how thick hose?

billmcc · 13th April 08, 01:59 AM

I also recommend Gaelic Themes brand for wool hose. They are good looking and not what I would call bulky (but not thin).

USA Kilts sells them for $20 a pair (they are called Colored Kilt Hose on the website): http://www.usakilts.com/footwear.php

I buy mine frome Alexis Malcolm since she is the only vendor I am aware of who stocks hose in my size (small). Price is $22 a pair (they are called Standard Kilt Hose on the website): http://www.alexismalcolmkilts.com/1424.html

**Nick the DSM** · 13th April 08, 02:38 PM

i got mine from sock-dreams.com. i bought the military boot socks. theyre black and comfy. not bulky either.

**DWFII** · 14th April 08, 07:05 PM

Has anyone tried these from Sock Dreams?
http://tinyurl.com/4eer32

How are they for thickness and how are they for durability and how are they for looking somewhat authentic?

billmcc · 15th April 08, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by DWFII

Has anyone tried these from Sock Dreams?
http://tinyurl.com/4eer32

How are they for thickness and how are they for durability and how are they for looking somewhat authentic?

Those hose are made of cotton and sized for a small to medium size foot (US men's size 6-10). I've only worn mine twice, so far, so I can't comment on durability. They are a little thinner than the wool Gaelic Themes hose I mentioned in an earlier reply, which I think makes them a good choice for summer wear. I consider the looks of the hose to be suitable for casual to dressy, but not for formal wear.

**auld argonian** · 15th April 08, 06:20 AM

I'd also suggest that if you want enough sock to turn down into a respectable cuff, the socks should be longer than just knee length.

Best

AA

**DWFII** · 15th April 08, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

I'd also suggest that if you want enough sock to turn down into a respectable cuff, the socks should be longer than just knee length.AA

What do you mean by this...are you suggesting that the cuff ought to be thick(er) or doubled?

How high are standard kilt hose?

The only reason I ask all this is that the shoes I have for my daughters wedding are sized exactly to fit a dress sock. It might be a tight squeeze getting heavy wool kilt hose in there.

billmcc · 15th April 08, 07:04 AM

DWFII,

The top of kilt hose needs to be folded over at least once to hide the elastic band on flashes. Many kilt wearers like to fold the top three times as they like the bulkier appearance.

My Sock Dreams hose are about 2 inches shorter (from top to heel) than my wool Gaelic Themes hose. Both of these hose are about twice as thick at the foot as a standard dress sock. I suspect you are going to need unusually thin (at the foot) kilt hose for those shoes.

**auld argonian** · 15th April 08, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by billmcc

DWFII,

The top of kilt hose needs to be folded over at least once to hide the elastic band on flashes. Many kilt wearers like to fold the top three times as they like the bulkier appearance.

What he said. Personally, I think that the cuff at the top of the sock should have some bulk...too much bulk, though, can look funny so I like to exercise some caution. The Gaelic Themes hose seem to be designed so that you have to do two folds. I have some Bridgedale wool soccer socks that have to be folded at least three times and that looks just about right to me.

I went through grammar and high schools looking at girls in school uniforms and am. perhaps, a bit sensitive about the difference between "a guy in a kilt wearing kilt hose" and "a girl in a plaid skirt wearing knee socks". Thus, I like the top cuffs to have adequate bulk and am careful about keeping a respectable distance between the knee cap and the top of the hose.

Best

AA

**fluter** · 15th April 08, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by DWFII

What do you mean by this...are you suggesting that the cuff ought to be thick(er) or doubled?

How high are standard kilt hose?

The only reason I ask all this is that the shoes I have for my daughters wedding are sized exactly to fit a dress sock. It might be a tight squeeze getting heavy wool kilt hose in there.

Here's the Sock Dreams diamond rib knee high on a size 10 US foot. I'm not quite 6 feet tall, with proportional legs.

I think billmcc's reservation is about the ribbing at the cuff. There's about 2 inches there, which I have turned down in the photo. If you're planning to wear long garter flashes, the cuff is going to be too short to match up. I think that my "nicer" flashes would look too long with that amount of cuff.

I can wear the Gaelic Themes wool blend hose with the same shoes; I don't think the difference in thickness is that great. Their cuff can be turned down about twice as far (or turned twice), and has maybe 4 inches of decorative ribbing.

I have some OTC dress socks from a department store, which have about the same dimensions as the Sock Dreams pair. They are an acrylic blend, and stay up perfectly well without garters.

I think the Hamilton Dry Goods cotton hose are comparable in length/cuff to the Gaelic Themes, but I haven't tried them personally. Given the prices, why not try them all?

Here's a photo with a pair of Gaelic Themes hose and flashes of modest length. It seems most of my pix, I'm not wearing flashes!