Hose and Shoes

[Dale Seago]

If you're just wearing sneakers, I don't think you would need hose and could just go with regular socks, but it's not a look I've ever tried.

I agree with that.

If you're wearing boots, I think scrunched or folded hose balance the visual weight of the boots against bare leg.

I never considered that before, and I do believe you're right!

I'm wondering what everyone wears for shoes and hose, if any hose at all. I'm trying to figure out what kind of shoes look good with hose for a casual setting; Hiking boots, runners, converse, Docs or anything else along those lines. Do you skip out on the hose when not wearing dress shoes or brogues? Right now I dont have any hose and I'm not sure if I like them but many here have said, along with my wife, that I should try them out. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome. If you are willing to share pictures as examples, even better.

As far as hose are concerned, I always wear them -- pulled up, with garter ties -- when I'm wearing a tartan kilt and, so far, have never worn them with my 5.11 Tactical TDKs. Pretty much all I wear are from House of Cheviot, via Matt Newsome at New House Highland:

http://www.newhousehighland.com/

As for footwear, there are all sorts of possibilities I think can look good for casual wear, depending on the circumstances. Here are some of the ones I wear.

Timberland boots:




Brogued ankle boots:





Timberland chukkas:





Dinner in San Francisco: These black wingtip brogues from Rockport are actually steel-toed work shoes.





Some "smart casual" 5-eyelet shoes from Neil M, via Orvis:





Even laceless slip-ons, while certainly nontraditional, can look decent in a casual setting: