I wear white socks all the time... with jeans or shorts and hiking boots. It is my every day attire. I'm quite out of style now-a-days because a) black is the "in" color for casual socks and b) I still wear mid-calf length vs. the ubiquitous footies (they've been "footies" all my life, but now that men are wearing them they are called "no shows"). Footies simply don't work with "mid-top" hiking boots and I don't own a pair of low-top athletic/running/sneaker shoes.

On the occasion I wear semi-formal attire - or, heaven forbid, formal - do I even consider white socks or, were I in with the trend, black footies? No. Is there a rule that says I can't? No. Would it look right if I did? No. Have I ever even thought about this? No.

For me, the kilt is not casual, knock-about attire*. Ergo, no white socks. As was said above, it's jarring to my eye.

Now, about shoes...

*There are lots that do wear a kilt as casual attire. That's great. I tried it. I bought a couple of utility/cargo kits and, for me, a kilt just doesn't work in the wood shop or the wood lot or mucking around in the barn or woods. Like footies and hiking boots, it's not practical.