Hose/Flashes with tall boots?

[Nighthawk]

I have been kilted full time for 3 years and wear lineman boots all the time though I don't wear flashes on a 17 inch boot the flashes stick out like wings onto of my boots and I don't wear tradition kilt hose due to the wear and tear from the lineman boots.


I get my socks from Sock Dreams I've attached the links for the ones I prefer
http://www.sockdreams.com/products/s...ed-m-stockings
http://www.sockdreams.com/products/s...nter/o-woolies

That's a pretty decent look! I too wear Sock Dreams socks in warmer weather. They don't have a turndown, though, so I also wear hose toppers as a replacement. There is a guy who posted in this thread, Big Mikey, who makes and sells hose toppers. I have 3 pair and will vouch for the quality of his work.

[Droid]

I saw someone do that once... He also left the socks out and was wearing sandals... with flashes wrapped around his legs.

So onto the question- I personally think the look is rather silly. The flashes would fall over the tops of the boots, which being tall, eliminate the need for the flashes, anyway! The point of the garters is to hold the hose up. So if you already have knee high boots, what is the point of the flashes? And this especially if you're wearing Renaissance boots (Katskill mocs?). Flashes are very modern, as are woven hose, and look all the more out of place with Ren garb. I do wear flashes with boots, but only when it's cold out and the hose are needed to keep my legs warm, and then, my boots are only slightly higher than ankle height- work boots! And even at that, I don't particularly like the look. It's just the most practical thing for me personally to do. So there you are. My thoughts.

Another thing to consider (coming from the perspective of an historical reenactor) is the white hose. I am naturally repelled by them for many reasons, but in "period" garb, they look even worse than in modern garb! The knee high boots, while not period as was pointed out, at least give the illusion of being period much better.

As for the hose thing, I think the hose I was wearing in that picture is the natural or tan color, it just looks white in the picture, same with the silly shirt I'm wearing.

I think you have me leaning towards getting a pair of these:


And, it's my understanding that the Scots of ole went bare legged... does that mean no socks or hose? The sandals pictured, according to the vendor selling them, are based on the shoes worn by "the Gaels (hence the name "Gaelles"), Celts, Scots, English and mimicked by the Romans." I'd tie them a little higher up on the leg.

Any thoughts?

[davidlpope]

How about keeping the flashes and foregoing the tall boots?

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[Nighthawk]

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Thing with that is that it sounds like the OP is trying to put together a Renaissance Festival outfit, given the fact that he talked about the boots being from a Renaissance Festival vendor.

[Spartan Tartan]

I would think the flash or garter ties would be unnecessary with such tall boots. As has been mentioned, they're users to keep the hose up. If your boots already go up to just below the knee, I wouldn't wear the flashes or garter ties.

My 2 cents.

[Jock Scot]

Thing with that is that it sounds like the OP is trying to put together a Renaissance Festival outfit, given the fact that he talked about the boots being from a Renaissance Festival vendor.

Understood. Might long boots be a tad warm over there at this time of year though?

[The Thirsty Viking]

I occasionally wear my Son of Sandlar 9-button boots with my kilt Casually. I never get to wear the combo to faire, because i do not wear my kilt in the forge, but out in town, i get a lot of compliments on the look.

To the OP - I would actually reccomend the Son of Sandlar over the others. The construction is more solid, and the soles more geared toward walking all day. They are also less expensive, but with, IMO, better quality.

[Droid]

I occasionally wear my Son of Sandlar 9-button boots with my kilt Casually. I never get to wear the combo to faire, because i do not wear my kilt in the forge, but out in town, i get a lot of compliments on the look.

To the OP - I would actually reccomend the Son of Sandlar over the others. The construction is more solid, and the soles more geared toward walking all day. They are also less expensive, but with, IMO, better quality.

Thank you, I'll check them out. I do like the look of tall boots under a kilt, I'm just trying to figure out the right mix of things for me.

I appreciate all the feedback!

[tulloch]

Tall boots can be useful if you work in brambles and where there might be nasty natural brutes that could sting or bite you in the lower leg. If I were kilted and in those circumstances I would, I think, still want tall hose. If hose then garters 'cause otherwise those nasties would be doughnuts around my ankles and that could be an irritant themselves. Tall boots as a fashion statement might be good for some short interludes but I could not wear them every day. Short answer: if you're going to wear kilt hose then something has to hold them up. The garters would probably be inside the boots.

There was a thread here about U.S. military leggings. I would use them if I were working or hiking in the above-referenced conditions.

Above all, if it doesn't hurt anybody, do what you like!

[davidlpope]

Thing with that is that it sounds like the OP is trying to put together a Renaissance Festival outfit, given the fact that he talked about the boots being from a Renaissance Festival vendor.

In that case, why not go bare-legged (as the "Scots of old"), or perhaps hide-out/fur-in deerskin shoes? In either case (Renaissance Festival or regular kilted wear) it doesn't seem like the tall boots would really fit.

If the OP is bound and determined, though, to wear these tall boots, then I agree that wearing kilt hose and flashes would just add to the confusion.