Smartness in kilts

[bubba]

I get plain navy soccor socks 3 pair for $10 at Dicks Sporting Goods. Cheap enough and no stripes or logos. They are on the web.

[Raphael]

Cheaper football socks don't usually have stripes or logo on them.

[GMan]

I have worn hiking socks, not quit as long as kilt hose, but they are designed for "breathability" very comfortable, and almost like kilt hose.

Glen

[Kilted_John]

Hi David -

Here in the UK "smart casual" is much more conservative than that favoured by our neighbours across the pond and for office wear shoes, not boots, are the preferred choice - however short socks do not go with these and rolled down hose just looks sloppy. Sandals with a kilt (with or without socks) are a definite no-no under almost any circumstances.

If you find ordinary hose too warm I have found the best alternative to be lightweight knee length socks which are long enough to give a good turn-down at the top. These are widely available in a good selection of colours to tone with your kilt from the ladies/girls section of most good, and not so good, stores, and the ones I have I purchased at a local weekly street market.

Robbie, another way to find them is to go onto eBay. Type in either "Cableknit knee socks" or "Schoolgirl knee socks". In fact, I'm currently wearing a pair of dark green cableknit knee socks which happen to look very similar to kilt hose, except without the knotwork design on the turndown. Instead, they're ribbed in that section. Definitely cooler in the summer and only cost $11.95 including shipping, compared to $16.95 for a pair of wool blend kilt hose shipped from Scotland...
-J

[ggibby]

I wear solid-color cotton & poly/cotton kilts to work every day at the Redwood Trading Post, usually with hiking boots or combat boots. In either case, crew length (mid-calf) socks, pulled up, meet the approval of the lassies on the staff and (I assume) the customers.

On the rare day I wear trainers (low athletic shoes), I still wear crew length, pulled up. Again, approved.
Once I did wear shorty socks with trainers, and was quickly informed of their unsuitability.

I rarely wear over-the-calf, mostly as I only have bulky white & ivory wool kilt hose, or plain black.

Seems that the visual bulk of sock + boot/shoe is the key.

But this is California, where shorts & trainers are worn to the opera (God save us!)

-G

[Blu (Ontario)]

...Here in Japan, it used to be the fashion (and there are still some stragglers) for high school girls to wear "loose socks" which if extended would go well above the knee, but they bunched them up much lower. Add to that fact that a lot of the high school girls uniforms are plaid pleated skirts, and if you wore your kilthose rolled down you would probably look like a Japanese high school girl.

Interesting cultural tidbit. I must remember that if I ever visit Japan!

[GMan]

Shorts and trainers at the opera? And people wonder about the sanity of kilt wearers.

Glen

[David E]

Thanks for the replies chaps. Very interesting, and for the most part, kind of fits with my own thinking, although its good to see the variety and if you're getting positive responses, then something must be right (but listen to the negatives!!).

I'm going to try and get myself some ladies knee-length socks and see how that looks (but isn't that cross-dressing....? Only joking!).

I agree with those that have said that short socks and normal shoes just don't look right with the kilt, and I have worn sandals with a kilt but only around the house - I'd change before I stepped outside!

I'm also going to get some tallish black boots (I have some that are yellowy-brown in colour but I think black would look better with the kilts I have) and wear short socks with those. Although I don't think I could get away with these at work, I think they'd be ok in a "smart-casual" social environment.

Thanks again...
David.

[Robbie]

Kilted_John -

Thanks for the tip about ebay - never thought of there and having checked current offers am definitely going to order!

Having checked the earlier posting, I realise now that I should have made it clearer that I was referring to the style called "over-the knee" - this longer version of ordinary knee socks is what gives the extra material to form a turn-down and makes them look like ordinary kilt hose.

[Graham]

David, no doubt you have looked at Bears' front page, http://www.bearkilts.com/
All the piccies there but one show short socks, I think they all look great. Bear in particular (as well as Duncan on Monarch)have for some time been an inspiration to me so far as the "look" I like.