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.