Argyle kilt hose - success!

[Captain Karrot]

I respectfully request that until you learn about quality vs. money that you don't be quite so critical of individuals such as Matt Newsome who has done nothing but share his extreme wisdom of Scottish attire to this board.

I didn't read Hospitaller's post as being critical of Matt. Simply that for the quality product's he supplies, you typically have to pay a premium. I understand his position, though. When I read a post discussing a hundred dollars or more for kilt hose, I simply by-pass it. I can't afford that. I also can't justify, in my value system, paying that much for what amounts to a pair of sock - no matter the quality. Don't have anything against those that can, just not my cuppa.

[hospitaller]

I respectfully request that until you learn about quality vs. money that you don't be quite so critical of individuals such as Matt Newsome who has done nothing but share his extreme wisdom of Scottish attire to this board.

And the irony is, I did not criticize Matt, in fact I clearly mentioned that when and If I can ever afford to buy his stuff I will.

Now, you freely criticize and pre-judge me with your remark.

Had you read my post, you would have noticed the point is about price and affordability, not about quality.

Alternative 'kilt products' are affordable. 'Brand name' kilt products are of quality.

I really fail to see where I have criticized Matt, so if you could clarify it for me I'd appreciate it. And of course your remark. Very snide and sophomoric.

Matt, those used hose I bought from you last year are still running great by the way.

[hospitaller]

Matt,
I agree with you and I am in the poboy catagory also. I would prefer to save my money and buy one quality product rather than have to buy several lower priced and usually lower quality item. It just makes better since to me. My Kilts and other Highland wear are an investment and they should and will last a lifetime.

I agree with you there, but see, a lot of us also want to buy one item, not dozens.

I just want to have a pair of diced hose and that's it. I can not afford $150-$200 for a pair of diced hose. I can afford $60. So I buy the ONE I can afford.

I don't want dozens of pairs of hose, some members do and showcase them regularly. It is nice to see the variety and good for them.

I just don't think it fair to call our available price range of selections 'unserviceable', or 'wear them only once every 5 years' or 'wear them only when there is not enough light' and so on.

If someone can afford and does not want to wear 'cheap' items, great, just please enough with the editorials and criticisms.

Different people can afford different prices, and there is no need to ridicule or criticize those items that are 'cheaper'.

Some people can only afford those.

[Jdot84]

I agree with you there, but see, a lot of us also want to buy one item, not dozens.

I just want to have a pair of diced hose and that's it. I can not afford $150-$200 for a pair of diced hose. I can afford $60. So I buy the ONE I can afford.

I don't want dozens of pairs of hose, some members do and showcase them regularly. It is nice to see the variety and good for them.

I just don't think it fair to call our available price range of selections 'unserviceable', or 'wear them only once every 5 years' or 'wear them only when there is not enough light' and so on.

If someone can afford and does not want to wear 'cheap' items, great, just please enough with the editorials and criticisms.

Different people can afford different prices, and there is no need to ridicule or criticize those items that are 'cheaper'.

Some people can only afford those.

I applogize if anything in my post was concidered criticisms or ridicule, I did not mean it to sound that way.
I was just trying to point out that there are bargins out there, and or a person may be better suited to save up for an item than to lose thier money on somethig that will not last (this I have done myself).
After all we are all here to educate and to be educated.
I think a person should wear what they want, and that is what is advocated here in this forum.
Once again I appologize If anything I'd posted before was misconstued.

Thanks

J.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

What are those footless hose tops at that link?

Not thinking of the price, but the use over cotton socks for comfort, and shoes with tongues of course.

As Todd has said, these are designed to be worn with spats. However, these that we carry are made with a full leg, as opposed to some I have seen that only cover the upper part of the calf.

I have heard of folks adding a strap to the bottom of these that runs under the foot to keep them in place, and then wearing them with shoes (tongued, of course, and high enough to cover the bottom of the sock leg). But I have never personally tried it, so I cannot vouch for how that might work.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I really shouldn't get into this not only because I respect James and thank him for his contributions but also because it seems very difficult to express a contrary opinion here without someone being offended.

But truth to tell, I don't think any of the hose I saw on the golf site would be a reasonable substitute for tartan hose. They're argyll knee highs, sure enough, but they aren't tartan hose.

DW brings up a good point. Argyle kilt hose and Argyle pattern golf socks may have certain resemblances, but the truth is they are very different items. That's why one costs about 1/10 of the other.

Now, it is my opinion that someone wearing golf socks with their kilt to a formal function will look a bit silly and at best like a Highland dress neophyte who doesn't know the difference.

I think it would be far, far better for that person to simply wear a pair of good quality solid kilt hose, that you can find for about the same price as those golf socks.

