In the Pipe Band world "black is the new white".

Throughout the 1990s white was utterly dominant and year after year every single top band at the World Pipe Band Championships wore the stark white bobbletop hose.

When white went out it went out fast and a year or two later most of the bands were wearing black (or navy or charcoal). But oddly black hasn't become quite as dominant as white was. I wonder why... usually the pipe band folk are fashion lemmings.

I only saw 15 of the Grade One bands this year, and of those 15 Boghall & Bathgate was the only veteran Grade One band wearing white. Three bands recently promoted from Grade Two were also wearing white. The rest of Grade One was wearing black, navy, or charcoal, with one mid-grey and one Ancient Blue. In other words there's more variety now than there was during the 20-year period when everyone was wearing white.

About white socks for "Saxon dress", well here in SoCal many people wear Vans or white walking shoes etc and it's white socks, usually, with them. With a suit? Never.