White Hose

[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,

[Phil]

What did I say about a hornet's nest? Mea culpa.

[creagdhubh]

What did I say about a hornet's nest? Mea culpa.

Phil,

I am unsure why any one member on here would believe they are "stirring a hornet's nest?" That specific statement has negative connotations, that I am quite sure, many members of the forum do not appreciate. Let's simply stay on topic, leave the attitude at home, and help eachother out with well-rounded, intelligent, informed, and tactful advice.

Cheers,

[Mael Coluim]

I have retired my white/creame hose acquired to the Goodwill Thrift store. However, I did save a pair of oatmeal color with color speckles in cotton that I wear in the summer.

I think some folks can pull off wearing white hose okay, i.e., Panche. But for the most part it looks to be a stark contrast to the kilt and colored hose would definitely have looked better.

[Baldybrown]

Just ordered my new garter ties (tartan red).
Thanks guys

[vmac3205]

Phil,
What most of the folks on this forum never mention, is that if you are wearing formal attire (PC, Montrose or Sheriffmuir) you really should be wearing tartan hose. Given that most folks don't have them due to the expense, you can wear and darned color you want. Many pipe bands wear white with their dress uniforms. My kilt wearer has worn off-white with his dress wear for 60 years. More years than most of the guys have been able to spell kilt hose.

[RosscoP]

I very much appreciate all the advice/opinions. I understood it's a fairly devisive topic and I dont mind any view either way.

I was left my Grandad's kilt (MacLaren Ancient) when he passed away a few years back and I'm going to wear it at my wedding. In the bag were also some cream hose (which incidentally dont hold anywhere near as much senitimental value and I think my calves are bigger that his anyway!!).

I've always had the impression that the cream hose (even I don't really like the look of white hose) suit a more formal setting. At least, perhaps, more for one where there will only be a few others in clan kilts.

Ross

[piperdbh]

I've always had the impression that the cream hose (even I don't really like the look of white hose) suit a more formal setting. At least, perhaps, more for one where there will only be a few others in clan kilts.

There was a time when white and its cousin-shades were deemed "formal", but it seems that that time has passed.
Bottom line: they're your feet. Wear what you want.

[Kevin80222]

While I agree that I would never wear a tuxedo with white athletic socks, I would also never wear yellow or red socks with a tuxedo. I believe a kilt differs from a tuxedo in that most of us accessorize to the colors of the kilt - if you were going to emulate modern dress fashion with a kilt you would accessorize with a dark pair of hose only, either black or navy, dependent upon the predominant colors of the kilt. If we equate a kilt to a tuxedo then I would think that mustard, crimson, or bottle green would also be out of the question...

If white hose are considered too stark by some, I would think that many other colors would equally be considered "glaring" or that diced hose might be thought "garish". If white is to be equated with rental fare and so many men don't wear them because someone might assume their attire is rented, then I can't imagine these men wearing kilts to start with - wearing an 8-yard tank garners comments, the least of which would likely be the suggestion that your kilt was not your own and due back to the shop by 8:00 am the next morning...

I have a number of kilts with amounts of white in the tartan. I have paired these with a crisp white dress shirt and white hose and yet to have anyone state that the hose took away from the kilt - instead I have received comments about what a nice tartan I am wearing or how nice it is to see the kilt being worn. I would also never expect another kilted gentlemen to approach me and chastise me on my choice of hose - my hope being that in person we are all gentlemen and much too polite do ever think of doing such a thing.

I am resigned to the thought that there will always be this discussion about what hose colors are appropriate and as such a larger number of members will profess their hatred of white hose and suggest they are incorrect - I suggest to anyone that if you are unsure about kilt hose, kilt length, jacket styles, etc. - that you scour the thousands of pictures available to you on the web and start to formulate your own sense of style, and that we all learn to be supportive of one another's personal fashion.

Asking for assistance with colors and style is of course acceptable here and I always appreciate another member's comments or suggestions about accessorizing, however I for one want to stay away from saying “you can’t”, “don’t ever”, of those back-handed comments such as “looks great, in spite of your white hose…”