When are colored hose appropriate?

[kmaclea]

Say no to the kilt police. I once only owned off-white kilt hose, but have now seen the light. Free yourself from others' fashion inhibitions, different colors look great!

I mean, basically others are coming up to you and telling you what color socks to wear. In any other garb, this would be really strange unless you're one of the fashion world elite. (And then, nobody would tell you that because you're too important, you'd be setting a new trend.)

To make highland dress viable in the 21st century, I think we need to do away with letting other people expound "rules" where only common sense and a WEE bit of tradition should reign. My humble opinion. I do, in most cases, like the traditional dress elements. But come on, it's only your hose!

Kyle=

[calanacrafts]

Now I thought white hose were for pipers only, most of the guys I know wear cream, I handknit the kiltsocks in every colour known in a kilt including crimson, folk do like a bit of a variety, personally I like the coloured ones

[Jack Daw]

Recently, I received my first pair of Lewis kilt hose via the STM. These are in black and the quality is the BEST!

[Farlander]

So here is perhaps a different view on the white or colored hose question. I just showed this thread to my wife (a fine hose knitter).
Here is her take on it:
"Ok, I read the brouhaha you sent and I have a conclusion of my own. If I knit you white hose, you will damn well wear white hose. It would be much more fun to knit them in white, for several reasons. Here they are, in order of importance to me:
1). White will show off the fancy patterns the best. I am a damn skilled knitter, and with a dark color much of the pattern work would be lost.
2). White hose would, as mentioned, go with anything. I'm not likely to knit you six pairs of hose, one to go with each kilt.
3). Diced hose are a bitch to knit, and I ain't doing it.
4). Light colored yarn is easier to knit with because it's easier to see."

So for me, I guess I am going to wear white hose and like it!

[Macman]

So here is perhaps a different view on the white or colored hose question. I just showed this thread to my wife (a fine hose knitter).
Here is her take on it:
"Ok, I read the brouhaha you sent and I have a conclusion of my own. If I knit you white hose, you will damn well wear white hose. It would be much more fun to knit them in white, for several reasons. Here they are, in order of importance to me:
1). White will show off the fancy patterns the best. I am a damn skilled knitter, and with a dark color much of the pattern work would be lost.
2). White hose would, as mentioned, go with anything. I'm not likely to knit you six pairs of hose, one to go with each kilt.
3). Diced hose are a bitch to knit, and I ain't doing it.
4). Light colored yarn is easier to knit with because it's easier to see."

So for me, I guess I am going to wear white hose and like it!

Ha ha! To paraphrase Linus from Peanuts: "Those are four good reasons!"

[Nick the DSM]

So here is perhaps a different view on the white or colored hose question. I just showed this thread to my wife (a fine hose knitter).
Here is her take on it:
"Ok, I read the brouhaha you sent and I have a conclusion of my own. If I knit you white hose, you will damn well wear white hose. It would be much more fun to knit them in white, for several reasons. Here they are, in order of importance to me:
1). White will show off the fancy patterns the best. I am a damn skilled knitter, and with a dark color much of the pattern work would be lost.
2). White hose would, as mentioned, go with anything. I'm not likely to knit you six pairs of hose, one to go with each kilt.
3). Diced hose are a bitch to knit, and I ain't doing it.
4). Light colored yarn is easier to knit with because it's easier to see."

So for me, I guess I am going to wear white hose and like it!

sounds like good reasons.

[JRB]

Yes ma'am. White hose it is.

[KiltedKop45]

I'd take any good hand knitted hose no matter what color and wear them with pride . That takes alot of work.

[Semiomniscient]

Yeah, that's total bunk. Off-white hose are common--but they are rather boring. The most formal would be Argyle hose I think--and those are multiple colors! I can understand trying to set someone straight on the proper wearing of highland attire--you SHOULD tell someone that they are wearing their kilt backwards... but too many people simply don't know what they're talking about. It amazes me how often I hear stories like this... but I've never experienced it, and I've committed some of these so-called faux-pas... I even once wore a belt with a waistcoat... my Dad told me I shouldn't, but he's my dad--not some random guy.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

How about instead of your wife knitting you pure white hose, you have her knit themin some other light color, such as cream, or a light tan or oatmeal? These would retain all of the advantages that she just mentioned, plus they wouldn't show dirt as readily. (And you won't have to deal with everyone's opinions about white hose).

~M