I have been making my own hose for quite some time - over 50 years now, and there is nothing to beat a perfectly fitting pair of socks - particularly at the end of a long day, providing they are worn inside perfectly fitting boots of course.

Have you thought of making your own fancy tops to add to plain hose?

Anne the Pleater

I've thought if it but I can't sew. I tried to repair an old leather hat once and the stitching was so uneven.

[imbrius]

Claret is a good suggestion for outdoor wear. I just got that one from perusing the forums.

[Father Bill]

Claret is a good suggestion for outdoor wear. I just got that one from perusing the forums.

Claret also goes really well with cheese and crackers!

[imbrius]

Claret also goes really well with cheese and crackers!

Aye! Indeed it does!

[Pleater]

I've thought if it but I can't sew. I tried to repair an old leather hat once and the stitching was so uneven.

No need for sewing - or if you decide to do some, it can be hidden from view during wear.

Anne the Pleater

[kingandrew]

If you do a search on "shooting socks" you will find a wide array of fancy top designs are available. HoC makes a line of shooting socks, but there are many other brands on the market who also offer colorful designs, generally in colorways that will complement any tartan or tweed ensemble.

I agree that House of Cheviot makes wonderful socks, but I do enjoy my shooting socks from other makers, as well.

I have also seen just fancy tops for sale before. Sometimes these are diced tops for pipers to wear sticking up above their spats. I believe the Tartan Museum in NC used to offer a line of patterned hose tops, but I don't know if these are still available.

And if you are collecting kilt hose, the full diced or argyle models, while far from cheap, are basically equivalent to the price of a couple of single-hue pairs. so it might be worth saving up, if you desire them for formal wear.

Happy hunting!

Andrew

[Jock Scot]

For what it is worth, after a rather long lifetime of wearing shooting hose with kilt attire and kilt hose for shooting and vice versa and from all kinds of establishments from the ultra smart shop in Bruton St., London, to the humble stall at a country show and I wear them a lot and give them a hard time. Before I go on let me make it quite clear that I have absolutely no connection whatsoever to any commercial, or otherwise, hose making business anywhere in this world.

There are two hose making firms in my experience that shine head and shoulders above all the others. Yes for certain sure, there will be hose made by some companies and individuals that I have not tried, but I think that I may well have tried most! House of Cheviot and the Almost Unwearoutable Sock Company are in my experience, the two shining lights in the kilt hose and shooting hose worlds , for comfort and hard wearing abilities whilst looking pretty damn good to boot.

Make no mistake, even these will fail before time if not treated properly. The trick if you want them to last and this holds true with all kilt hose and shooting socks with a wool content, is "wear once and wash" GENTLY IN WARM WATER AND A GENTLE SOAP (powder or liquid), if you do that then life is, well, less expensive that way!