what color socks?

[JayFilomena]

Ladies and gents;

Having only worn those nasty bifurcated garments for the most of 32 years, and only sports kilts for the last three, I have a question about accessorizing(? Mercenary, not spelling teacher) What color socks does one wear with a traditional kilt? With pants (yuck) my wife always tells me, your socks should be a shade lighter or shade darker... I would assume that if the tarten is predominently red you would wear maroon socks or light red socks, or if the strongest color in the tarten is green, I would wear olive or khaki socks.... and If I dont like white socks with flashes and black shoes, am I a bad bad man? Ok, I know I am a bad bad man, but I mean for not wearing proper socks? Also, I enjoy a bit of a grunge look unless I am going out with my very patient wife. I like a long sleeved shirt, unbuttoned, and hanging outside the sport kilt. Can I get away with that with a Traditional kilt?

[davedove]

A good rule of thumb you'll find here on the board is to match your sock and shirt color, both of which should match one of the less prominent colors in the kilt.

[flyv65]

Hmmm, tough: I can only say what I do, not necessarily what is tasteful or correct. With my tank(s) I'll wear a kilt sock that either matches the predominant color in the kilt, or a sock that picks up one of the complementing colors AND goes with the shirt, shirt/tie, or shirt/tie/jacket. For just messin' around stuff I'll wear a t-shirt that goes with the kilt and then Smartwool socks and hiking boots or if its summer, my chacos. I don't go a shade lighter or darker, I almost never wear a cream or oatmeal hose, and I *never* wear white hose...period (nevermind that "just not a night" stuff. Never). If I'm wearing kilt hose I pull trhem up and use flashes, but thats more if I'm dressing up for the missus, or winter weather.

Bryan...I bet Ham chimes in soon with some *good* advise (as opposed to mine :-)) ...

[Robin]

I learned pure white hoses are basicly "pipers only"

I also learned to listen to women when it comes to colour combinations (no guarantee...and not waterproof).

I noticed the "magic sock colour" for casual seems to be oatmeal (stone?)...tends to go very well with most tartans.

I personally would never wear red hoses with a kilt that has red as the dominant colour (like mine...the Caledonia) I'll use less eyecatching colours of the kilt instead...Bottle Green or Lovat Blue...in my case.

It all depends a bit of the combination/style...and the kilt.

Diced and tartan hoses can be very nice when you wear a plain coloured kilt.

Off white/arran hoses for formal dress. Some wear black, but some say this is not the best choise...the off white is always okey.


Someone please correct me if I'm wrong...I'm sort of new

[Sherry]

Dave's advice sums it up in a nutshell. Match a color in the kilt, but don't go any shades off; i.e., if the kilt has a red stripe, you could wear red socks with it, but not maroon or rose colored socks (thinking in the going darker or lighter idea). There are typically too many colors in a tartan to introduce one that isn't already present in it.

OTOH, I see something like the SW Nightstalker as something of a neutral (as it's only gray & black), like black or gray trousers. There are many different colors you could wear with it, so the matching the socks to the shirt guideline will be very useful with it.

No, you are not "bad" for not liking the white hose with black shoes look. I don't like it myself, & I'm an angel.

Hope that helps.

[pdcorlis]

Not an answer - but a side question if I may. What about the Stillwater kilt socks? They are listed as "off-white" - are they "off" enough - or too close to pipers hose?

Thanks!

Phil in Idaho

[Bob C]

I don't understand the revulsion to white socks. I agree they're unsuitable for most occasions. They're ok with the formal outfit, though.

Personally, I've worn white kilt hose once - at my wedding. I'd wear them again with my PC, though I've worn off-white except for that one occasion.

[macwilkin]

Diced and tartan hoses can be very nice when you wear a plain coloured kilt.

Off white/arran hoses for formal dress. Some wear black, but some say this is not the best choise...the off white is always okey.

Actually, diced and tartan hose are appropriate with formal attire.

Cheers,

Todd

[Southern Breeze]

Not an answer - but a side question if I may. What about the Stillwater kilt socks? They are listed as "off-white" - are they "off" enough - or too close to pipers hose?

Thanks!

Phil in Idaho

I have several pairs of the Stillwaters and they are,IMHO offwhite enough to be distinguishable from Piper Hose.
I have personaly noticed that they appear white when photographed(at least mine do).

[pdcorlis]

Thanks Southern Breeze - the price is sure right.