Formal Hose--loads of questions

[Chef]

Alan, I quite like the look of off-white hose with a PC rig. I wore them for years that way. I have even seen them worn with a Doublet by our own Hamish and I think they look fine. The pure white piper's hose on the other hand look odd to me unless you are indeed dressed as a piper; otherwise they look like athletic socks to me. That said for really formal you can't beat the died or tartan hose. They just add that extra bit with a doublet and plaid.

[Alan H]

I think it's best if I just hoist that brew to you all, celebrate diversity of opinion, realize that maybe the Sherrifmuir/Montrose Doublet is a different kettle of fish than a PC, and move on to other threads.

This thread is about socks, and while it's certainly fine to discuss socks, fighting over socks is pretty silly.

BTW, I think that diced hose and argyle hose look *great*. I really do. I'm not joking I DO think they look great, when coordinated with a matching kilt. I just also happen to think that bright white pipers hose also look great, and I will continue to wear them, and I get tired of the implication that somehow I'm "wrong" and doing something offensive when I do so.

But again, This thread is about socks, and fighting over socks is pretty silly. 'later gents....I'm gonna go look at the DIY thread, or something.

[JamieKerr]

I really have to roll my eyes at this entire discussion, and agree with Alan. We choose to embrace our heritage, as well as be unique by wearing a kilt rather than pants and a god awful suit. The kilt is supposed to be a symbol of freedom. We get angered by non kilties telling us how to dress, yet here we are telling other kilties what is and is not appropriate or acceptable? That doesn't fly with me, it reeks of hypocracy. For me the entire point of the kilt is largely the freedom that it represents, not adhering to some standard set forth by god knows who. I will spend $700 on my kilt, and I will spend $3-400 on a jacket. I know that when I'm gone, those items can be passed on to the next generation to be worn with pride. But $200 for socks? I draw the line there too. Besides, I also think white hose are beautiful. There is a such thing as looking too "busy"

[McMurdo]

Far from looking too busy I believe that Argyll hose can finish off a formal outfit just right. I will not however tell anyone what they can and can not wear on their feet. I have been extremely lucky in that I was able to procure a pair of hand knit Argyll hose to match my Isle of Skye kilt, In my opinion they were a great buy worth every penny I paid for them.

Having said all that I think that the following quote fits well:

Advice for every kilt wearer
"The Highland dress is essentially a 'free' dress -- that is to say, a man's taste and circumstances must alone be permitted to decide when and where and how he should wear it... I presume to dictate to no man what he shall eat or drink or wherewithal he shall be clothed." -- The Hon. Stuart Ruaidri Erskine, The Kilt & How to Wear It, 1901

Something to think about.

[Highland Logan]

The kilt is supposed to be a symbol of freedom.

I thought the kilt was the symbol of Scottish national dress?

There is a such thing as looking too "busy"

Too "busy"... like tartan maybe?

Frank

[JamieKerr]

*sigh* Whatever

The point is it is not for any of us to dictate to others what is acceptable to wear. I didn't realize we were supposed to be kilt dress nazis. If I like the way something looks, I'm gonna wear it. Whether or not anyone else approves.

[Riverkilt]

I'm cracking up!!! The rabble shops for kilt hose....guess that's why kilt hose come in so many colors and patterns.

Its frightening how many pair of kilt hose I own...add ons to kilt purchases to "go with" that tartan, "finds" in vendor tents at highland games in colors that I don't have yet and might need...

Serious...I think last count I had something like 40 some pair of kilt hose...and somewhere I found black kilt hose in the $25 variety and I've even sprung for two pair of Lewis Kilt hose in black from Matt.

And, I seem to not only be a "kilt hose junkie" its exacerbated because I work long hours and like to change my kilt hose when I come home for lunch. So I buy them two pair at a time...

Then there's that traditional garter tie sub addiction...gotta have a selection of colors in them too....

A couple years back I was in Albuquerque and checked out the Pride Festival going on there. A guy had created a "kilt" by taking a lot of neckties and holding them around his waist with a belt. Very colorful.

I'm thinking I could take a lot of my old kilt hose and do the same thing...a kilt hose belted "kilt." At least it'd be warmer than the neckties.

Bottom line...its a hoot to see the assembled rabble discussing the ins and outs of kilt hose fashion...

Ron

[Highland Logan]

*sigh* Whatever

The point is it is not for any of us to dictate to others what is acceptable to wear. I didn't realize we were supposed to be kilt dress nazis. If I like the way something looks, I'm gonna wear it. Whether or not anyone else approves.

Yes I am a traditionalist, I'm not ashamed of that. However, I did not dictate to anyone.. I simply pointed out that your interpretation was flawed. The kilt is NOT a symbol of freedom... it is the national dress of Scotland, and second, if tartan hose is too "busy", than what do you think of tartan?

This was the question which started this tread.

What are the proper hose to wear with the really formal outfits (i.e., sherrifmuir, Kenmore, regulation, or montrose doublets)? Was that a really sweeping question? Can I get away with dark green or navy kilt hose (not like the chap I saw in Alexandria Va's Scottish walk wearing regular men's dress socks)? Do I need to buy tartan hose? Where?

At first glance, it would appear that DoK is looking for information on proper traditional dress. So I guess he is looking for dictation on what to wear. You do not seem to be interested in conforming to traditional dress, so why did you bother with this tread?

Frank

[slohairt]

I don't mind off-white hose at all, but I've never worn or liked pure white hose. I DO think that when wearing a white tie outfit like the Montrose, one should probably get diced or Argyle hose. Yes, they are expensive, but are usually very well made. My father has a pair of saffron and bottle green diced hose (which he wears with a saffron kilt) and they look great. He got them when he was a teenager and he's now 64 years old! Will they become an heirloom, like a kilt? Probably. Though they would never fit me (he takes a size 6 and I take a size 10), they might well fit someone who comes along after me.

[JamieKerr]

Very well. I will not post here any longer.