Briefly, I started out kilted reserving my claret hose for evening wear. I have reached a juncture where I need to bring my claret hose into daywear rotation because they are so darn versatile with the rest of my wardrobe.

So I went looking at diced hose. Then I looked at argyle hose, and for that kind of money I went on up the food chain and looked at knit "tartan hose" too. For the priced those things are going for, I am just not impressed.

I remember last spring there was a special closeout deal on tartan hose in my clan colors, not just generic tartan hose but actual Clan Scott tartan hose, way north of US$200, probably over US$300 with shipping, just no. They were the right colors, but they didn't otherwise look much like a Clan Scott sett at all. They looked like Argylles with extra stripes.

Even US$150 for a pair of socks that doesn't come rated to -60dF, I just can't justify it.

So I read up on cadadh, the old school tartan bag socks. Too puffy in the ankles. I could see making them lay flatter if I had a pair of ghillie brogues on my shopping list, but I don't have those on my shopping list. I haven't worn lace up shoes with black tie since, well, the dude in the White House that year is dead now.

So I ruminated on it, and then I made a prototype cadadh with a less wrinkly ankle.