White Hose

[RosscoP]

Hi All,

Scouring the boards I see a lack of fondness for white hoes.

Does the same go for cream hose?

I was going to search on Google, but after a certain 'White hoes' typo I'm not sure I want to try that again at work!!!

Ross.

[piperdbh]

You're in hot pursuit now.

Some folks here absolutely hate, loathe, despise and detest hose made in white, off-white, near-white, cream, ivory, ecru, eggshell and any other color in that family. Others don't mind.
Some folks here say that those shades, especially white, remind them of rented kilts. Others, who have no experience with rented kilts, don't mind.
Some folks here say that one should never wear those shades unless required to do so as part of a uniform. Others don't mind.

You see where this is headed? I've just typed out what often turns into pages and pages of arguments. In other words, if you want to wear hose made in any of the aforementioned shades, go right ahead.

[The Volusianator]

Look at it like cigars, smoke what you like, like what you smoke. Why should it be any different with hose?

You're in hot pursuit now.

Some folks here absolutely hate, loathe, despise and detest hose made in white, off-white, near-white, cream, ivory, ecru, eggshell and any other color in that family. Others don't mind.
Some folks here say that those shades, especially white, remind them of rented kilts. Others, who have no experience with rented kilts, don't mind.
Some folks here say that one should never wear those shades unless required to do so as part of a uniform. Others don't mind.

You see where this is headed? I've just typed out what often turns into pages and pages of arguments. In other words, if you want to wear hose made in any of the aforementioned shades, go right ahead.

[Panache]

Question # 4 What about white hose and highland attire?

Let me set you all straight

Once upon a time no one wore white hose

Then a few decades ago, mainly because of use by pipe bands and promotion by kilt rental shops, white hose became a prevalent fashion which is still currently in vogue with highland attire.

So wearing white hose isn't wrong. (Let’s pause here a moment. Does everybody got that? WEARING WHITE HOSE ISN’T “WRONG”! Good. Let's continue...)

However, I go to a lot of SCD dances and highland games and see a huge number of guys in kilts with white hose. Sometimes they look quite nice with these fellows outfits and sometimes they look quite ghastly.

So please observe the following when thinking about purchasing and wearing white hose

DON'T

Buy them because that is what the guy in the catalogue is wearing
Buy them because that is what everyone else seems to be wearing at the highland games/ Burns Night Suppers/ etc.
Buy them because you can't decide what color hose looks good with your tartan
Buy them because they are the cheapest / best deal
Buy thin acrylic ones
Ignore other options like diced or argyll hose because of the cost (they really can make an outfit!)

DO

Buy them if you actually think that white goes well with the tartan / outfit
Buy good quality ones of thick wool (hand knit out of natural wool is your very best option)
Ignore anyone who dislikes white hose on general principle
Wear them with confidence because YOU think they look great

ith:

Cheers

Jamie

[CMcG]

I was going to search on Google, but after a certain 'White hoes' typo I'm not sure I want to try that again at work!!!

I believe Snoop Dogg has worn the kilt and, while he wore black hose, he had a bevy of scantily clad females that might have come up by Google searching for your typo and 'kilt'

In all seriousness, I don't wear white (or any other shade that piperdbh mentioned) because I've been informed that they aren't traditional. If you do want to play with those, I have seen some hand knit ones with thick cabling and a creamy/natural wool colour that looked pretty good. The stark bleached white ones look either like athletic socks if they are thin or like a piper's uniform if they have the popcorn top....

[HeathBar]

I think cream hose would fall in that category. But with so many colors available, why go with such a plain color.

[Phil]

Like anywhere else, this site has its fair share of over-opinionated individuals who never miss the opportunity to impose their opinions on everyone else, right or wrong. I mean what is the point of having an opinion otherwise? OK so they don't like white hose, or buckle brogues, or lace jabots, or long kilts, or short kilts, or utlilikilts, or..or..but that means absolutely nothing whatsoever if you happen to like them - any of them. All this "white hose are just for hire shops" is simply snobbery. Wear what you want and enjoy it. And sit back now and enjoy the hornet's nest you have stirred up amongst the opinionati (is that a word?)

[artificer]

Like anywhere else, this site has its fair share of over-opinionated individuals who never miss the opportunity to impose their opinions on everyone else, right or wrong. I mean what is the point of having an opinion otherwise? OK so they don't like white hose, or buckle brogues, or lace jabots, or long kilts, or short kilts, or utlilikilts, or..or..but that means absolutely nothing whatsoever if you happen to like them - any of them. All this "white hose are just for hire shops" is simply snobbery. Wear what you want and enjoy it. And sit back now and enjoy the hornet's nest you have stirred up amongst the opinionati (is that a word?)

Phil,
come on. If someone is ASKING for advice (or at least the reason WHY the bulk of the rabble don't like something) of COURSE they're going to get an answer.

The prevailing forum attitude IS that white hose evoke imagery of rental shops or pipe bands. If that's what a chap likes, nobody is saying they can't or shouldn't wear them, but just that they should beware that these are the images conjured by the white hose.

Back OT.
Creme / Off-White hose can run the gamut from almost white to dark oatmeal or putty, and from a rather thin, nasty acrylic knit to a delightfully chunky hand-knitted cabling.

Creme coloured hose are just like every other type. Some like them, some LOVE them, some hate them. I personally wouldn't wear creme hose unless they were of the chunky, hand knit variety (think Aran sweater).

Even then, there are so many colours of hose that I like besides creme/off-white that I don't think I would ever get to the point where I would hear myself say "I think I need a pair of creme hose".

As Phil said, wear what makes you happy.

ith:

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Like anywhere else, this site has its fair share of over-opinionated individuals who never miss the opportunity to impose their opinions on everyone else, right or wrong. I mean what is the point of having an opinion otherwise? OK so they don't like white hose, or buckle brogues, or lace jabots, or long kilts, or short kilts, or utlilikilts, or..or..but that means absolutely nothing whatsoever if you happen to like them - any of them. All this "white hose are just for hire shops" is simply snobbery. Wear what you want and enjoy it. And sit back now and enjoy the hornet's nest you have stirred up amongst the opinionati (is that a word?)

I wonder if someone logged on to a men's fashion web site and asked for people's opinion about wearing white athletic socks with their tux to their next black tie dinner, if people would get into such a snit when other forum members advised against it.

Really, when people complain about others being "kilt police" or imposing their mere opinions on others, what I typically see is simply fashion advice. And like all fashion advice, some will be better than others, and you are free to take it or leave it. But that does not mean all fashion advice will be bad or without precedent.

[creagdhubh]

I wonder if someone logged on to a men's fashion web site and asked for people's opinion about wearing white athletic socks with their tux to their next black tie dinner, if people would get into such a snit when other forum members advised against it.

Really, when people complain about others being "kilt police" or imposing their mere opinions on others, what I typically see is simply fashion advice. And like all fashion advice, some will be better than others, and you are free to take it or leave it. But that does not mean all fashion advice will be bad or without precedent.

Extremely well said, Matt. In my viewpoint, the majority of members on this forum offer "friendly" advice concerning various issues surrounding Highland dress, and the manner of wearing it. You can either "take it or leave it," but nonetheless, the advice is still there, which makes this particular forum such a wonderful place to be.

Cheers,