Need advice

[Jeff]

I have gotten my SWK kilts and was wondering if I have to wear flashes with the hose and dress shoes or can I just wear the hose and shoes?

[McGurk]

I have gotten my SWK kilts and was wondering if I have to wear flashes with the hose and dress shoes or can I just wear the hose and shoes?

Flashes are a nice accessory, but by no means essential. I'd say at any event you'd be forgiven for not having any (and at most events, most people wont be in kilts and wont even know what flashes are!).

[Monkey@Arms]

There's no law that says you have to wear flashes or special shoes. If your wearing kilt hose, however, flashes do help keep them up.

You don't mention what kind of look your going for, hitting the pubs, wearing to work, etc. A lot of members who wear their kilts casually, go for the boots and scrunched down hose look. The style pics are a good resource for seeing how different people wear their kilts.

Best regards,

Jake

[davedove]

You did mention dress shoes, so I assume you're dressing up at least a little. In that case I would recommend flashes, but as the others are saying, they're not mandatory.

[James MacMillan]

I wear flashes all the time. I think it finishes the look. Of course I should also say that I wear traditional kilts, all but one are tartan (I have one solid black). I always wear a belt, hose and always (except inside) wear a sporran and sgian dubh.

I wear flashes, pretty evenly split between solid color and tartan.

If you are going for the "traditional" look, I would recommend wearing flashes. They keep the hose up, and ensure that the sgian dubh doesn't fall down also. With a very little effort, you can whip out some very nice looking flashes, and with a little extra effort, you can make some really nice ones.

[fluter]

There's no law that says you have to wear flashes or special shoes. If your wearing kilt hose, however, flashes do help keep them up.

To be annoyingly pedantic: garters keep the hose up. I often wear garters without the flashes. When I'm sitting a lot (that is, most days), I find that the knitted or woven garter ties are usually more comfortable than elastic garters.

[durbinite]

do you really need them Dad?

[ccga3359]

do you really need them Dad?

Woah young fella! Who are you calling dad ? Sorry nervous reaction when I hear that title in public. You know flashes do complete a kilt, whether it be in a matching tartan or a complimentary colour. They also make a wonderful father's day gift, inexpensive yet very thoughtful. The thoughtful son could get them from the same place the kilt came or the link that fluter pointed out for the garter ties.

[durbinite]

Jeff is my dad, actually. just to let you know

[Jack Daw]

A lot of guys in kilts forgo any kilt hose and flashes and just wear long socks or even the kilt hose sort of scrunched down the shin. I've seen this with hiking boots more than anything. I haven't done it, but I think it looks sorta cool.