I always wear traditional garter ties. I love the way they look, and they do a fine job holding my hose up. Without garter ties (or flashes, if you care for that look, which I don't), they just look like tall socks to me. But with them, they look like kilt hose should look. That's just the way I personally see it. I have, though, seen some examples of really thick hose with chunky turnovers that look OK without visible flashes/garters. I guess it's an issue of proportion. I do think it would be easier to get away without them if one were wearing patterned hose, or patterned cuffs, rather than plain self-coloured hose.
I usually wear a sgian dubh, but if I'm going somewhere that it might be a problem, I'll leave it behind. So I can go either way with it. I do see it as a normal part of Highland attire, but don't think it looks "off" when it's missing.
When I do wear one, though, it's always a functional knife. Wearing a fake or non-functional knife just for looks seems kind of strange to me, like it's a prop for a stage costume.
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