Diced hose versus unmatched tartan hose for formal

[Nathan]

Recently, I was picking out my outfit for a Burns Supper. I was going in black tie and chose to wear my bias cut waistcoat and kilt in the MacDonald of Clanranald ancient tartan.

Whilst I have tartan hose, they are colour matched to my Clanranald modern tartan. I also have a pair of red and green diced hose.

For the traditionalists among you:

If you had to choose between these options what would you say is most correct from a traditional perspective? Non matching diced hose or tartan hose in a different colour way (modern vs. ancient).

Obviously, matched tartan hose would be ideal and solid colour hose would also be acceptable but I'm not asking about those. This is what I chose (second from left):



Cheers,

Nathan

[Jock Scot]

As you are asking. For a Burns supper? Don't forget that there is also a difference of formality between a supper and a dinner. So probably these days-----Burns night seems to be more formal these days, but it does not need "the kitchen sink!"------ we are talking nothing more than the kilt equivalent of black tie(bow tie) of the dinner suit(tux) therefore plain hose(other than white) is the choice and is not the place for patterned hose of any sort, which would "over-egg the cake" somewhat.

[Nathan]

As you are asking. For a Burns supper? Don't forget that there is also a difference of formality between a supper and a dinner. So probably these days-----Burns night seems to be more formal these days, but it does not need "the kitchen sink!"------ we are talking nothing more than the kilt equivalent of black tie(bow tie) of the dinner suit(tux) therefore plain hose(other than white) is the choice and is not the place for patterned hose of any sort, which would "over-egg the cake" somewhat.

Thanks for the reply. That much was acknowledged in my OP, Jock. I wasn't asking about the appropriate level of formality for a Burns dinner, I was asking for a preference given the binary choice between diced and unmatched tartan. Point taken about overegged cake but I should still like an opinion on the question posed. For the purposes of discussion, let's assume I was going to a very formal ball.

Cheers,

Nathan

[Jock Scot]

For a VERY formal ball----white tie in saxon terms----then patterned hose are usually worn. The choice of pattern in this example and depth of hue are left to the good judgement and experience of the person who is going to wear them, so as such, there is no right or wrong in dress convention terms as far as patterned hose are concerned.

[davidlpope]

Diced.

Although in some cases (HOE) there isn't much difference between the shades of blue and green used in the modern vs. ancient palettes, so it might not look that bad.

Would you favor us with a photo of your kilt with both pairs of hose laid on for comparison?

[davidlpope]

I also think that the diced hose might be a better option, given you're wearing a tartan waistcoat. Sometimes a little contrast is a good thing.

Not all of us can pull off what Glenn does...

[Taskr]

It would seem diced, as STA mentions tartan hose are worn by regimental piers. The random images of their web page banner showing diced and argyle hose - though perhaps one is tartan. But wait!; the Scotsman has an article that mentions tartan hose with formal. And highland dancers wear tartan hose almost exclusively. So, time to fall back on the favorite source..Royal Family. So far the only images I've found in formal show argyle but no tartan. So, from my perspective thus far - diced (as being in the realm of).

Now, that opinion is also tempered with the context of the OP; which was a black tie to Burn's supper. I think that context is important because in many responses on this forum where we are going holds a certain weight in wanting to be appropriate in dress. In that regard, I appreciated Jock's suggestion on patterned hose, and sought responsible images in the interweb to show otherwise but I didn't find any in the Royals search. Shifting the context later to a 'very formal' ball changes the game somewhat - back to the event holds weight considerations - where it does appear from Royals searches that patterned hose are worn at very formal events. No tartan though. Now, I'm not beholden to what the Royals or anyone else wears, but I do like to have some confidences in choice, especially where my reputation of position might matter. ( ...I said 'might', so easy now )

I was considering patterned hose, (I like it when a distinct thread pops up when I'm in a purchase mood) but wonder now if I will bother as military and civilian dress convention would seem to illustrate I have no need for them. While some formal, no very formal evenings in my circles.

Now, having blabbered through all of that - from a colours perspective your clanranald modern tartan hose would probably not have looked much different from the red/black diced. Indeed the contrast of your choice illustrates how complimenting with the hose rather than matching or replicating can be visually pleasing.

[Nathan]

Diced.

Although in some cases (HOE) there isn't much difference between the shades of blue and green used in the modern vs. ancient palettes, so it might not look that bad.

Would you favor us with a photo of your kilt with both pairs of hose laid on for comparison?

I can try to get some pics. To be sure, it didn't look bad to my eye but I wanted to be sure it wasn't something that "just wasn't done". Having ancient tartan on and tartan hose in modern hues.

[Nathan]

It would seem diced, as STA mentions tartan hose are worn by regimental piers. The random images of their web page banner showing diced and Argyll hose - though perhaps one is tartan. But wait!; the Scotsman has an article that mentions tartan hose with formal. And highland dancers wear tartan hose almost exclusively. So, time to fall back on the favorite source..Royal Family. So far the only images I've found in formal show Argyll but no tartan. So, from my perspective thus far - diced (as being in the realm of).

Now, that opinion is also tempered with the context of the OP; which was a black tie to Burn's supper. I think that context is important because in many responses on this forum where we are going holds a certain weight in wanting to be appropriate in dress. In that regard, I appreciated Jock's suggestion on patterned hose, and sought responsible images in the interweb to show otherwise but I didn't find any in the Royals search. Shifting the context later to a 'very formal' ball changes the game somewhat - back to the event holds weight considerations - where it does appear from Royals searches that patterned hose are worn at very formal events. No tartan though. Now, I'm not beholden to what the Royals or anyone else wears, but I do like to have some confidences in choice, especially where my reputation of position might matter. ( ...I said 'might', so easy now )

I was considering patterned hose, (I like it when a distinct thread pops up when I'm in a purchase mood) but wonder now if I will bother as military and civilian dress convention would seem to illustrate I have no need for them. While some formal, no very formal evenings in my circles.

Taskr - Argyll = Tartan. Brits refer to that pattern as Tartan Hose and North Americans draw on the golfing tradition and call it Argyll. There is no distinction between the two. That might clear things up for you.

[Taskr]

Nathan, from what I've been reading argyle is distinct as it imitates a tartan but is not the tartan copied exactly. In a way, I suppose, a spot somewhere between diced and tartan; named argyle hose. But, your comment might have provided some clarity on the Scotsman's article referring to tartan. And in the Royals' images, definitely not diced nor tartan.

one source: http://www.tartansauthority.com/high...s/modern/hose/