White Hose

[robbiethepiper]

I note with interest and a smile the venom which some forum members hurl at defenceless white hose. Now, I have fairly conservative tastes, so am not enamoured of white hose; they just seem to shout a little too loudly for me. However some whites are whiter than other whites (?!?). "Off-white" or cream is another matter. This colour, called "ecru" in french or "ban" in irish gaelige, is the natural colour of undyed/unbleached wool. Before the days of mass production, this would have meant a significant cost saving, important and therefore popular for the poorer class, who are rarely seen in paintings of the time. So not only is the visual attack muted, the colour is more traditional.

The above is the result of my mind going on a ramble Not one word is written from knowledge. I would be very interested to hear from those who HAVE real knowledge...

[gary meakin]

robbie,
Don't ever let knowledge or the lack of get in the way of a perfectly good theory

[sydnie7]

There's also been plenty of acknowledgment that the bias against white hose refers to "Clorox bleach white," not cream/ecru/natural off-whites.

[Downunder Kilt]

I'll sum up my thoughts on the subject with this:

I have not read on this forum that off white( bone, natural, ecru ) are not traditional wear.

I have read that a lot of people don't like white hose and don't wear them.

I do not like white hose and I do not wear them

A lot of pipe bands wear white hose and a lot of kilt rental shops push the sale of white hose.

I have had ecru hose in the past and have dyed them with tea and coffee and much prefer the resultant colours.

You are not going to the strung up if you wear white hose.

There are a myriad of hose colours out there that I think are better than white hose

And that's all I have have to say on this subject

[Tobus]

"Off-white" or cream is another matter. This colour, called "ecru" in french or "ban" in irish gaelige, is the natural colour of undyed/unbleached wool. Before the days of mass production, this would have meant a significant cost saving, important and therefore popular for the poorer class, who are rarely seen in paintings of the time.

But where is the evidence that the "poorer class" actually wore un-dyed wool hose? I would be interested in hearing one of our historians tell us of the earliest evidence of cream hose.

From what I can tell, dyeing was something that even the poorest of the poor could do. They didn't all run around in cream colored coats, trousers, or anything else made of wool. They dyed them. Why would hose be any different?

[Nighthawk]

Well, in the civilian historical reenactment community I travel in, what you've said is also what we think. Our knitters have made hose for us in natural undyed wool, and they look a lot like the ecru hose that are offered. So the way I see it, ecru/off white is just fine. The gods awful bleached color is what I don't like. Let's see if I find some pictures...

[piperdown]

I'll sum up my thoughts on the subject with this:

I have not read on this forum that off white( bone, natural, ecru ) are not traditional wear.

I have read that a lot of people don't like white hose and don't wear them.

I do not like white hose and I do not wear them

A lot of pipe bands wear white hose and a lot of kilt rental shops push the sale of white hose.

I have had ecru hose in the past and have dyed them with tea and coffee and much prefer the resultant colours.

You are not going to the strung up if you wear white hose.

There are a myriad of hose colours out there that I think are better than white hose

And that's all I have have to say on this subject

I have a pair of cream wool that I just never seem to wear. May I ask how you dyed them with coffee?? DO you have a finished photo you could share??

Thanks.

[Dall_Piobaire]

But where is the evidence that the "poorer class" actually wore un-dyed wool hose? I would be interested in hearing one of our historians tell us of the earliest evidence of cream hose.

From what I can tell, dyeing was something that even the poorest of the poor could do. They didn't all run around in cream colored coats, trousers, or anything else made of wool. They dyed them. Why would hose be any different?

My opinion ecru is fine, gives one a bit more latitude with shirt color and, I think, it plays off reds particularly well.

I would hazzard a guess, that the crofters, many living with thier livestock, in thier sod hut, would wear just about anything on thier feet they could manage.

I know there are references to highlanders being called reshanks as many wore nothing on thier feet.

They could not afford to eat the stock they raised, they needed to bring every bit of it to market, so, I would bet the same applied to wool from the shearing.

It seems we so often mess about in the world of the noble and wealthy, it seems to be very often forgotten that the heart and soul of the highlands was a dirt poor crofter trying to feed the family.....even shoes might have been a luxury.

Worse even still, many ended up in the regiments believing the promises of thier family being protected and cared for, only to come out of service and find themselves hoeless....and I fuss about white hose....

[Nighthawk]

My opinion ecru is fine, gives on a bit more latitude with shirt color and, I think it plays off reds particularly well.

I would hazard a guess, that the crofters, many living with thier livestock, in thier sod hut, would wear just about anything on thier feet they could manage.

I know there are references to highlanders being called reshanks as many wore nothing on thier feet.

They could not afford to eat the stock they raised, they needed to bring every bit of it to market, so, I would bet the same applied to wool from the shearing.

It seems we so often mess about in the world of the noble and wealthy, it seems to be very often forgotten that the heart and sole of the highland was a dirt poor crofter trying to feed the family.....even shoes might have been a luxury.

You're dead on. I often go barefoot at festivals for this very reason. I have a better tan on my feet than anywhere else...

[MacRobert's Reply]

Native breeds of sheep such as the Shetland were much more common in Scotland in past centuries. Very few were off-white. The Wikipedia article on this breed states that eleven main colours are recognised (most including many different shades): light grey, grey, white, emsket (dusky bluish-grey), musket (light greyish-brown), shaela (dark steely-grey), black, fawn, moorit (reddish brown), mioget (honey-toned, yellowish-brown), dark brown. This sounds like a good range of colours even before dyeing. When I was on Shetland a few years ago, I saw knitting and weaving that used these natural colours in creative combinations.