Black Tie Combinations

[Steve Ashton]

I personally find that the lack of a tongue make the laces dig into the top of my foot.

That is the purpose of the tongue inside a shoe. To keep the laces from leaving big gouges in the top of the foot. Ghillies are basically just a Brogued Oxford where the tongue is cut out and there are cutouts around the lace holes. All of that is just very uncomfortable on the top of my foot.

[Terry Searl]

Comfort is one of the most important issues about foot wear for sure

I wear my usual House of Cheviot Lewis or Rannoch Kilt hose with my Gillie Brogues and I have shortened the laces up to a normal length

Personally I like how the colour of the hose shows through the top of the shoes

I bought my Gillie Brogues at a thrift shop so must have been exceedingly lucky to have found a pair of shoes that fit me so perfectly. They are very sturdy for walking and even after long walks I have never had any issues, in any regard, with sore or aching feet.

...... Most people have no problem at all with what we call wing tips, and I see the fashion of "brogueing" coming back into style for men's dress shoes, but that just my opinion.......... generally there have been few logical replies to my question.........Thank-you

[tokareva]

Before I found this forum I thought the Gillie brougue was standard footwear with the kilt, thankfully it seems to be the opposite in reality. I have just never been a big fan of the look for some reason, probably too dressy looking for me. I also prefer the look of the brown ones more than the black. Sorry Terry, I hate your shoes..... haha just kidding, they look fine on YOU.

[tokareva]

I've asked the question before on other threads but never seen an actual reply
What is it about Gillie Brogues that make them offensive to some people .......other than the laces, which can be shortened.

This is really a great question Terry, I'm very interested in hearing the answers too, even though I don't particularly care for the shoes. I would also like to know if the Ghille Brogue is THE official kilt shoe or not. If so, when did it become so and who decided it was?

[Steve Ashton]

I remember sitting with Hamish Bicknell (The Kilted Legend) and he related that when he was a Highland Dancer in the 1950's he remembers that a company took the Highland Dance shoe and created a street shoe from the idea. The took a standard Brogued Oxford and cut the tongue out. Then cut away around the lace holes and added the long laces just like the Dance Ghillie. According to Hamish this took place sometime around 1957-58.

[kingandrew]

Steve,

It's interesting to note that if Hamish's recollection is accurate (and he is certainly a pretty reliable source), then the shoe so many in the kilt world present as the "traditional" choice is really a relatively new development, no more traditional than wearing a printed T-shirt with your kilt.

I will admit to sharing the Rabble's lack of enthusiasm for Ghillie Brogues. I just think they look odd and don't see the advantage in a tongueless shoe with complicated laces. Terry does have a point about showing off his hose, although this could also be accomplished with Mary Janes. I will acknowledge that the Mary Jane style show is probably much harder to find than ghillies, especially considering Terry's lucky find at the local thrift store. The ghillies were surely a bargain under the circumstances.

I wonder if we could find more documentation on the development of the ghillie-style shoes.

Andrew

[Terry Searl]

Before I found this forum I thought the Gillie brougue was standard footwear with the kilt, thankfully it seems to be the opposite in reality. I have just never been a big fan of the look for some reason, probably too dressy looking for me. I also prefer the look of the brown ones more than the black. Sorry Terry, I hate your shoes..... haha just kidding, they look fine on YOU.

Ha! ha! Tokareva
We are likely far enough apart that you will never see my shoes, but if you do see them, please come and say Hi, I'm sure we could enjoy a good gabbing and maybe even a dram of a good single malt

The photos of the Gillie Brogues are before I shortened up the laces .....I didn't like them either and the slip on shoes are grand to wear casually
The brown ones say they are genuine snakeskin, which I find kind of sad that someone would kill a creature just for it's hide, perhaps they didn't though and used it for food as well .......anyway my friend have a good day

[FossilHunter]

I've asked the question before on other threads but never seen an actual reply
What is it about Gillie Brogues that make them offensive to some people .......other than the laces, which can be shortened.

I remember you asking in this thread and there were a few replies, including my own.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...08/index3.html

My own non-Scottish (Scots reasons may be more cultural) explanation was that it didn't make sense to buy expensive shoes that are only worn with a kilt when quality wingtips are common and cheaper and can be worn with both suits and slacks as well. You got a good deal but that is not likely to happen to most.

[Steve Ashton]

Over on the Bob Dunsmire pipers site you will find all sorts of horror stories about wearing Ghillie Brogues on long parades.

Guys who have ended up with blisters bleeding feet and aching feet.

[Terry Searl]

I remember you asking in this thread and there were a few replies, including my own.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...08/index3.html

My own non-Scottish (Scots reasons may be more cultural) explanation was that it didn't make sense to buy expensive shoes that are only worn with a kilt when quality wingtips are common and cheaper and can be worn with both suits and slacks as well. You got a good deal but that is not likely to happen to most.

Thank-you for the reminder. Your reasoning as well as a few others do make sense as far as buying them goes but to me, do not explain the derision and vehemence. I will say some of the reasoning was a bit "over the top" when it was stated beside the loathing and disgust Heh! heh!

Yes I agree that spending more than $100.00 or even $200.00 on something special only to wearing a kilt is a good reason not to buy the item, especially if there is an alternate that can be worn with other attire. If the gillies I bought hadn't been the price they were I would never had considered them...... but not for any reason other than my Scottish mothers influence regarding thriftyness
I suppose from what I gather from you is much the same for me ; it all comes down to what has influenced a persons up bringing and fashion likes when they were younger.

When I was a young fella' and wore my hair down past my shoulders I had a 2 different head bands. One for every day wear and a different one for dressing up. I don't wear either now but that is more because I don't have the hair I did so long ago. My bell bottom trousers have long since gone to the tip and my waist has dictated what trousers I wear now........ Thanx again for pointing out that different thread and for the most part has answered my query