Boots versus Ghillie Brogues

[Tobus]

OCR

Well, I did ask!Thank you.

I think I will stick with the British(?) terminology of "flip flops".

I believe that most of the USA calls them flip-flops too. I've never heard the term zorries.

[COScotsman]

During the early to mid 70s here in CO, they were known as thongs. The 80s came along and the name changed to flip-flops as not to be confused with other apparel. I only heard the term zori (草履) while living in Japan.

[OC Richard]

During the early to mid 70s here in CO, they were known as thongs. The 80s came along and the name changed to flip-flops as not to be confused with other apparel. I only heard the term zori (草履) while living in Japan.

I have no explanation for us Southern California teens and kids using the term "zori" in the 1960s, but there it is.

If somebody said "thongs" "sandals" or the onomatopoeic "flipflops" I would know what they meant, but for us the ordinary word was zorries.

For sure there was a large local Japanese-American presence, still is.

[FossilHunter]

I have no explanation for us Southern California teens and kids using the term "zori" in the 1960s, but there it is.

If somebody said "thongs" "sandals" or the onomatopoeic "flipflops" I would know what they meant, but for us the ordinary word was zorries.

For sure there was a large local Japanese-American presence, still is.

I grew up in San Diego and never heard the term zories. In my household it was always flip flops. But I was a kid in the 90s so it could be a generational thing. Or maybe even regional.

[Awex14]

I am officially coming out in opposition to the “no boots” crowd. I think boots tend to compliment kilts very nicely. The height of the boots combined with your kilt hose makes for a well proportioned look. Similar to how people lace ghillie brogues up so high. It gives that same proportionality to the outfit. That being said, I do not think you should wear any kind of hiking boots to a wedding unless it is extremely informal.

The issue is one of picking the right boots. I often wear wingtip boots from a company called Thursday Boots with my kilt and think they look very smart with a tweed jacket and vest along with a dress shirt and tie. This would be a very smart look for a day time wedding. You can definitely also wear oxfords, but I like the boots better. Even in strict “morning dress” (daytime white tie), balmoral boots are appropriate. My boots are not balmorals, they’re a bit less formal. But the brogueing compliments highland attire nicely and the profile is sleek and elegant.

For an evening wedding or a more formal affair, I’d stick to the ghillies or wingtip oxfords. No matter what, brogue is the way.


EDIT: these are the boots I use https://thursdayboots.com/products/m...-boot-color-77

[Jock Scot]

I have to confess that I had to google “Balmoral boots” and “Thursday boots”to get an idea of what they looked like. To my eye they work well with trousers but not so well with the kilt. Is the overall impression any better than ghillies when worn with the kilt? To my eye they are just as dreadful.

Each to their own.

[RGM1]

I am wearing my polished leather black hiking boots occasionally on my kilt outings and getting good feedback. My view is going to this being a nice way to make a dressed up outfit a bit more relaxed. I noted a comment by Rocky from USA kilts on a recent YouTube video suggesting combat boots which seem more casual to me.

[FossilHunter]

I am officially coming out in opposition to the “no boots” crowd. I think boots tend to compliment kilts very nicely. The height of the boots combined with your kilt hose makes for a well proportioned look. Similar to how people lace ghillie brogues up so high. It gives that same proportionality to the outfit. That being said, I do not think you should wear any kind of hiking boots to a wedding unless it is extremely informal.

The issue is one of picking the right boots. I often wear wingtip boots from a company called Thursday Boots with my kilt and think they look very smart with a tweed jacket and vest along with a dress shirt and tie. This would be a very smart look for a day time wedding. You can definitely also wear oxfords, but I like the boots better. Even in strict “morning dress” (daytime white tie), balmoral boots are appropriate. My boots are not balmorals, they’re a bit less formal. But the brogueing compliments highland attire nicely and the profile is sleek and elegant.

For an evening wedding or a more formal affair, I’d stick to the ghillies or wingtip oxfords. No matter what, brogue is the way.


EDIT: these are the boots I use https://thursdayboots.com/products/m...-boot-color-77

I think the proportion aspect you mention is really covered by kilt hose.

[kingandrew]

I will confess that I enjoy boots with my kilt when I am dressed casually. This would include hiking boots. But I would not be wearing them to a wedding or other dress-up occasion. For me boots go with a t-shirt, turtleneck or other informal look.

With a tweed jacket and vest, or any other time I would wear a tie, I would go with a pair of dress shoes--either brogues or cap-toed oxford style. If it's full-on black tie, with my Prince Charlie, I have a pair of patent leather oxfords that I wear. But I would generally expect black tie would be confined to the wedding party at an evening wedding. As a wedding guest, I would wear the tweed jacket, vest, and dress shoes--as I recently did at my son's wedding. I was the only guest kilted, but the bride specifically asked me to wear the kilt. Her mother wore a sari, so I was not the only example of "national dress" at the event. My son wore a business suit, with wing-tip dress shoes.

Andrew