White Hose

[RosscoP]

Hi All,

Scouring the boards I see a lack of fondness for white hoes.

Does the same go for cream hose?

I was going to search on Google, but after a certain 'White hoes' typo I'm not sure I want to try that again at work!!!

Ross.

[piperdbh]

You're in hot pursuit now.

Some folks here absolutely hate, loathe, despise and detest hose made in white, off-white, near-white, cream, ivory, ecru, eggshell and any other color in that family. Others don't mind.
Some folks here say that those shades, especially white, remind them of rented kilts. Others, who have no experience with rented kilts, don't mind.
Some folks here say that one should never wear those shades unless required to do so as part of a uniform. Others don't mind.

You see where this is headed? I've just typed out what often turns into pages and pages of arguments. In other words, if you want to wear hose made in any of the aforementioned shades, go right ahead.

[CMcG]

I was going to search on Google, but after a certain 'White hoes' typo I'm not sure I want to try that again at work!!!

I believe Snoop Dogg has worn the kilt and, while he wore black hose, he had a bevy of scantily clad females that might have come up by Google searching for your typo and 'kilt'

In all seriousness, I don't wear white (or any other shade that piperdbh mentioned) because I've been informed that they aren't traditional. If you do want to play with those, I have seen some hand knit ones with thick cabling and a creamy/natural wool colour that looked pretty good. The stark bleached white ones look either like athletic socks if they are thin or like a piper's uniform if they have the popcorn top....

[HeathBar]

I think cream hose would fall in that category. But with so many colors available, why go with such a plain color.

[Phil]

Like anywhere else, this site has its fair share of over-opinionated individuals who never miss the opportunity to impose their opinions on everyone else, right or wrong. I mean what is the point of having an opinion otherwise? OK so they don't like white hose, or buckle brogues, or lace jabots, or long kilts, or short kilts, or utlilikilts, or..or..but that means absolutely nothing whatsoever if you happen to like them - any of them. All this "white hose are just for hire shops" is simply snobbery. Wear what you want and enjoy it. And sit back now and enjoy the hornet's nest you have stirred up amongst the opinionati (is that a word?)

[artificer]

Like anywhere else, this site has its fair share of over-opinionated individuals who never miss the opportunity to impose their opinions on everyone else, right or wrong. I mean what is the point of having an opinion otherwise? OK so they don't like white hose, or buckle brogues, or lace jabots, or long kilts, or short kilts, or utlilikilts, or..or..but that means absolutely nothing whatsoever if you happen to like them - any of them. All this "white hose are just for hire shops" is simply snobbery. Wear what you want and enjoy it. And sit back now and enjoy the hornet's nest you have stirred up amongst the opinionati (is that a word?)

Phil,
come on. If someone is ASKING for advice (or at least the reason WHY the bulk of the rabble don't like something) of COURSE they're going to get an answer.

The prevailing forum attitude IS that white hose evoke imagery of rental shops or pipe bands. If that's what a chap likes, nobody is saying they can't or shouldn't wear them, but just that they should beware that these are the images conjured by the white hose.

Back OT.
Creme / Off-White hose can run the gamut from almost white to dark oatmeal or putty, and from a rather thin, nasty acrylic knit to a delightfully chunky hand-knitted cabling.

Creme coloured hose are just like every other type. Some like them, some LOVE them, some hate them. I personally wouldn't wear creme hose unless they were of the chunky, hand knit variety (think Aran sweater).

Even then, there are so many colours of hose that I like besides creme/off-white that I don't think I would ever get to the point where I would hear myself say "I think I need a pair of creme hose".

As Phil said, wear what makes you happy.

ith:

[Baldybrown]

I'd love to find some plaid hose that don't cost more than my first kilt did, but I did find some nice muted green hose in one of the booths at the Jackson, WY festival this last weekend. Now I can give my 'cream' hose a well deserved rest from time to time. Still looking for some real garters though.

[piperdbh]

Still looking for some real garters though.

Get ahold of Matt Newsome (or anybody else) at the Tartans Museum.

[creagdhubh]

I don't mind the fawn (oatmeal or stone) coloured hose, as my chief wears them occassionally, as do I (mine are from Gaelic Themes), but that is the lightest in hose colour I will go! Sandy (JSFMACLJR) had a wee chat a few months back about this colour of hose, and agreed that we both had seen many men in Scotland, at various gatherings and games, of an "older" generation, wear this particular colour in their kilt hose. If you look at various colour prints and advertisements for Highland dress from the 1940's on, you can easily discern that this was a very popular (neutral, perhaps?) colour choice.

Cluny at his home, Newton Castle, Blairgowrie.


Fawn (oatmeal or stone) hose, by Gaelic Themes.


Kind regards,

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Get ahold of Matt Newsome (or anybody else) at the Tartans Museum.

Thanks David. Here's a direct link to our garter page:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/garter_ties.html