"Viking Style" Brouge lacing?

[Jock Scot]

An interesting set of responses although I’m not sure whether I am any clearer on the rights and wrongs of kilt-wearing, apart from pleats at the front that is. I wondered about the country dancers as they didn’t seem to be “entertainers” more a group of enthusiasts but if, indeed, it is only entertainers who dress in this way the obviously it is not appropriate for everyday wear. As someone else said you may get opinions you don’t like but then does that mean that anything said here is no more than a personal opinion or should it be accepted as a universal truth? Then there is the statement that this is some form of ethnic dress which leads us onto the grounds of straying into the realms of nationality and should we be cautious of offending these. I am not sure of this as there seem to be many nationalities here, none of whom seem averse to adopting what must be to them an alien form of dress.
I am not trying to be contentious here just to discover what is really unacceptable and what is essentially a matter of personal choice. If I decide to go into the world wearing white socks with laces halfway up my legs will I be subjected to ridicule and derision?

To your first paragraph, there is a can of worms in danger in being opened. These are subjects that are best left alone.

As to the second paragraph, you are free to wear what you wish, in the real world, polite people keep their thoughts to themselves.

On a website such as Xmarksthescot, thoughtful advice and opinions-------sometimes strong opinions----- are offered with good will, and we try and usually succeed in disagree-ing without being disagreeable. We are fortunate, as some other websites are not quite as polite.

Wear what you wish in the real world, but, ask questions and voice opinions on this website, or any other website, then contrary advice and opinions will be sure to follow.Thats the way it is.

[Ivor]

Thank you, Father Bill, that must be the most sensible advice I have seen here yet, and I have looked at so many threads in the past just to get a really balanced view. As I posted before my wife has a Scottish background although no kilt-wearers we are aware of so all advice is valued. Also I must have some Yorkshire blood(not that I know of) bur still have short arms and long pockets so the budget for occasionally worn clothes is definitely not bottomless- hence the white socks question. I know others suggest black socks but is this not just white socks by another name? I am not sure that I want to look like or am even qualified to look like a seasoned kiltie and, from what I have seen, white socks seem pretty mainstream.

[Father Bill]

Thank you, Father Bill, that must be the most sensible advice I have seen here yet, and I have looked at so many threads in the past just to get a really balanced view. As I posted before my wife has a Scottish background although no kilt-wearers we are aware of so all advice is valued. Also I must have some Yorkshire blood(not that I know of) bur still have short arms and long pockets so the budget for occasionally worn clothes is definitely not bottomless- hence the white socks question. I know others suggest black socks but is this not just white socks by another name? I am not sure that I want to look like or am even qualified to look like a seasoned kiltie and, from what I have seen, white socks seem pretty mainstream.

Thank you for your kind encouragement.

You're quite correct - black socks tend to get some of the same critique and response as white for similar reasons - largely over-use, particularly among bands, but being less likely to reflect the sunlight, black hose seem to get a wee bit less criticism. They don't reflect the bright sunshine at the eye. Nothing wrong with them, just very common and for that reason, to my own eye perhaps too 'usual'.

The fact that you see white so often in the mainstream is possibly that they're easier for the hire industry to put out and go with everything, so every rental you see will likely have white, thus increasing their use, and convincing those who buy that they're the norm. I've also learned that many hire staff will tell customers that they're 'correct'. Sometimes that has more to do with store policy than individualized taste. Well, they're not 'incorrect' to say so, so I guess they're right that way. They're just less common in use among the 'cognoscenti'. They're also easy for the hire shops to bleach out (carefully) and re-use, so perhaps it becomes store policy that way, and reduces the number of colours they need to have on the shelf, leaving space for things they can sell at a profit.

What about a pair of nicely knitted tan or claret hose? Pretty easy to pair off with most highland wear and not part of that dull movement so to speak. I personally, have a pair of buffalo hose with a wee bit of a figured knit, that go with pretty well everything, and also claret in a plainer knit. They're not eye-grabbers, nor do they reflect blinding rays of sunshine. You might want to try something like that if it suits you (and your wife of course).

So, out of curiosity, why would you not want to look like an experienced kilt-wearer? If you do, then you're instantly qualified!

[gsmacleod]

Also I must have some Yorkshire blood(not that I know of) bur still have short arms and long pockets so the budget for occasionally worn clothes is definitely not bottomless- hence the white socks question. I know others suggest black socks but is this not just white socks by another name?

I own both cream and black hose and I couldn't tell you the last them either pair has seen the light of day. While both are fairly common, with so many other options, I see no good reason to not wear something more interesting than white or black.

For the thrifty, if you know how to knit (or want to invest a bit of time to learn) or know someone who does, knitting a pair of kilt hose is a pretty straightfoward process.

Shane

[Silmakhor]

I own both cream and black hose and I couldn't tell you the last them either pair has seen the light of day. While both are fairly common, with so many other options, I see no good reason to not wear something more interesting than white or black.

For the thrifty, if you know how to knit (or want to invest a bit of time to learn) or know someone who does, knitting a pair of kilt hose is a pretty straightfoward process.

Shane

For one thing, quality hose aren't cheap. A neutral makes sense for someone who wants to save a bit of $$$, perhaps.

[gsmacleod]

For one thing, quality hose aren't cheap. A neutral makes sense for someone who wants to save a bit of $$$, perhaps.

Agreed on hose not being cheap (however learning to knit is cheap and then you can make a fine pair of hose for the cost of the wool).

For neutral, I'd say that lovat green or blue, oatmeal or bsion would serve the same purpose but be more interesting than white or black.

Shane

[Silmakhor]

Agreed on hose not being cheap (however learning to knit is cheap and then you can make a fine pair of hose for the cost of the wool).

For neutral, I'd say that lovat green or blue, oatmeal or bsion would serve the same purpose but be more interesting than white or black.

Shane

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but as a color-deficient person I usually try to play it as safe as possible if I'm trying new combos ;). I don't even know what "bison" is, other than tasty.

[Father Bill]

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but as a color-deficient person I usually try to play it as safe as possible if I'm trying new combos ;). I don't even know what "bison" is, other than tasty.

"Bison" is a shade of tan.

[Silmakhor]

Thank you, Father Bill, that must be the most sensible advice I have seen here yet, and I have looked at so many threads in the past just to get a really balanced view. As I posted before my wife has a Scottish background although no kilt-wearers we are aware of so all advice is valued. Also I must have some Yorkshire blood(not that I know of) bur still have short arms and long pockets so the budget for occasionally worn clothes is definitely not bottomless- hence the white socks question. I know others suggest black socks but is this not just white socks by another name? I am not sure that I want to look like or am even qualified to look like a seasoned kiltie and, from what I have seen, white socks seem pretty mainstream.

If you want hose that go with everything, get charcoal. Just as neutral as white, in terms of color, and never "wrong," but somehow more interesting.

White hose are (or were) mainstream for pipe bands and rental outfits. I, personally, bought a bunch of hose in other colors because I was in a pipe band for years and don't want to wear a uniform again. But that is just my personal preference.

[Damion]

Where did the super long laces originate? It seems an interesting choice to have them long enough to go half way up the leg however you tie them.