Kilt hose

[Laird_M]

OK, prompted from Harpenden thread...

Pretty much every seller sells white or cream hose, which its obvious people on here aren't too keen on.

What 'generic' colours of hose are there?

For example, my clan tartans are MacLeod. My MacLeod of Harris (Ancient) kilt is greens and blues. When I get my 'Loud and Proud' MacLeod of Lewis (Dress Modern) its yellow and black.

What colour hose should I go for?
Do certain colours 'match' better with certain kilt colours?
Do you need a different colour hose for each colour kilt?

[Paul Henry]

I find that a pair of lovat blue and lovat green go with most tartans, but I've also got black, and grey, and porridge, but I'd be happy with red or maroon.
If you want to play safe ,stick to the lovats, but don't worry too much, and in truth too much matching looks a little too organised!
I generally have a look through the sock drawer and find something I like, I don't generally agonise too much over it

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Well, there are certain colors that work with pretty much any tartan, and then there are even more colors that work with a large number of tartans.

For example, having hose in varying shades of greens or blues will do you well with many, many, tartans, given the predominance of these colors in most tartans. Even tartans which are mostly red often have minor blue or green elements which the hose can pick up on.

Many colors are more neutral, such as black, charcoal, grey, tan (khaki, oatmeal, etc), and you'll find these tone well with just about anything.

If you are looking for hose that will work for both your MacLeod of Harris and MacLeod of Lewis kilts, you can start with the colors they have in common, which are yellow, red, and black. I'd say red hose would work well for both kilts. Black would, as well, and likewise charcoal (which as a dark grey would tone well with the black in the tartans). Yellow would certainly look good with the Harris kilt, but I think that it might be a bit "too much" paired with the Lewis kilt.

I'm not saying that ONLY colors that appear in the tartan will work, but they do give you a good place to start.

And please note that it is not necessary that the color of the hose be an exact match with the tartan, only that they tone well together.

[Zardoz]

I'm with Matt, Red or Charcoal would work well with both tartans, Red especially with the Loud MacLeod!

[Joshua]

I'm with Matt, Red or Charcoal would work well with both tartans, Red especially with the Loud MacLeod!

Red with yellow garters!

The yellow garters would tie in everything regardless of the color of hose... charcoal, hunter green...

I actually would avoid any lovat blue/gree with the Loud MacLeod - mostly because it's a big bold primary colored kilt - why take it down a notch on the legs?

[Chas]

Martin, you are going to want more than one pair of hose. The time will come when, you will want to or have to, wear your kilt two days running. When there just isn't enough time to get hose washed and dried.

I am a great believer in eBay. There are often ex-rental hose on sale - generally white, but above all quite cheap. I bought a lot of 10 last year - 5 white and 5 dark grey. They are generally 20% wool and 80% man-made fibres. They can be dyed. They don't take a deep dye, but they certainly won't be white any more.

My hose (me on left) at the latest Harpenden:



I dyed these navy blue and they came out light blue. Dylon do a whole range of dyes, but tea will make a nice natural dye.

Or you could search out 'Big Mikey', a member here, and get him to make you a pair of hose toppers to match your kilt.

Regards

Chas

[Laird_M]

Thanks guys.

Started looking on evil-bay yesterday and found some quite nice ones relatively cheap.

Will get a few more as and when I have some spare cash. I quite like the black with red lion rampant or thistle.

[Bill aka Mole]

As stated above by those more worldly than I, don't agonize about hose color. I am rather happy wearing oatmeal hose with red flashes with a Black Watch tartan kilt. I can wear any shirt I have as it will match up with something.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Thanks guys.

Started looking on evil-bay yesterday and found some quite nice ones relatively cheap.

Will get a few more as and when I have some spare cash. I quite like the black with red lion rampant or thistle.

Then you'd probably love these!

[Laird_M]

Nice!

Just ordered some lovat blue that should go nicely with my Harris (Ancient).

Once the credit card cools down (car needed work), I'd be interested in getting a pair like that...