Tartan hose

[figheadair]

How common are full tartan hose nowadays? They are standard for highland dancing but otherwise its usually plain color, including the dreaded cream hose or coloured for a more casual look.

In simple terms, tartan hose have gone out of fashion and are less often seen today. When they are worn, they are generally reserved for evening wear; even then, plain or diced hose are more often seen. The reason is two-fold: firstly, the cost is prohibitive for many which is why plain hose are the norm. Secondly, the move, particularly in N. America by people to have more than one kilt and thus, the potential need for more than one set of tartan hose.

I’ve worn a kilt for 50 years and never owned a pair of tartan hose, preferring diced hose instead which have greater utility. Even rarer are Gairloch style hose although they have seen a small resurgence recently.