what kilt hose to wear?

**Jdot84** · 8th January 09, 02:29 PM

I know that this is a topic that is open to personal choice, but I would like your input.
I have several pair of hose as do many off you, but I am confused about what to wear when. Are colored hose (lovet blue) ok for formal wear or are my hand knitted aran hose (oatmeal) a better choice. What about wearing them both as casual wear with a rugby or golf shirt. And what about white hose? I know that they came about due to rental shops not wanting to carry a lot of different hose.
Ok that down now what about shoes? I have a pair of black petenleather tuxiedo shoes, are these ok for formal wear or would a regular black dress shoe be better?
Thanks in advance. And I appologize for spelling errors.

Thanks
J.

**Carolina Kiltman** · 8th January 09, 02:57 PM

Just my personal taste here, I am not a member of the Kilt Police! For formal, I would go with diced hose: (Black-tie and up). The colours in the hose should ideally pick up one or more of the colours in the kilt.

That, being said, is there lovat blue in the kilt? Otherwise I would go with the oatmeal or white. When going informal, just try to make look as if you planned it that way.

The patent leather tuxedo shoes should be fine especially with the diced hose. Otherwise a nicely polished dress shoe would do.

Enjoy your outing. I have seen all varieties, (Including one chap with the hose pulled up over his knees at the Burns Supper last year

.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 8th January 09, 03:24 PM

White and creme coloured hose smack of the kilt rental shop (or being in a band), that being the case coloured hose (or diced hose if you have them) are the better choice for formal wear. The oatmeal hose would be fine for day wear or evening wear, but not formal wear.

Your patent leather shoes will be fine for formal evening wear.

**JSFMACLJR** · 8th January 09, 03:25 PM

Stay away from the white and oatmeal hose with formal dress in the evening. Stay away from them like the plague! Diced or tartan hose are what's needed, but lacking those options, solid colours such as the lovat blue will do.

Kind regards,
Sandford MacLean

**McMurdo** · 8th January 09, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

Stay away from the white and oatmeal hose with formal dress in the evening. Stay away from them like the plague! Diced or tartan hose are what's needed, but lacking those options, solid colours such as the lovat blue will do.

Kind regards,
Sandford MacLean

Absolutely spot on, for my money anyway nothing beats diced or tartan hose, I was looking through an older publication at my Aunt's house today, of the men in an advertisement for a highland wear store none of the models were wearing white hose.

**Bugbear** · 8th January 09, 04:29 PM

Would black Lewis hose be fine? Someone was complaining about black hose a while back.

The only tartan hose I would be able to afford would be homemade cadadh... and I'm sure they would be laughed at.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 10th January 09, 06:22 AM

I did a blog post some time ago that covers a lot of this. Might be worth a look.
http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2005/07/on-kilt-hose.html

**Spartan** · 10th January 09, 08:36 AM

As is many things, I find that there are as many opinions as there are people to give them.

Thanks, Matt, for the link to your very helpful blog.

**David Dubh** · 10th January 09, 11:19 AM

I tend to wear a coloured hose that matches the main colour of my kilt. That being said I have a cream coloued pair that with a red embroidered lion rampant that I will wear formally with my tartan flashes.

Why do rentals think it appropriate to rent/sell cream hose for formal wear? Would you wear white socks with your buisness suit or tux??

**Bugbear** · 10th January 09, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

I did a blog post some time ago that covers a lot of this. Might be worth a look.
http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2005/07/on-kilt-hose.html

Matt, that is the blog post I was thinking about when I posted that the only tartan hose I would be able to afford are homemade cadadh.

I have come across X Marks posts that speak very harshly of black hose. For formal, I understand the issue with white or cream hose.

In this thread, though, it doesn't sound like dark colored hose are going to be scoffed at in a formal setting. , I understand that one should wear tartan or diced hose if possible.

In my mind, I can see how a black formal jacket etc, certain tartans, and black hose would look very sharp together.