Question about hose

[Lyle1]

Not to upset anyone, but I must put my two cents worth in on this thread. I agree with many folks, here, why white might not be appropriate, due to keeping them clean. After that, I can't see the fuss. This is a matter of personal choice. I think too many folks get carried away with what THEY would do, and then try to get everyone else to think their way. If you only wear white to a tennis match or to the gym, good for you. There are many situations when white looks very stunning. Is there a law written that white should not be used???? If so, then all the manufacturers of kilt hose need to stop making them.

Oh, and not using them because they are cheap, like being used in hire??? Isn't that being a tad stuffy??????

I know some older gentlemen in my area who use only white hose, and they do look awfully dapper when in the full Scottish attire. Different strokes for different folks!! I don't like to be offensive here, but come on!!!

Nicely said.

I don't understand why anyone cares what color hose anyone else wears, to begin with. If white hose look good with what you are wearing, wear them. Personally, I would lean to wearing white hose more for a formal occasion than an informal one, but that would be my choice. Even my wife, whose taste I value, has little to say about what I wear, once I make a decision.

If keeping white hose clean is an issue for you, don't wear them. If they get dirty, wash them or send them to the dry cleaner. Don't you clean colored hose after you wear them?

[jgorley]

Ok, I have to put in my 2 cents. I live in a small town with not a kilt shop to be found. Cream are the only hose I own. I didn't know any better when I bought my first kilt. Personally, I think they don't look too shabby if you are wearing a white t-shirt or sweater. I am not opposed to wearing colors, but I am hesitant to purchase hose of color without being able to be sure they will match. After purchasing my tank and a couple casual 16 oz, I don't have a much of a bank roll left. Spending what some hose cost and having them not match is no fun for anyone. I really only have the opportunity to shop at the festivals. And at that time I am competing in the Athletics and wearing my inexpensive kilts. I usually wear gold athletic "Soccer" socks with it as not to ruin my wool hose. Not to mention that many of the venders only offer the ultra thin "athletic" looking hose. I guess I will have to make a trip to a big city to find a shop that offers quality hose and match all of my kilts to new hose. Maybe someone can offer some hose to match the following tartans:

Tartan Mill Kilt Company
MacDuff Dress Modern-Lochc 16oz-Scotweb
Isle of Skye-----------Lochc 16oz-Scotweb
St Andrews Modern----Bat 16 oz---USA Kilts

Short and sweet, I don't want to spend money on hose that won't match any kilt I own. Thanks for the input.
James

[CDNSushi]

Oh Goody!

The perennial white hose debate!

Well, I tend to side with the folks who a) don't have a problem with them, and b) don't criticize others for wearing them.

When I posted a link to the "people of Walmart" site, I was criticized by some for looking down upon others and being elitist. Well, to me it seems that criticizing the hose choice of others smacks of a very similar sort of elitism.

In fact, let me quote what English Bloke said verbaitm on that thread:

It's easy to laugh at those 'other' people. Smacks of snobbery to me. I wear a kilt in a normally unkilted environment. I try not to judge people by what they choose to wear. I would have thought that WE of all people might be a little more broad minded.

So what if an outfit is rented? Not everyone shares our passions that they would have the money and passion to burn on Highland outfits... If someone who rented a kilt for his wedding (complete with white hose) were to read this thread and others like it, he would probably feel like quite a complete tool for having worn white hose, seeing how people have such a hate-on for it.

I think there is a small group of individuals with a particular taste in fashion, but who tend to be particularly vocal about such things, thus giving the impression that it is a universal sentiment. I've seen many comments on here saying "before I knew better" or "before I came to this site" they thought white hose were OK... I find such comments disheartening, as they represent a "mainstreaming effect" where others are peer-pressured into adapting their own style to something that people will approve of. Given the non sequitur choice of our attire to begin with, I find that rather ironic.

[macwilkin]

The other day I made a mistake and took a personal opinion for an unkind comment regarding a particular vendor and his product. I was wrong. Whether I disagree with this fellow or not, he was entitled to his opinion, and I should have not said a word.

That being said, I cringe when I see the words "white hose" now, because every time they're mentioned, we see another round of "Let's bash the traditionalists for being elitist!".

Some of us do not like white hose. As I was told the other night, that doesn't mean we're wrong, or those who do are, it simply is "horses for courses".

If someone wants to white hose, then fine -- It's none of my affair. But I am tired of the implication I am somehow an elitist snob because I choose to not wear them.

T.

[Panache]

James,

Instead of going out of town why not put your trust in one of our vendors? XMTS doesn't keep sponsors that fail our membership and many of our sponsors are also active members here.

Folks like Matt Newsome and the rest would probably be quite happy to answer an inquiry by PM and offer a recomendation.

Without even looking at the names of the tartans you list I can suggest that you look into stone/oatmeal hose for day wear. They work extremely well with virtually all tartans and brown leather accessories.

