what kilt hose to wear?

[Spartan]

Why do rentals think it appropriate to rent/sell cream hose for formal wear? Would you wear white socks with your buisness suit or tux??

When you wear a business suit or a tux, the socks are not visible to the overall appearance. When they do peek out, I want them to match either the color of the shoes or the pants -- that is, black socks only with a black tux, with black shoes.

I believe the reason some people like white is that is shows off the ties on the ghillie brogues, and white matches the shirt. I don't believe that I would wear white with any other shoes. There are some good examples in the formal pics section.

Kilt hose are a very visible piece of the attire. For me, I want the color to match or complement something else in the attire. For formal occasions, I tend to like black as it ties in with the black in my kilt, as well as the shoes and the jacket. I don't have don't have a pair of hose with the right color blue.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Why do rentals think it appropriate to rent/sell cream hose for formal wear?

Four reasons:
(1) Basic hygene. People who rent socks like to know (or at least think) they are clean. White conveys this (sometimes false) impression.
(2) Because it cuts down significantly on the cost of inventory. 100 pair of white socks in three sizes -- small, medium, large -- costs significantly less than the same in either coloured or diced/argyll socks.
(3) There is a misconception that white socks go with everything-- at least that what's the kilt hire shops will tell you.
(4) White socks are cheaper, and in the kilt hire business it's all about renting the cheapest stuff for the highest price.

Which is why, unless you want to look like you rented your socks (and possibly everything else) you would do well to avoid white/creme coloured hose.

[English Bloke]

I don't like white/cream socks with a kilt for the same reason I never bought the 'white tube socks with everything' phase that was so popular in the 80's. Not saying it makes you look like Jacko in a kilt but I'm sure you get where I'm coming from. I'm under the impression it's conventional for civilian pipers to wear white hose which is fine but I'm not a piper.

There are not many tartans that don't have a streak of black in them somewhere so black is a pretty good universal option but I do like to choose hose that draw colours from the kilt. Sometimes a difficult thing to do if you are buying mass produced hose on the net and relying on the retailers photography to give you an idea of what the colour is. I bought a pair of 'Forest Green' cheapies to go with my Black Watch (Grant Hunting). In the picture they looked a beautiful, rich, dark green. When they arrived they were the quite a bite lighter and in fact the exact shade of British Army issue socks (shudder!) so I only wear them now as a last resort.

I'd love some diced or Argyle hose but I balk at the cost... I guess, to get the best you have to spend the money. We're not all in that enviable position unfortunately so we do the best we can.

[Nanook]

Which is why, unless you want to look like you rented your socks (and possibly everything else) you would do well to avoid white/creme coloured hose.

I don't agree. The quality of kilt hose provided by the rental outlets--- and sold as cheap hose--- are miserable and in any colour look like the cheap, thin, mixed-acrylic knee-highs they are. A good stout quality cream and oatmeal Aran knit hose can look wonderful and anyone would could mistake the two would surely also confuse a traditional hand sewn kilt with a £25 thing from a supermarket or a bath towel. Off-white (cream to beige to oatmeal ) really show off tanned skin and highlights well toned muscular legs. By using plain coloured flashes (picking out a line from the tartan or a complementary colour to the main hue) one can indeed wear them with a wide range of tartans. These should not be the only colour of hose in ones closet but any wardrobe should have a pair or two.

Again black is a pretty good universal option

I also don't agree. Dark sold black socks even with long pants is considered sufficiently somber but not always stylish or elegant. Black knee-high socks will on most people rarely look good. They are ill-suited, I think, for anyone with a cold skin complexion (reddish in contrast to yellowish) or pale skin with less than ideal skin and muscular tone as they highlight both. Women's fashion is filled with black tights as a universal because it makes their legs look slimmer--- and combined with a shorter skirt longer (and thus also younger)--- but notice also that few women will ever wear black knee-highs and those that are worn are more often show some skin as lace, arabesque or fishnet in style rather than plain opaque knit! They can work but not for or with everyone.

[Bugbear]

Would it be wrong, in formal attire, to wear solid colored hose with a contrastingly colored hose cuff?

For example, black hose with a gray cuff. I'm thinking of the STM's Royal Cuff kilt hose.

