Holyrood tartan - what color kilt hose? Advice?

[Couper]

A copper or claret might make it "PoP" but I like the appearance of the piper on the left (in one in the brightest light). He looks quite put together.

Probably just me - but I tend to prefer muted tones along with grays (charcoal) and black. YMMV

[OC Richard]

Another vote for Claret.

In my opinion, it's usually best to compliment the kilt rather than match it; in other words, think of the kilt as a solid-colored/self-coloured garment and pick hose that make a striking contrast with the kilt's overall appearance.

I try to avoid using any of the major colours in a kilt for the hose colours; that has the effect of "washing out" or diminishing the same colour in the kilt.

So with my Isle of Skye kilt my favourite hose colours are Claret, and Blue; neither colour appears in the tartan, which is exactly why it looks so good.

BTW if you DO use one of the kilt's ground-colours for hose it's better to go with a stronger/more intense version of the colour; this brightens the kilt, while the reverse dulls the kilt.

Note in the photo above that some of the pipers are wearing Ancient Blue hose, which looks OK with the Hollyrood tartan, while other pipers are wearing grey hose, which mutes/dulls the tartan.