How are Piper accessories different??

[JSFMACLJR]

"Piper Socks" are a particular brand name. They're very long, going halfway up your thigh, and are intended to be rolled over three times (or more) to get a fat cuff effect.

Why would one want a "fat cuff effect"?

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Why would one want a "fat cuff effect"?

I always thought it was developed to accentuate the cuff in white/ecru hose, to make them look less like a tube sock at a distance. I believe it just caught on and was extended to other colors.

[OC Richard]

Why would one want a "fat cuff effect"?

That's a good question.

As far as I can see, it came in with those handknit "Aran" hose which were all the rage for pipe bands in the late 70's and early 80's.

Those hose usually had a diamond pattern on the front, and the turnover cuffs had some sort of pattern that made them thick.

Then...when? In the late 80s or around 1990? A different sort of sock became the rage. It was stark white (not offwhite/cream like the Aran hose) and though the body of the socks were plain the turnover cuffs were thick knit patterns like the old Aran hose.

In fact you could buy just the knit cuff section, and wear it over the top of inexpensive plain hose. Many pipers and bands used those. (From time to time I'd do something a bit different and wear the white heavy knit cuffs on blue soccer socks or whatever.)

Then the "Pipers Socks" came in that still were white, with plain body and knit cuffs, but made with the very long top that was designed to be rolled over a number of times for that desired thick cuff look.

Now Pipers Socks are made in a number of colours and bands are going with black, navy blue, ancient blue, charcoal grey, mid grey, Lovat green, etc... anything but cream/offwhite, which smacks of the 70's to pipers who have been around for a while:

http://www.rghardie.com/range/piper_socks.html

(I see they do offer them in the dreaded cream...)