Another hose advice thread...please humor me!

**longhuntr74** · 23rd January 12, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by fshguy

I've seen others who have chosen diced hose which are colored to set off branch colored garters. For example one chap I ran into at a banquet had green and black diced hose and orange garters for the Signal Corps. Another had red and black dicing and Infantry blue flashes. I cannot, at present, recall if either gentleman was wearing a tartan waistcoat.

My branch color is purple. I had considered that I could wear green and blue diced hose with either purple or yellow flashes/ties. I think either would look good.

Originally Posted by AFS1970

I would initially say that I liked the idea of Green/Black diced, possibly with Yellow flashes. That would tie in the colors but not looks so identical as to get into too much tartan.

I say this even as I have a pair of yellow flashes on order to wear with my new XMTS kilt, but in looking at the thread on those kilts, the yellow is allot brighter and more prominent than I thought it would be as a choice for flashes. So I am not sure my advice is all that great.

Allot of this is going to biol down to personal preference, some of my tastes are clearly not in the majority on this forum, but when assembled I think they work well. I may actually have to take pictures to prove it some day.

Agree 100%...it boils down to personal preference. I don't personally feel that red and white or red and black diced hose would look all that great with my tartan. Those colors are a bit too much like trying to copy a uniform to me, which is something I'm trying to avoid (I acknowledge that wearing rosettes as I do may give some the opposite impression, however.)

I like the idea of green and black or green and blue diced hose with yellow flashes.

I have also contemplated claret and green or red and green. I think they both would complement the tartan better than the traditional military diced hose by picking up the green, yet throwing a contrasting color into the mix (much like PM Burgess in that photo with the black and blue hose).

For the edification of the masses, these are the hose that I wore last night (Stewart Hunting, I believe). They are a tad bit on the short/small side (size US 8.5-9.5 when I wear a 10 or 10.5)...but I got them for so cheap that I bought them regardless of whether they were the right size or not, figuring that I could always sell them and make a couple of bucks if I really couldn't make them work.

**LitTrog** · 23rd January 12, 08:54 PM

I certainly can't offer any better advice than that which has already been given, but I will say that I really dig those hose in your most recent picture. To my eye, they fit pefectly--and they work wonderfully with your tartan.

**LitTrog** · 23rd January 12, 09:08 PM

Sorry--I lied. I have an idea to muddy the waters a bit: yellow and olive dicing! I liked your suggestion of yellow and black, but I think the olive would negate any possible comparisons to a bumblebee.

I'm wrong about many things, but I know it would look pretty darn cool. And I doubt you'd see anyone else with the same combo.

**longhuntr74** · 23rd January 12, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by LitTrog

Sorry--I lied. I have an idea to muddy the waters a bit: yellow and olive dicing! I liked your suggestion of yellow and black, but I think the olive would negate any possible comparisons to a bumblebee.

I'm wrong about many things, but I know it would look pretty darn cool. And I doubt you'd see anyone else with the same combo.

Hmmm...what about yellow and royal blue?? (which is the color of the blue stripe in the kilt...the vest is more of a navy blue and doesn't pop out as well from the black on both sides of it). That would also be extremely rare!

**LitTrog** · 23rd January 12, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Hmmm...what about yellow and royal blue?? (which is the color of the blue stripe in the kilt...the vest is more of a navy blue and doesn't pop out as well from the black on both sides of it). That would also be extremely rare!

Giddyup! I would love to see that. Of course, it's your investment, but I don't see how you could go wrong there.

**longhuntr74** · 23rd January 12, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by LitTrog

Giddyup! I would love to see that. Of course, it's your investment, but I don't see how you could go wrong there.

Something like this:

Grrr....tried resizing it and it still shows up big. You have to shrink it down to a size where the small pixelated blue, green, and yellow blend into a marl look to get a real appreciation.

**CMcG** · 23rd January 12, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

<...>
I like the idea of green and black or green and blue diced hose with yellow flashes.

Either of these would be ideal to me. They would complement the tartan kilt/vest combo without overdoing it.

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

<...>

For the edification of the masses, these are the hose that I wore last night (Stewart Hunting, I believe). They are a tad bit on the short/small side (size US 8.5-9.5 when I wear a 10 or 10.5)...but I got them for so cheap that I bought them regardless of whether they were the right size or not, figuring that I could always sell them and make a couple of bucks if I really couldn't make them work.

I'd say they work just fine. The size looks OK, though they may feel a bit small. Part of what makes it work for me is that awesome sporran... a more standard metal cantle/short fur wouldn't look as good.

That being said, the diced green/black or green/blue would look even better because they would complement rather than contrast with the tartan.

**LitTrog** · 24th January 12, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Something like this:

Grrr....tried resizing it and it still shows up big. You have to shrink it down to a size where the small pixelated blue, green, and yellow blend into a marl look to get a real appreciation.

I really like how that would look--it would keep with the colors of your tartan (I remember from preschool that yellow and blue make green! So proud of myself) but reverse the major/minor scheme in case you were worried about being too tarted up. Tartaned up, I mean. Big, fun decision. Please keep us informed which direction you go!

**creagdhubh** · 24th January 12, 10:14 AM

I would opt for red and white, dark green and black, navy and green, or red and black diced hose. Of course, the tartan 'Argyll' hose would look just fine, as its overall design never matches the actual tartan precisely.

Cheers,

**ForresterModern** · 24th January 12, 10:25 AM

I am with Matt in that I think "tartan" hose would look fine with a contrasting flash like red or yellow. Remember that "tartan" hose are really not an exact pattern match for the tartan itself, merely Argyle hose knit up using the same colors in the same proportions as the tartan, so although the colors will match they will be a different patter, and therefore to my eye (and mind) not too much "tartan". The majority of the hose would be in dark colors with highlights of red and yellow, presumably, which I personally think would look grand. And, again, I personally think that they would not be inappropriate for daywear or dress wear.

Many of the others shown would work also, but the decision is up to you, obviously, as to what you think works best for your eye in the setting you intend to wear them. I have a tartan waistcoat that matches my "clan" tartan as well as "tartan" hose, all in some pretty vivid and not dark colors, and I think they look fine together, with a nice jacket overlying (sorry, no pictures yet).

Good luck with your quest to find the perfect hose.

j