For evening / dressier occassions I suggest you check with the folks that make XMTS possible.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

Ok, I have to put in my 2 cents. I live in a small town with not a kilt shop to be found. Cream are the only hose I own. I didn't know any better when I bought my first kilt. Personally, I think they don't look too shabby if you are wearing a white t-shirt or sweater. I am not opposed to wearing colors, but I am hesitant to purchase hose of color without being able to be sure they will match. After purchasing my tank and a couple casual 16 oz, I don't have a much of a bank roll left. Spending what some hose cost and having them not match is no fun for anyone. I really only have the opportunity to shop at the festivals. And at that time I am competing in the Athletics and wearing my inexpensive kilts. I usually wear gold athletic "Soccer" socks with it as not to ruin my wool hose. Not to mention that many of the venders only offer the ultra thin "athletic" looking hose. I guess I will have to make a trip to a big city to find a shop that offers quality hose and match all of my kilts to new hose. Maybe someone can offer some hose to match the following tartans:

Tartan Mill Kilt Company
MacDuff Dress Modern-Lochc 16oz-Scotweb
Isle of Skye-----------Lochc 16oz-Scotweb
St Andrews Modern----Bat 16 oz---USA Kilts

Short and sweet, I don't want to spend money on hose that won't match any kilt I own. Thanks for the input.
James

[Panache]

CDNSushi,

While certainly not a hardcore traditionalist, I do think it is worth noting to those less knowledgable about highland attire that there are options beyond white and that spending the money for higher quality hose can greatly improve an outfit. In general most men don't give that much consideration to socks and this translates into how they wear thier kilts as they become interested in highland attire. "Why bother spending twice as much on fancy kilt hose? These will do fine!" they might be tempted to think. After all it is a bit of a jump to go from a pair of dress socks that cost $5 a pair to a pair of Lewis hose that cost $50. This isn't even factoring in custom hose like the ones Josh (NorCalPiper) does. A few years ago I wouldn't dream of shelling out $130 for a pair of socks, but after seeing the examples from some of our "Auld Crabbits" I was swayed. Those custom hose were the perfect finishing touch for my formal rig. I am very glad that I had some more experienced voices here on XMTSt o listen and learn from.

Now if someone were to approach me out socially and critiqued my wearing of white hose with a kilt I would laugh it off. If I ever recieved one of those infamous little cards about white hose I would probably frame it for posterity (and many laughs in the future)!

I don't agree with the knee jerk "I hate white hose" crowd, but I resepct their opinion to not like them. I also keep listening and see that beyond the often poorly worded opposition to white hose there are also some valuable nuggets of information.

Just a thought from your friendly neighborhood...

Panache

...I think there is a small group of individuals with a particular taste in fashion, but who tend to be particularly vocal about such things, thus giving the impression that it is a universal sentiment. I've seen many comments on here saying "before I knew better" or "before I came to this site" they thought white hose were OK... I find such comments disheartening, as they represent a "mainstreaming effect" where others are peer-pressured into adapting their own style to something that people will approve of. Given the non sequitur choice of our attire to begin with, I find that rather ironic.

[denmcdough]

As humans, we tend to judge people according to my, or my group's, standards. We put ourselves at the center of the universe and think of ourselves as all important. So, now, the further you, or your group, is from me, then you're just plain weird. Different! Stupid! Less of a person! Whatever!

When you're at the outer edge of this universe, communication is doomed, and terms like hate, bigotry, racism, discrimination, etc., all come to focus. Lets' narrow the gap and bring you, your group, closer to me and my group. The above terms start to dissipate and better understanding and communication begin to happen.

With the hose issue, or any other kilt related issues, there are a few on this site who seem to be at the center of the universe putting the other folks at the outer fringes and judging them negatively, as if you have the definitive answer. Wearing a kilt and all the gear is fantastic, which is what drew me to this site in the first place, but in the realm of things, that's not a big deal.

I especially liked the comment about being pressure bullied into the mass way of thinking. I truly like that statement, and I can see it happening here. As a new person to 'kiltdom,' I was starting to feel that way, too, but decided to take everyone's input and then do it my way! If my way is like your way, then cool beans. If not, well, that's the way the apple falls.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I more or less agree with some of the sentiments expressed above. But, since the original question was:

I am wondering why people don't like the white hose?

I don't quite understand the need to attack the opinions expressed by those who chose to answer the question, rather than defend wearing white hose?

Perhaps there needs to be a "I am wondering why people like white hose?" thread for those who feel the need to defend wearing white socks with the kilt.

[The Thing]

Being a Newbie to the Kilted world until recently, I bought a pair of black Kilt hoes for my wedding day outfit. I was all smug and happy and thought I was the "man" little did I realise that there were different kinds and quality wool of sock. The type that I purchased showed up as quite see through so I thought sod this it's time to buy some quality kilt hoes.
I didn't really know what to buy so I looked at Panche and Mc Murdo's 1 kilt 10 looks photos for an idea of what colours looked suitable. I bought a pair of quality Oatmeal for formalwear as my budget wouldn't go far enough for diced hoes. I had always thought that white was the colour of formality. To me it signals being clean and neat and shows up the ghillie brogues very well. Today in the post came a pair of quality Lovat green hoes and a pair of Navy as well whoo hoo.
My mother in law who is a great knitter has said she'd knit me 2 pairs of Aran hoes for my 30th birthday, one in bottle green as I have ordered a Saffron SWK and one in Pure white for formal wear. I think the white and Oatmeal look fantastic for formal wear, but then again there's horses for courses and that's what makes Kilt wearing so much fun.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Now personally I would only wear white/cream hose with my PC style black tie formal rig and my ghillie brogues. There is something that to me speaks of the elegant simplicity of the black and white dinner jacket in this type of outfit. However they aren't right (to me) with the older styled formal doublets and don't go at all with day wear .

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

I have long avoided the many white hose discussions that frequent this board since I have joined. However, I must comment on Jamie's observation here and completely agree with him. In fact, I would suggest that this is a big part of why they became stock and trade in the kilt rental business, which usually includes a PC, along with the limited expense of providing them.

Does a custom pair of diced or Argyll hose take this to another level? Sure, but this is a place where simplicity works, for the visual reason noted above.