How important are flashes ?

[OC Richard]

Flashes are one of the things that's changed over the years.

In the standardised 'traditional civilian Highland Dress' which has come down to us from the early 20th century, flashes usually worn.

In the 19th century not so much. In The Highlanders of Scotland (portraits painted in the 1860s) 55 men are wearing kilts and the area where flashes would be seen are visible.

Of those 55 only 15 are wearing flashes. All are red: 10 solid/plain red, the others with edging or stripes.

In the Army at that time flashes were always worn, scarlet, and worn fairly long, often around halfway to the ground.

I always wear flashes because I need to, to keep the hose in place. I suppose I could wear plain elastic garters but why not have that little flash of colour?