Black Watch tartan and white hose?

**davidlpope** · 30th November 10, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Presidential33

I am just about to order my first kilt ever from Stillwater. It is a Black Watch Tartan and I would like to wear it to work (an office). Therefore I would wear it with a dress shirt and a tie, and possibly a sweater vest, a black button-up vest or a black sports coat.

Since most of my dress shirts probably wouldn't match with the kilt, I would most likely be wearing a simple white dress shirt.

I have read that the hose (socks) should match the shirt, so this would mean using white hose (socks), as even the cream and off-white coloured socks would not match the simple white colour of my dress shirt. But I read another rule that white, off-white and cream hose should never be worn unless you are in a pipe band or renting the outfit. Is this true?

Some have said that black hose are nice, and they would indeed match with my black sports coat or vests, but then that would make for a very dark outfit. Lots of black...

Others have mentioned green hose (from lovat to dark green) or blue hose (from navy to lovat). Is there a particular blue or green that will match the kilt? And should these hose be purchased from a particular vendor? Another suggestion has been oatmeal hose, but I do not own an oatmeal coloured shirt.

Perhaps I should just get the white hose afterall? Is this not what looks best with the Black Watch tartan anyways? Does it not help to brighten the outfit a little?

Again, off-white and cream hose would not exactly match my pure white dress shirt...but maybe this is not a big deal either?

Thanks for any help and suggestions!!

Welcome. Don't try to get things to match. It looks contrived and is not consistent with traditional highland attire. Try instead, to pick several pairs of hose in colors that will tone well with the kilt. Dark red, lovat blue, lovat green, and bottle green all look nice with the Black Watch tartan. Steer clear of black and white/ivory.

David