The Style Guy: he’s gotcha covered
Dear TSG:
Our band has acquired these “black” hose. What color hose flashes should be worn? We presently wear red on our white hose.
Signed,
Shoeless Joe
The good news is the black socks are an improvement over the gaudy white, which I personally hope never come back in vogue, at least for pipe bands. (I do like the gleaming white for solo pipers playing at a special event, like a wedding.)
For flashes with the black socks, resist the urge to make a pop of colour, like the red you suggest. This distracts from the kilt and the pipes/drums, which is where you want viewers to look. Be discreet with flashes with back hose. Black flashes work nicely, or a very dark grey or navy. Never a hot colour. That’s amateur and gaudy – too, um, flashy.
What of the brown ghillies?
Buttons: try Firmins of London, who can be found quite easily by Googling for firmins buttons””
I’m waiting to see who’s gonna be first to wear jackets with the players” name and number across the back…or white Ghillies to contrast against the black hose…or worn and faded denim kilts with leather jackets and studs for the”terminator” look…or chain pipe cords…or tartan Bermuda shorts with pith helmets in the hotter locales…or designer sporrans by Gucchi…or leather kilts with Kodiak work boots on a rainy muddy field for better traction and water repellent properties…or clear multi-coloured drum shells…yeah…that’s the ticket!”