Quote Originally Posted by Alan H View Post
I'm not sure that my message got across.

I LIKE white hose with a kilt, my Eton/Spencer jacket, a white formal shirt and a black tie. I think it looks good and no amount of telling me that it's "incorrect" is going to change that.
[large snip]

Because guys....get real. We're talking about SOCKS, here.

socks. socks

Not, like....life or death, yanno? I can't stomach dropping $200 on a pair of SOCKS, no matter HOW long they are going to last me or how beautiful they are. I don't care...they're socks, guys....socks. Socks to wear once a year.
Alan,

Calm down a bit, my friend! I've been following this thread and I think you are the only one that seems to be getting stressed over this issue.

I don't think that we are going to solve the "great white sock debate" here on this forum. Everyone has their opinion, and regardless of whether you personally like white hose or not, I think we all can agree that they are rather common and frequently seen at both formal and informal kilted gatherings.

I think one issue that you've missed, though, is that the original question wasn't about socks in general, or even just socks for formal wear, but specifically what to wear with a Montrose or Sherrifmuir doublet.

You mentioned wearing white or ecru socks with your Eton jacket. This would be the equivalent of a Prince Charlie jacket, and constitutes black tie affair. And I think it can be agreed that ecru kilt hose (whether one personally likes them or not) have become standard fair for black tie events.

However, Montrose or Sherrifmuir doublets would be another level entirely, more akin to white tie. And different rules of fashion apply depending on if you are talking white tie or black tie, in Highland dress or otherwise.

Now, I'm not the kind of gent that gets invited to a lot of white tie affairs. If it were not for annual Burns Suppers I wouldn't even get invited to any black tie affairs! And that's why I don't own a Montrose or Sherrifmuir.

But the question was what type of hose would be most appropriate with these styles of formal doublet. And the answer is, traditionally, Argyle or diced hose. Are these the only options? No. Could other options look good? Sure. But I think that all the Highland attire "fashion experts" would agree that argyle or diced would be preferred. And that's all anyone here is really saying.

You also write:
Mixing the words "clothes" with words like

"correct " and
"proper" or
"approved"

....sets my teeth on edge, and I fully admit that logic soon shuts down in my brain. Again, this is just me! I figure if you're in the military or a club with a uniform, then those adjectives apply. Otherwise I figure, do what works, treat people well and fairly and respectfully, and carry on.
In general I agree with you that it makes little sense to think of Highland dress in terms of being "correct," etc, unless one is wearing it as a uniform. And I don't think we'd be even having this discussion if the topic were more casual dress.

But the thing to realize here is that, in a sense, very formal attire is like a kind of uniform, in that there are fashion rules that exist that simply are not there for more casual attire. Whether you choose to follow or flaunt those rules is another matter. But they are there nonetheless and one should at least be aware of them; even if only to flaunt them with panache!

Aye,
Matt