Flashes or Garters

**cessna152towser** · 24th July 12, 12:42 PM

Just wanted to say "thanks!" for the post office elastic bands tip. I don't really like flashes and garters but do, of course, want to keep my hose where they belong

The broader the elastic band the better, I would NEVER wear post office elastic bands. Due to their narrow width post office bands would need to be quite tight if they are to be capable of holding up your hose, so tight indeed that you would constrict the circulation to your legs and risk suffering from deep vein thrombosis which can be life threatening.
I sometimes wear garters and flashes but for a less formal look I would wear broad elastic bands about an inch wide (2.5cm) which are concealed inside the turndown of the hose. Metre lengths of elastic in a variety of breadths are obtainable from DIY clothes shops and you can cut the elastic and sew the two ends together so that the circumference of the elastic band fits round your leg, just tight enough to hold up the hose without impeding your blood circulation.

**sadkingbilly** · 24th July 12, 01:03 PM

I was thinking along those lines myself, thanks for the warning nonetheless. A long time ago I fell asleep with a thread or wire wrapped around my arm and it hurt so much when I woke up (scared me witless first, I thought my hand died). Needles and pins. Perhaps 1-1½ inch wide elastic band with two small pieces of velcro on them to easily put them on or reajust during use.. All of five minutes work.

**rondo** · 24th July 12, 02:38 PM

On the hose I own that won't stay up on their own I wear goat collars. My calves are huge [23"], the goat collars have buckles and work great for holding the hose up. I personnaly feel that the flashes look silly [on me] so I don't wear them. The ties I have tried were too small to go around my calves and cost too much. Goat collars cost about $5.00 US, last forever, don't show under the hose turnover...I'm quite pleased with them.

Rondo

**LitTrog** · 24th July 12, 02:59 PM

Goat collars...I don't suppose you've taken to calling your calves kids?

**creagdhubh** · 24th July 12, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I really do honestly think that many of you are over-thinking all this and are adding a "snooty" angle that really does not exist. However, if we insist on going down the "snooty path", I think those that consider that flashes are "rental" need to take a look at what the Duke of Rothesay(Prince Charles), or the Scottish Regiments wear(yes I know, we are talking about civilian wear) and have been doing so for a very long time.

Wear what suits you-----within the kilted parameters------ by all means, but please let us not create yet another myth that will drag us into yet another pointless and sjeemingly endless morass of ill-informed discussion. Or, heaven forbid, discussions.

I couldn't agree more, Jock and I do recall this topic of discussion coming up before on the forum. I wear both the traditional garter ties or flashes (affixed to a white elastic garter with an adjuster and clips) made of wool. I tend to wear (scarlet) flashes more than anything else. I like the look of just a wee bit of the coloured flashes peeping out beneath the hose turnover - basically in the same style as HRH Prince Charles. Scarlet is also one of those universal colours that pair well with any colour of kilt hose and tartan.

Cheers,

**creagdhubh** · 24th July 12, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Since you mention it, Jock, how does HRH ensure that he always has exactly 1CM of red exposed below his cuff. The size of the cuffs on my kilt hose tend to vary greatly! I'm assuming that his flashes are long pieces wool mohair braid that he loops over the top of his elastic garter and adjusts to the proper length for his cuff?? But that's just my guess...

It's not difficult to achieve this type of look, Jeffrey, not at all. Yet, it does in fact help to have bespoke kilt hose, or simply kilt hose that fit properly and that do not have turnovers that are entirely too long or too far down on the leg.

Cheers,

**creagdhubh** · 24th July 12, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by lukeyrobertson

I do it all. Tie Garters, Flashes and neither, just a sewn elastic waistband to hold up the hose. I like them all. I tend to show only an inch two of flashes/garters. I like a "flash" of colour, not too much of them showing.

***