Hose colours

**Daaaaang** · 5th December 07, 02:44 PM

I'm sure that this has been discussed before, but do you have any idea how many options come up for "hose colours" (and how few of them have anything to do with this)? So, yeah, sorry for probably repeating an already discussed discussion.

I'm wondering how you pick your hose/flashes colours. As a rule of thumb, I like the hose to match the shirt, and the flashes to match something from the tartan. I got this idea from the seeming convention of wearing white hose and tartan flashes as formal dress (flashes match kilt, hose match shirt! heyyyy).

I'm wondering what you guys think, or if there are conventions already. Rabble… GO!

**McMurdo** · 5th December 07, 02:54 PM

that is a good way to go with it, or another way that works is to match the hose to a colour in the tartan
Here are a couple of examples
Hose and shirt matching:

Hose matching tartan colour:

**gilmore** · 5th December 07, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Daaaaang

I'm sure that this has been discussed before, but do you have any idea how many options come up for "hose colours" (and how few of them have anything to do with this)? So, yeah, sorry for probably repeating an already discussed discussion.

I'm wondering how you pick your hose/flashes colours. As a rule of thumb, I like the hose to match the shirt, and the flashes to match something from the tartan. I got this idea from the seeming convention of wearing white hose and tartan flashes as formal dress (flashes match kilt, hose match shirt! heyyyy).

I'm wondering what you guys think, or if there are conventions already. Rabble… GO!

There is no convention of wearing white hose worn by anyone at any time of day other than pipers and drummers. This is a rather recent idea and was dreamed up by merchants who rent kilt outfits as a way to save money by not having to keep argyll and diced hose in stock that matched the color of tartans for formal dress. The latter two are the appropriate hose for formal events. They can be expensive, but if you search around you can find bargains, such as argyll hose made by Hawick Sock Co. From the military comes the custom of wearing red and black and other two-color diced hose, also appropriate for formal wear. Maybe it's my own idiocyncratic sensibility, but white kilt hose with black ghillie brogues looks like something a 1950's greaser biker would wear. Not that there is anything wrong with attempting to affect a Scots version of Marlon Brando in "The Wild Ones." It's just more suited to rampaging small towns rather than formal events.

If you do a search, you will find that it has been discussed in several threads. My own guess is that the prohibition on white hose for formal wear came from the times when footmen in livery wore it while waiting on guests at formal dinners. No one wore white hose because no one wanted to be mistaken for a servant.

Generally for day and casual wear a solid colored hose is worn that matches the predominant color of the tartan of the kilt. The flashes match a smaller color in the tartan, such as an overstripe. Or one can wear red flashes, which seem to be always appropriate, again from military traditions.

If you are interested in the traditional view of formal dress, I strongly suggest you get a copy of Thompson's "So You Are Going to Wear the Kilt," dated, but authoritative.

As to hose that matches shirts, this too evokes period costume, the mid-1960's, when matching shirts and sock were the height of fashion among teenage boys. I can't see it without "Louie, Louie" and shag music coming to mind. Take a look at a JC Penny's catalogues from the time. Cranberry red, bottle green and dark blue were the favored colors.

**James MacMillan** · 5th December 07, 05:16 PM

My practice is to either match the hose to the shirt, or the hose to an accent color in the kilt.

Ron somehow manages to wear monochrome and make it look good. He also has worn red hose with a red shirt with equal results. I must have different coloration, because I have yet to be able to pull it off.

I have several pairs of different weights and shades of Cream, Oatmeal, Green, Black, and Blue. One pair of red, and three pairs of white, that I got at a good price, that are waiting to be dyed.

When I dress to go out, I first match the kilt to the activity, then pick hose to go with and compliment the kilt, pick tartan or solid color contrasting flashes, and then go look for a shirt that fits the stuff below.

When I'm not going out, I put on the first thing that my hand hits, and it is sometimes a shock to walk by a mirror,

**Daaaaang** · 5th December 07, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by gilmore

There is no convention of wearing white hose worn by anyone at any time of day other than pipers and drummers. This is a rather recent idea and was dreamed up by merchants who rent kilt outfits as a way to save money by not having to keep argyll and diced hose in stock that matched the color of tartans for formal dress. The latter two are the appropriate hose for formal events.

Out of curiosity, would the balmoral hose that Matt Newsome sells be considered formal? I mean, I plan on using them that way either way, but you know, always good to know the rule.

I personally don't really like argyle and diced hose (too "out there" I guess). The balmoral hose is a nice compromise between diced and solid-colour.

**TheKiltedWonder** · 5th December 07, 07:03 PM

Let it be said that I'm not a fashion maven by any means, but while the balmoral hose look alright and sure look comfortable, I just don't think they look too formal to my eye. Not that it matters to you

Personally I like everything about diced and argyll hose except for their price. Maybe I'm just out there.

**McMurdo** · 5th December 07, 07:14 PM

I like the Balmoral Hose, however I'm not sure how formal they are as compared with Argyll hose.

I found this on Matt's site:

Choose just the right look for your kilt! Casual or formal, the Balmoral hose will ensure your outfit is unique and a step above the norm.

So from that I would say that they can be worn either casually or formally.

**James MacMillan** · 5th December 07, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Daaaaang

Out of curiosity, would the balmoral hose that Matt Newsome sells be considered formal? I mean, I plan on using them that way either way, but you know, always good to know the rule.

I personally don't really like argyle and diced hose (too "out there" I guess). The balmoral hose is a nice compromise between diced and solid-colour.

I'm sure some will disagree, but I don't think the Balmoral hose look good, worn with the Prince Charlie.

The heigth pf formal would be hose of the tartan you are wearing, or diced hose.

These are very expensive.

I wear formal often, and I bounce back and forth between cream and black, leaning towards black more and more. One thing to keep in mind on the hose: Make them look as good as possible, with appropriate flashes, and a good looking sgian dubh.

**gilmore** · 5th December 07, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

...
Choose just the right look for your kilt! Casual or formal, the Balmoral hose will ensure your outfit is unique and a step above the norm.

So from that I would say that they can be worn either casually or formally.

Or on the other hand, one could say that they don't work really well in either situation, neither fish nor fowl.

**TheKiltedWonder** · 5th December 07, 09:10 PM

ok, so at least I'm not the only one who finds that they don't look formal. I think they would look very nice worn casually if they were your style. Just not for me.
Also, someone mentioned a Hawick Sock Co; does anyone know any more contact info for them? I didn't find much by googling, but now I know they make the balmoral socks we've all been discussing!