What's with the "no white hose" in formal wear rants?
It's not just formal wear where white hose are generally considered a no-no amongst some. It's pretty much all levels of Highland dress.

The contention is (and I tend to believe it when I study portraits and photos) that white and cream hose have no historical background in Highland dress, and that they are the result of kilt hire companies in the last couple of decades renting out the cheapest stuff they can find to an unsuspecting/uneducated public. Over time, people started to believe that they were proper, since they expected the kilt hire shops would only rent out proper articles.

So seeing white or cream hose being worn by non-pipers is frowned upon by some, because it's a modern look that's the result of a cheapening effect in Highland style.

Obviously, others disagree with this notion, and continue to wear theirs. Arguments and hilarity ensue.