OK, Not into rules, but I do have some flexable guidelines I try to employ,

I do not like white/ off-white/ cream hose, even for formal. I know some folks do, and I've seen some examples where they looked OK with the particular outfit, but they are not for me.

I do try and match the hose with the shirt with casual wear, or some other element of the outfit, tie, jacket, in more dressy settings. Hose and flashes should compliment an element of the tartan. If I order a kilt in a tartan that has colorways that are new to my wardrobe, I spend the 'jones time' to put together the accessories. This generally consists of ordering hose and then taking them shopping for shirts etc...

Fallback; I try to imagine "what would Hamish do?" I think we can agree our own Hamish Bricknell is always well put together.

I have gathered a few examples of different outfits, all with the same tartan, to hopefully illustrate my ideas;

Here is the tartan, Rocky's American Heritage. Mainly black with red, blue, and white stripes. Unfortunatly, the blue color tends to be washed out by the white in photos, it is more apparent in person.


Here's a casual outfit, dark red golfshirt and hose, black flashes;


Here's a dressy daywear; Charcoal jacket and waistcoat, blue hose and tie;


Here's basically the same kit at a night time event; Charcoal hose to match the jacket, Red flashes and tie; (I know it's a shiny tie, could not find my wool one!)


And finally a formal do; Black hose to match the jacket, Blue flashes. In the future I might go red flashes since red is the dominate stripe in the tartan.


Fire away with your comments!