Scathing Attack on White Socks

[The Wizard of BC]

Thank you Anne the Pleater for bringing up this point.

I think it is good to remind ourselves from time to time, where much of what we think of as accessories for our kilts comes from. Prior to the Regency period and the introduction of long pants by Beau Brummel, most men in the western world were wearing powdered wigs and short pants with white knee hose.

White was considered the mark of a gentleman because it is harder to keep clean. Clean and starched anything denoted one with enough money to afford servants.

The military use of white in uniforms also comes from this period, for much the same reason. White leather and canvas requires daily 'chalking' to keep them white. Polished brass, and in fact almost all 'bright' metal required daily polishing. Even the 'spit shine' of our shoes date from this period.

It is pretty easy to follow this trend in fashion all the way up to today. Our wing collars, on tuxedo shirts with starched panels, are stark white. Our Jabot and lace cuff are always white. When I was growing up in the '50's a brand new, spotlessly clean, white t-shirt became famous. In the '60's no business man would be caught dead in a soiled white shirt. (Many would keep spares in their desk drawer and changed their shirt two or three times during the day.)

Anyone today who has ever worn white hose with their kilt can attest to the amount of trouble white is. And I'm not talking about ecru or 'cream' hose.

So, in effect, white has always said to the world "I've made it" "I have enough money or spare time to care for my whites".

I sometimes think we forget this in today's world. We have washing machines and synthetic fabrics that retain their bright white with very little work. Our fabrics today retain hard, sharp creases without constant starching and ironing.

I can agree with the fashion gurus that white socks with dress trousers is not a good fashion statement. If however, you want to be historically accurate and traditional in your kilt, a pair of "The whitest of white" kilt hose do have a place in your wardrobe.