Imperfect match between tartan and kilt hose?

[RichardtheLarge]

Would you wear an imperfect color match between tartan hose and your kilt tartan? I’m looking at some of Cheviot’s ready made kilt hose, but they would effectively be adding colors that aren’t present in my kilts (adding black or white lines in the argyle pattern when the kilts have no black or white, for example). Otherwise, the color palettes work pretty well. I’m just having trouble justifying $200-300+ for a single pair of custom hose.

Would you wear kilt hose that are in a modern color scheme with a kilt in an ancient color scheme, or vice versa? Or would you call this too much of a palette clash? Thanks to the rabble in advance.

[Father Bill]

I think you're over-thinking and over-worrying on this.

Two concepts: 1) Utter contrast, or, 2) "tone in".

Go with mustard yellow even if there's no match, or something that might be "reminiscent" of the colours of the kilt. There is absolutely no Highland tradition that I can find of matching colours.

My personal favourites? For formal, my black and white diced hose. For everything else, darkish green, claret, bison, or utter chaos.

[Steve Ashton]

I'm one of the weird ones. I don't use the colors of my Tartan to pick my hose.
I like my Tartan to stand out from the rest of my outfit. I let the Tartan stand on its own.

So I pull a shirt out of my closet. I have more shirts than I do kilts.

I then go to my drawer and find a pair of hose that color coordinate with my shirt.

Then I put my kilt on. It does not really matter what Tartan I choose. If the rest of my outfit is coordinated the whole outfit works.

As an example I offer -



There is no brown in this Tartan at all.



There is only a thin black line in this Tartan.

Thinking like this opens up all sorts of possibilities in picking an outfit.

[Terry Searl]

Would you wear an imperfect color match between tartan hose and your kilt tartan? I’m looking at some of Cheviot’s ready made kilt hose, but they would effectively be adding colors that aren’t present in my kilts (adding black or white lines in the argyle pattern when the kilts have no black or white, for example). Otherwise, the color palettes work pretty well. I’m just having trouble justifying $200-300+ for a single pair of custom hose.

Would you wear kilt hose that are in a modern color scheme with a kilt in an ancient color scheme, or vice versa? Or would you call this too much of a palette clash? Thanks to the rabble in advance.

I have said this before and am still of the opinion, that to some it may be pleasing if all your attire is in the same pallet, but for me I don't think so. If I'm in a mood and like a colour of hose then I wear it. (I have 6 different colours to choose from),......I have 2 kilts and they stand alone....... My jackets are not traditionally cut kilt jackets so I do try and have some colour relationship between jacket, shirt and tie. ......I am NOT trying to please anybody other than myself....... (well maybe my wife.....a little), nor am I trying to please the highland contingent, I am not from the highlands, but I really do enjoy wearing my kilts..... Like most of the clothes I wear, comfort is paramount, to my eyes and on my body

[RichardtheLarge]

I should clarify that the hose I’m looking at are knitted in a tartan pattern. So, for example, my kilt’s colors are black, green, red, and blue, but the hose that are available are knitted in a green, red, blue, and white argyle pattern for instance. I’m guessing no reservations about something like that among the rabble?

[Liam]

Without seeing pictures, what you describe sound fine....

[FossilHunter]

I should clarify that the hose I’m looking at are knitted in a tartan pattern. So, for example, my kilt’s colors are black, green, red, and blue, but the hose that are available are knitted in a green, red, blue, and white argyle pattern for instance. I’m guessing no reservations about something like that among the rabble?

My understanding is that it is fairly traditional to not put too much effort into matchin colors. In that photo of prince Phillip from my red vest thread, you can see that his hose generally keep with the theme of his outfit but could hardly be called a match. I think it creates a more interesting and complex look overall and I think your hose should look good with your tartan based on your description.

Of course a picture is still worth a thousand words ;)

[RichardtheLarge]

I'm one of the weird ones. I don't use the colors of my Tartan to pick my hose.
I like my Tartan to stand out from the rest of my outfit. I let the Tartan stand on its own.

So I pull a shirt out of my closet. I have more shirts than I do kilts.

I then go to my drawer and find a pair of hose that color coordinate with my shirt.

Then I put my kilt on. It does not really matter what Tartan I choose. If the rest of my outfit is coordinated the whole outfit works.

As an example I offer -



There is no brown in this Tartan at all.



There is only a thin black line in this Tartan.

Thinking like this opens up all sorts of possibilities in picking an outfit.

Thanks for your thoughts, Steve. I think that black hose are really an excellent choose for semi-formalwear, though I have quite a soft spot for diced and tartan hose!

I also have to compliment your use of the targe and cantle black leather sporran (is it a William Scott and Son?). Although not “formal” by strict definitions, to my mind the black leather works extremely well with black shoe leather in this context and doesn’t compete with your tartan in the Way very elaborate fur and/or full mask sporrans tend to. I quite like this look! Kinloch Anderson was modeling one of their velvet doublets with that particular sporran at one point. I ordered two William Scott sporrans recently, one of which I believe is the model you’re wearing there. The other is rather lavish in sapphire mink.

[Steve Ashton]

No, I'm sorry, the sporran is of my own design.

You can see a description here - http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=89339

Unfortunately this design is not currently available. I sent the cutting dies to Scotland almost three years ago now. I have yet to receive a single sporran and am now having a very hard time getting my dies back.

[RichardtheLarge]

No, I'm sorry, the sporran is of my own design.

You can see a description here - http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=89339

Unfortunately this design is not currently available. I sent the cutting dies to Scotland almost three years ago now. I have yet to receive a single sporran and am now having a very hard time getting my dies back.

Interesting. I mistook it for this one:
https://www.artisansofscotland.com/p...-stud-sporran/