matching your hose?

**fluter** · 17th November 09, 02:51 PM

OK i'm going to differ with a couple of our colleagues: the shirt should be white. The hose, most of us would say, should not be white. Cream hose are acceptable to some, not to others; it's a matter of taste influenced by custom and usage.

The whole jacket length issue is (1) you don't want the jacket to hide the pleats, (2) it would look a bit funny to most of us here. The cut in front is not crucial, but the length makes a difference.

You may have time to rent a Prince Charlie and the trimmings before going: check with Scottish Tartans Museum, Celtic Croft, et al. Hubby could see how he likes the PC, and it might inform any future purchase.

Above all, have fun!

If purchase is an option, several of our sponsors could also fit you out with the PC or black Argyll and 2 vests to mix'n'match with it. USA Kilts has a nice price going on Argyll and PC.

Now that I think of it, if anyone is in the market for a tux---music students, take note--- Jos. A. Bank has had a nice deal going on separates ($200 for jacket and trousers). If you're near one of their stores, they will honor the Web/catalog price, or they usually ship extremely quickly.

**Ruffles** · 17th November 09, 02:55 PM

Thanks Jamie! Your pictures are great, I appreciate your advice!

**Panache** · 17th November 09, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

Okay, everybody has given good advice so far, but no one has mentioned that the cream/white hose really should be avoided (this being the "Traditional Highland Dress Forum" I feel I am on safe ground when I write this!).

Don't be too sure Sandford!

As far as hose go, especially for a formal outfit, don't skimp on the socks!

It seems to be the one item that people consistently try to save money with when they insist on the "good stuff" for every other part of thier outfit.

Speaking from experience wearing a pair of thin cheap white hose* will not enhance the look of your $500 kilt, it will detract from it. On the flipside, a nice, thick, well made, and matching colored pair of Lewis hose really improves the looks of a kilt, even if if it an acrylic mix one like the Gold Brothers sell.

Cheers

Jamie

* Just my opinion here, but unlike Sandford I think white hose can be worn with formalwear and look smashing. However out of all the colors, white hose definately look the worst when of inferior quality. One doesn't want to look like one is wearing gym socks with one's highland attire!

**fluter** · 17th November 09, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Panache

Ruffles,

If you are looking to get your husband a jacket and sporran with the widest range of formality I would suggest looking at our sponsors and purchasing a black Argyll jacket.

Excellent advice! I would advise the matching waistcoat, which adds options for suit-and-tie situations or daytime formal ("morning dress"). And if at all possible, a "real" bow tie---the kind that's tied and not hooked, clipped, or Velcro-ed on.

P. S. Don't worry about the terms of endearment. I suspect you're more or less surrounded by fans of A. A. Milne, who know how properly to spell "hunny."

**thescot** · 17th November 09, 09:47 PM

Why can't we still call him Hunny?

**thescot** · 17th November 09, 09:51 PM

Duplicate deleted

**Ruffles** · 18th November 09, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by thescot

Why can't we still call him Hunny?

He's really gonna kill me for starting this "hunny" business! haha!!!

**thescot** · 18th November 09, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Ruffles

He's really gonna kill me for starting this "hunny" business! haha!!!

I just think Hunny is so cute.

**Tobus** · 19th November 09, 06:14 AM

The whole jacket length issue is (1) you don't want the jacket to hide the pleats, (2) it would look a bit funny to most of us here. The cut in front is not crucial, but the length makes a difference.

What is the proper length of a jacket? What's the lowest it should come to in the back?

**OC Richard** · 19th November 09, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

Okay, everybody has given good advice so far, but no one has mentioned that the cream/white hose really should be avoided (this being the "Traditional Highland Dress Forum" I feel I am on safe ground when I write this!). Diced hose, or tartan hose are the socks of choice for evening dress. Failing that--and they do tend to be a bit expensive-- go with solid colour hose: blues, greens, reds, greys are all good choices and will mark your man as having a discerning eye!

I put the "discerning eye" bit in bold because that, to me, is the crux of the issue.

Cream/offwhite hose aren't "wrong" but they ARE out of fashion currently.

We should keep in mind that Highland dress, like any sort of clothing, is a fashion and at any given time some things are "in" and some are "out".

Fashion is a funny thing: it advertises to those who are "in the loop" who are likewise in the loop, and those who are not.

At any point in time the majority of people will wear what's current, while a few will be on the cutting edge of the next trend, and a few will continue to wear what is out-of-date... a bell-shaped curve if you will.

This is a constant topic of debate in the Pipe Band world.

Anyhow, nowadays in the Pipe Band world at least, offwhite hose mark a band as being hopelessly out of date, because they were all the go in the 1980's but in the 1990's were replaced by pure white hose.

Currently, while many leading pipe bands still wear their 1990's pure white hose, many are going to dark hose, the most popular colours being black and an extremely dark blue. (Black goes with everything, so it's a no-brainer for pipe bands.)
Charcoal grey is also somewhat popular now, and compliments a wide variety of tartans.
Also Lovat blue and Lovat green hose, considered old-fashioned in the 1980's and 1990's, have been making a comeback.

The rallying cry seems to be "anything but white!" or "death to white popcorn hose!"

(Offwhite is considered completely beyond the pale and never even enters the conversation).