Checked Hose... when??

[Grae]

I do not go to many formal black tie events, I even gave my Tuxedo/Dinner suit away. So If I was one to follow these " rules" about checked hose being only for formal I would never wear them, but how come they became just for formal, in the old days people wore them if they had them in the day and not just for formal events. I actually think they look more casual than formal and if I could afford it I would have some made up but they are many times more expensive than normal hose. BTW your hose look great and the blue and white are very suitable to my eye for day wear love the Erracht Cameron kilt which the blue in the hose sets off well . I am of the school that says if you can look you best you may as well do so and these hose are crying out to be worn and admired and of course by wearing them you encourage others to wear checked hose when not attending formal events or better still encourage their loved ones to knit them a pair!

[Calgacus]

Firstly I think they look great, and I think the fact that they are quite thick lends them to day wear rather well.

I think the modern limitation of diced, checked or tartan hose to formal wear comes from cost and the kilt hire industry. There was a time not so long ago where the (vast?) majority of men attending black tie occasions and weddings would have rented their kilts. Hygene dictates that the hirer buys the hose, and so it is pretty much a given that they are going to buy plain hose rather than the much more expensive patterned varieties to go with their rented kilt. Attendees to white tie events are much more likely to move in the sorts of social circles where they regularly attend formal events of all types, and are therefore more likely to have invested in their own kilt attire including patterned hose.

Personally, I'd like to see patterned hose worn more often.

Just my take on it.

[Jock Scot]

Wonderful hose but IMHO only appropriate in the 21st Century for formal wear: black tie, white tie and perhaps a very posh morning-dress do. You just need to be attending more formal events.

Splendid hose to be sure, but I too go with the idea of a more formal event to see them to best advantage.

[Spartan Tartan]

Those are great looking hose! Personally, I do not have any diced (or otherwise similar) hose. But if I did, I would wear them as often as I could! Probably not with a t-shirt, but I would certainly wear them with smart daywear and not reserve them for black-tie or other such events.

[Tobus]

Being hand knit, there is a certain rustic quality to the hose that would make them well-suited for day wear (not excluding more formal occasions). Wear them whenever you can.

While tradition may say that diced hose are suited only for formal events, I tend to agree with JohntheBiker on these. They do have a rustic quality to them that is reminiscent of mid-19th century patterned hose. Especially with the edging of the cuff (not being a double turn-over). I think they would look great for smart daywear, although they'd still be a tad over-the-top for casual wear.

[IsaacW]

WPG stands for What Price Glory, they make reproductions of military kilts as well as other military gear, here is the website

http://www.whatpriceglory.com/shopdi...=150&cat=KILTS

Interesting. I was not aware of them. Mine I got off a rack of ex-military and ex-hire kilts in Edinburgh. It was on Princes Street but I do not recall the name. I may have it written down as I did keep a journal during that semester abroad.

IW