If there is an issue with skin tone and a color it can be buffered with a favorable color between it and the showing skin. One is probably already wearing a black formal jacket which is buffered by the white shirt.

And as I posted above, I understand that it is best to wear tartan or diced hose with the formal outfit.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Would it be wrong, in formal attire, to wear solid colored hose with a contrastingly colored hose cuff?

For example, black hose with a gray cuff. I'm thinking of the STM's Royal Cuff kilt hose.

I'm not 100% convinced it would work-- my shooting socks have a different cuff than the leg, so perhaps I'm blinded by the fact that to me, at least, it would look like one was wearing shooting socks.

That said, if it was subdued (which my shooting socks aren't), it would probably look okay-- the black with grey cuffs you mentioned sound as if they'd probably pass muster.

[Bugbear]

I'm not 100% convinced it would work-- my shooting socks have a different cuff than the leg, so perhaps I'm blinded by the fact that to me, at least, it would look like one was wearing shooting socks.

That said, if it was subdued (which my shooting socks aren't), it would probably look okay-- the black with grey cuffs you mentioned sound as if they'd probably pass muster.

Thanks, MacMillan of Rathdown.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I don't agree. The quality of kilt hose provided by the rental outlets--- and sold as cheap hose--- are miserable and in any colour look like the cheap, thin, mixed-acrylic knee-highs they are. A good stout quality cream and oatmeal Aran knit hose can look wonderful and anyone would could mistake the two would surely also confuse a traditional hand sewn kilt with a £25 thing from a supermarket or a bath towel. Off-white (cream to beige to oatmeal ) really show off tanned skin and highlights well toned muscular legs. By using plain coloured flashes (picking out a line from the tartan or a complementary colour to the main hue) one can indeed wear them with a wide range of tartans. These should not be the only colour of hose in ones closet but any wardrobe should have a pair or two.


I also don't agree. Dark sold black socks even with long pants is considered sufficiently somber but not always stylish or elegant. Black knee-high socks will on most people rarely look good. They are ill-suited, I think, for anyone with a cold skin complexion (reddish in contrast to yellowish) or pale skin with less than ideal skin and muscular tone as they highlight both. Women's fashion is filled with black tights as a universal because it makes their legs look slimmer--- and combined with a shorter skirt longer (and thus also younger)--- but notice also that few women will ever wear black knee-highs and those that are worn are more often show some skin as lace, arabesque or fishnet in style rather than plain opaque knit! They can work but not for or with everyone.

Well, that's intersting, even though I don't agree with everything you've posted. But the question wasn't about women's fashion, or the difficulties or choosing the right colours for sallow complected people, or what to do if you have flabby calves; it was about why kilt hire shops only stock/rent white hose.

The fact that probably 99% of all rental outfits come with white hose has really put them in the category of "rented socks" no matter what their quality-- especially when worn with jacket and tie, or after 6pm. Likewise, given that the vast majority of pipe bands (certainly in North America) wear heavy white socks with thick "Aran" cuffs, is another reason why they should be avoided in "civilian" attire.

As far as creme hose are concerned, well to me they always have the look of white socks that have gone off colour. Just my personal observation.

[Nanook]

One is probably already wearing a black formal jacket which is buffered by the white shirt.

Black is not the only formal coatee colour about... but leaving that aside.. since we're on the subject.. White is not always the right shirt colour to choose. Those with fair cool complexions (reddish versus yellowish), light hair (blond, ash, amber etc) and blue or gray eyes in the winter--- sans tan--- are probably better drawn to ivory and light pastels (such as pink or blue) while those with warm complexions would find earth colours better suiting. White shirts can be perfect with tanned skin but with fair cool tone (whitish pink) skin and light hair it tends to make the wearing look paler and move the focus of attention to the tie, or worse still, the kilt and hose rather than face. Its about first impressions and they should be clearly focused on the face, especially eyes and not the floor (but when they do move downwards, shoes should be of good quality, condition and shine as they are typically considered the true giveaway between a well dressed gentleman and a poseur)....

[Bugbear]

I am very aware of color theory and color analysis, as well as, seasonal skin tone color coordination. We are talking about formal evening attire, though.