Formal Hose--loads of questions

[Phil]

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.

Wow! I suppose this was the spirit that won the West. I can't believe people can get wound up so much over a pair of socks though. I didn't think anyone was saying what you couldn't wear - just what you should wear if you wanted to dress in a particular way. Your choice if you don't.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

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.

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

Logan is correct, I am looking for guidance with formal wear. Not exactly dictation, but a guideline so that I don't look like a pratt. Actually, I had an idea of what I should wear, but I would like an idea of how to do it properly.

I don't want to show up at a highland games wearing my doublet, jabot, fly plaid, et al and look like the person in the cartoon I mentioned earlier.

Remember, I used to go to Alexandria, VA's Scottish walk to watch people make fools of themselves by dressing inappropriately.

I was in jeans and wearing a Bannerman's Bar (http://www.bannermansgigs.co.uk/) t-shirt!

No, it's not about sock, it's about formal wear.

And, the kilt is not about freedom, it's the Scottish national dress.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Wow, this is getting silly.

One of my oft-repeated mantras is that the kilt is "clothing, not costume." This means that, unless you are wearing your kilt as a part of a uniform, the only "rules" you need to be concerned with are rules of good taste and fashion. Perhaps these should be better thought of as "guidelines."

Yes, Highland dress is a "free" dress, as Erskine said. That's one of my favorite Highland dress quotes. But that doesn't mean it is a "free for all." You cannot completely ignore fashion guidelines, or throw them out the window. Otherwise you could show up to your white tie affiar dressed like the gent I saw at a Highland Games once, wearing his kilt with a leather biker vest, no shirt, a horned Viking helmet, and green, furry, dinosaur-feet bedroom slippers. Really.

We all want to look good when we wear our kilt. This is why there are so many threads on this forum about what height to wear the sporran, or what shirt looks good with this tartan, or how to modify a men's blazer to wear with the kilt. All these things are done with an eye towards looking good and fitting in with Highland dress fashion.

And that's all this thread needs to be -- a fashion question about what hose look best (or are most acceptible) when worn with the ultra-formal styles of dress doublets mentioned.

Suggesting that argyle or diced hose are the most appropriate with this style of dress is just a statement of the understood norms of formal Highland dress fashion. It is not a dictation or demand or a "thou shalt not wear white hose" from on high. Just a statement of fashion, which anyone is free to follow or ignore.

I'm a bit bothered by the suggestion that by simply stating what the popular fashion norms are, one is being a hypocrit, a "kilt nazi" or infringing on others' freedoms. Anyone heard of hyperbole?

Some people wear the kilt as a symbol of fashion freedom, but that doesn't mean that everyone who wears the kilt is doing so in order to buck the fashion norm or express anything other than Scottish heritage. Let's recognize that different people wear the kilt for different reasons and this will influence how each of us approaches Highland dress fashion. Let's also recognize that there are fashion norms and guidelines in Highland dress (just as with any other mode of dress), and even if we do not choose to abide by them ourselves, respect others who choose to adhere to them more closely.

I think the original poster has had his question answered by now, so maybe this thread is nearing its end.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

Wow, this is getting silly.

One of my oft-repeated mantras is that the kilt is "clothing, not costume." This means that, unless you are wearing your kilt as a part of a uniform, the only "rules" you need to be concerned with are rules of good taste and fashion. Perhaps these should be better thought of as "guidelines."

Yes, Highland dress is a "free" dress, as Erskine said. That's one of my favorite Highland dress quotes. But that doesn't mean it is a "free for all." You cannot completely ignore fashion guidelines, or throw them out the window. Otherwise you could show up to your white tie affiar dressed like the gent I saw at a Highland Games once, wearing his kilt with a leather biker vest, no shirt, a horned Viking helmet, and green, furry, dinosaur-feet bedroom slippers. Really.

We all want to look good when we wear our kilt. This is why there are so many threads on this forum about what height to wear the sporran, or what shirt looks good with this tartan, or how to modify a men's blazer to wear with the kilt. All these things are done with an eye towards looking good and fitting in with Highland dress fashion.

And that's all this thread needs to be -- a fashion question about what hose look best (or are most acceptible) when worn with the ultra-formal styles of dress doublets mentioned.

That's it!

<snip>

I think the original poster has had his question answered by now, so maybe this thread is nearing its end.

I have indeed and bought some nice hose from you as well.

The point is to not dress like this if it's inappropriate.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

My new tartan hose!

[Alan H]

They look great! Enjoy them, and I hope you get to wear them often!

[Highland Logan]

Very smart looking. Where did you get them?

Frank

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

Thank you! Highland Dance Supplies (www.highlanddancesupplies.com). Gail actually went and found the pattern used by the Liverpool Scottish, who used the Forbes Tartan, for their hose 80-90 years ago.

So, I am really happy with the hose.

Alan, they are expensive because they are made to measure and to match the tartan in question.

[Wolfgore]

Well, I hope you feel it was worth the expense, because I think you look absolutely fantastic.
Great picture, great outfit, and you wear it well sir.

[KGCTJ]

These are a bit cheaper and in North America
http://www.tartantown.com/dance_tartan_hose.html