Costa Mesa Scottish Festival

[OC Richard]

And did anyone else notice the overwhelming predominance of black kilt hose on the band members? The only white hose I can recall seeing were on the Glasgow Skye Assn band members.

Black is the new white. Glasgow Skye didn't get the memo. (Just kidding.)

Starting in the 1980s a new fashion swept the pipe band scene: everything in the uniform black and white, with hose being a stark pure white.

In the Grade One at the Worlds every single band would be wearing the same kit: Glengarry, jacket, necktie, bagcover, sporran, and flashes black; shirt and hose white; bagpipe cords having the only variety, being black, white, or black & white mingled (say it ain't so).

Then a couple years ago the world's top bands began dumping white hose and going to anything BUT white.

At the Worlds nearly every top band is wearing black, navy blue, or charcoal grey hose. A few bands are hanging on to the old white hose.

I think Glasgow Skye Association, with their reproduction/weathered kilts and brown tweed vests, would be better off with oatmeal hose and offwhite or pale blue shirts. The glaring white of shirt and hose is at odd variance with the lovely earth tones of waistcoat and kilt.