Shoe polish: thoughts, fun facts, questions

[ShaunMaxwell]

Specific to Highland wear, I know that brown shoes are not that popular. But amongst the brown shoes that I see with kilts, it seems very rare that people polish them. It's almost as if they expect black shoes with a kilt to be shiny, but brown ones not to be shiny. Has anyone else noticed this, or am I in left field here?

I agree with your assessment, and am guilty as charged. I too appreciate a pair of well-polished shoes, but when it comes to brown shoes — which I almost always end up wearing with my kilt (because the few occasions I have to wear kilts tend to be at Highland games, conducted during daytime hours) I have a tendency to oil them with Red Wing boot oil, which darkens the leather and eliminates the need for polishing. Here are the shoes I typically wear with my kilt before oiling:



And after oiling:



Several applications of oil were required to achieve the chocolate color I prefer (which more closely matches belts, sporrans, etc.). It's a lot easier to slap on a coat of oil with a 2.5" brush and allow it to soak in than to achieve a spit shine!

I know Jock Scot will may comment on the "chunky" soles, but I find that they're much more comfortable for wear on the streets of downtown Houston — or the uneven grounds at the Highland games. It's been my experience that they provide better traction, last longer and generally go unnoticed, as folks rarely see the soles of my feet.

SM