what kilt hose to wear?

[Nanook]

Which is why, unless you want to look like you rented your socks (and possibly everything else) you would do well to avoid white/creme coloured hose.

I don't agree. The quality of kilt hose provided by the rental outlets--- and sold as cheap hose--- are miserable and in any colour look like the cheap, thin, mixed-acrylic knee-highs they are. A good stout quality cream and oatmeal Aran knit hose can look wonderful and anyone would could mistake the two would surely also confuse a traditional hand sewn kilt with a £25 thing from a supermarket or a bath towel. Off-white (cream to beige to oatmeal ) really show off tanned skin and highlights well toned muscular legs. By using plain coloured flashes (picking out a line from the tartan or a complementary colour to the main hue) one can indeed wear them with a wide range of tartans. These should not be the only colour of hose in ones closet but any wardrobe should have a pair or two.

Again black is a pretty good universal option

I also don't agree. Dark sold black socks even with long pants is considered sufficiently somber but not always stylish or elegant. Black knee-high socks will on most people rarely look good. They are ill-suited, I think, for anyone with a cold skin complexion (reddish in contrast to yellowish) or pale skin with less than ideal skin and muscular tone as they highlight both. Women's fashion is filled with black tights as a universal because it makes their legs look slimmer--- and combined with a shorter skirt longer (and thus also younger)--- but notice also that few women will ever wear black knee-highs and those that are worn are more often show some skin as lace, arabesque or fishnet in style rather than plain opaque knit! They can work but not for or with everyone.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I don't agree. The quality of kilt hose provided by the rental outlets--- and sold as cheap hose--- are miserable and in any colour look like the cheap, thin, mixed-acrylic knee-highs they are. A good stout quality cream and oatmeal Aran knit hose can look wonderful and anyone would could mistake the two would surely also confuse a traditional hand sewn kilt with a £25 thing from a supermarket or a bath towel. Off-white (cream to beige to oatmeal ) really show off tanned skin and highlights well toned muscular legs. By using plain coloured flashes (picking out a line from the tartan or a complementary colour to the main hue) one can indeed wear them with a wide range of tartans. These should not be the only colour of hose in ones closet but any wardrobe should have a pair or two.


I also don't agree. Dark sold black socks even with long pants is considered sufficiently somber but not always stylish or elegant. Black knee-high socks will on most people rarely look good. They are ill-suited, I think, for anyone with a cold skin complexion (reddish in contrast to yellowish) or pale skin with less than ideal skin and muscular tone as they highlight both. Women's fashion is filled with black tights as a universal because it makes their legs look slimmer--- and combined with a shorter skirt longer (and thus also younger)--- but notice also that few women will ever wear black knee-highs and those that are worn are more often show some skin as lace, arabesque or fishnet in style rather than plain opaque knit! They can work but not for or with everyone.

Well, that's intersting, even though I don't agree with everything you've posted. But the question wasn't about women's fashion, or the difficulties or choosing the right colours for sallow complected people, or what to do if you have flabby calves; it was about why kilt hire shops only stock/rent white hose.

The fact that probably 99% of all rental outfits come with white hose has really put them in the category of "rented socks" no matter what their quality-- especially when worn with jacket and tie, or after 6pm. Likewise, given that the vast majority of pipe bands (certainly in North America) wear heavy white socks with thick "Aran" cuffs, is another reason why they should be avoided in "civilian" attire.

As far as creme hose are concerned, well to me they always have the look of white socks that have gone off colour. Just my personal observation.

[Nanook]

it was about why kilt hire shops only stock/rent white hose.

The hire shops provide them since they are cheap. The stuff from formal wear hire shops looks always "like a rented suit".

As far as creme hose are concerned, well to me they always have the look of white socks that have gone off colour. Just my personal observation.

Like here?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The hire shops provide them since they are cheap. The stuff from formal wear hire shops looks always "like a rented suit".



Like here?

Yes. The blue suit definitely looks rented, and the washed out beige socks don't cut it, either.

As an aside, gentlemen, kindly note that HRH The Duke of Rothesay is wearing a proper kilt pin, as opposed to the bit of bling stuck to the hem of Mr. Bloggs's kilt.

[svc40bt]

Also interesting to note HRH is wearing hose nearly identical to the STM's Royal Cuff kilt hose Ted was asking about earlier. Obviously this is daywear in the photo but I would think the check topped hose would be usable for evening wear in the right color combination.

[macwilkin]

Also interesting to note HRH is wearing hose nearly identical to the STM's Royal Cuff kilt hose Ted was asking about earlier. Obviously this is daywear in the photo but I would think the check topped hose would be usable for evening wear in the right color combination.

I'm not so sure...checked-topped hose are traditionally associated with country/shooting attire, as HRH the Duke of Rothesay is wearing in the photo.

Regards,

Todd

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I'm not so sure...checked-topped hose are traditionally associated with country/shooting attire, as HRH the Duke of Rothesay is wearing in the photo.

Regards,

Todd

I second Todd. I don't think I'd advocate wearing that style of hose for any level of dress more formal than what HRH is shown wearing in the above photo.