When I was still working on stage, actors unsure of their ability to command the
attention of the audience would request a white costume, to draw the eyes.
Stage lighting compounds the effect, add excessive hand movement, presto_
all eyes on you. Also pathetic. White hose can have that same effect. Yes.
Absolutely. However, if you have a strong tartan, beautiful argyle, and the correct amount of charisma, or even chutzpah, It CAN work well. Built a set on which Kevin McCarthy wore white and chewed the scenery up and down, right and left. All you could see onstage was Victor Jory sitting center stage on a settee, never moving, just gathering space and BEING his character. A time and place for almost everything.