I say this not to be mean or critical, but because I really want people to look good and feel good in their Highland dress, and to avoid being a "kilt don't." When people come into the museum I am able to offer them advice and steer them in the right direction no problem. But sometimes on line the same advice comes across as being "snobby" or overly critical. That is really not the intent -- I just want people to look well dressed in their kilt!

[RockyR]

Re: the quality vs. quantity or Quality vs. Price debate... as Riverkilt is fond of saying "Different horses for different courses".

There will ALWAYS be a debate over what something is 'worth'. Are $150 argyll hose 'worth' it? Are $60 argyll hose 'worth it' for the quality? Only the buyer can decide and no one can decide for them. Some people have a budget and stick firmly to it and there's nothing wrong with that (kudos for not 'overspending' on something when you have other $$ responsibilities).

Matt raises a good point about having lots of different price points and levels of quality (and therefore price) for different product lines. He chooses not to cater toward the VERY low priced items (i.e. 'ebay kilts') and that's where his product line stops. That's his prerogitive as an owner. He does this (as stated in the post above) b/c he wants people to look 'correct' and not a 'Kilt Don't' and that's a perfectly reasonable way to run a business (wanting your customers to look good in your product). Bottom line: He's effectively putting his name / company name on every product he sells and wants them to reflect well on him as a business owner. Please note that there are some kilt companies that have 'low end' sporrans of $100 + and 'low end' kilt prices of $500 or more.

ALL THAT BEING SAID, it's up to the individual to make up their own mind. What I usually tell people is this:

Spend as MUCH money on something as YOU ARE COMFORTABLE spending. Get the best quality you can afford, without putting yourself into hock.

I PERSONALLY don't often look back on a purchase and think 'I should have bought the cheaper one', but regretably when 'saving a few dollars', I DO often think "I should have just spent the extra money and gotten the nicer one". You have to know yourself and where your balance of quality vs. price lies. Sometimes that takes a little explanation of why certain things cost a bit more so people understand why things cost what they do.


ANOTHER IDEA:

Use this forum to your advantage! There are HUNDREDS of members up here with unique talents / different backgrounds / cool jobs. If you're a stained glass artist, see if someone needs a window and is willing to trade for it! If you knit and can knit a pair of diced hose, offer that in exchange for a casual kilt! Heck... Graham (an "ORIGINAL" Xmarks member who is a signmaker in Tazmania) sent us our company sign in trade for a kilt a few years back (and we still have the sign!).

I'm alway amazed at what people up here do for a living and for hobbies. Don't assume that since you can't 'afford' something that's expensive (i.e. $150 hand knit hose) that you can't 'acquire it' through creative means.

My $.02... or in this case it may have been $.08. I was a little long winded.

[Ian.MacAllan]

. . . But truth to tell, I don't think any of the hose I saw on the golf site would be a reasonable substitute for tartan hose. They're argyll knee highs, sure enough, but they aren't tartan hose. . . .

I agree, and here is one of the reasons:

The golfknickersusa.com site states that the fiber content of these socks is 85% Duraspan and 15% Nylon. We all know nylon, right? Googling duraspan reveals that in July, 1991, Monsanto Co. changed the name of its Acrilan II high-bulk acrylic fiber to Duraspun brand fiber, so these socks are 85% acryllic and 15% nylon.

Going to Matt's site we find that his hose are "Made in Hawick, Scotland, from an easy-to-care-for blend of Merino wool and acrylic". I have had a taste of Merino and I like it. I also like what I've seen of Hawick products.

My choice is to do without until I can afford the good stuff, but of course that's just my choice.

.

[Carolina Kiltman]

Re: the quality vs. quantity or Quality vs. Price debate... as Riverkilt is fond of saying "Different horses for different courses".
. . . .
I PERSONALLY don't often look back on a purchase and think 'I should have bought the cheaper one', but regretably when 'saving a few dollars', I DO often think "I should have just spent the extra money and gotten the nicer one". You have to know yourself and where your balance of quality vs. price lies. Sometimes that takes a little explanation of why certain things cost a bit more so people understand why things cost what they do.

This point has been made over and over on this forum. For a long time there was very little in the way of dress clothing I could buy "off the peg", due to my height and weight (actually the absence of it! 6'-5+" tall, 145-155 lbs.) I learned to do with fewer items of clothing, but get the best quality I could for the price.

Perhaps, out of habit, I still do so. I never regretted paying for made-to-measure. Whenever I tried to go "cheap" I would get something that would "almost" fit, and end up sending it to the Salvation Army thrift shop in short order.

Personally, I would prefer to have a pair of quality, plain colour kilt hose, than a cheaper argyle style version that was not "quite right".

Just my tuppence worth here.

[ccga3359]

Bear also in mind that Jay lives in So-Cal and the thinner weight sock might be more comfortable for him in that oppressive heat* down there.




*As I sit here in a balmy -20°F.