Ghillie brogues, yes or no?

[george7]

It's either ghillie brogues (Florida Class B), boots with spats (Florida Class A), or flip flops (Florida day wear) for me.

[Jeff]

I like the way they complete the outfit but like any thing else you don't have to wear them to look great.

[muirkirkca]

Anything beyond a 4 eye lace-up is a nuisance. I think the ghillie descended from a sheep skin moccasin with sinew laces which terminated with tieing around the ankles. The modern ghillie appears to an attempt to replicate the appearance. The comments that they kill the feet should be warning enough but women wear 5 inch high hells for fashions sake.

[Highlander31]

I wear them for semi formal events, and did wear them for business when I had to do the corporate thing. Now I usually wear boots for hikes, or my bally loafers if we are going to a casual party. My wife and I like to throw Renaissance parties and for that I wear a great kilt with the appropriate period footwear and other accessories.

[kiltedsawyer]

Prefer a pair of black dress shoes for formal occasions, ghillies just look like you're trying too hard. But if you like 'em..........by all means wear 'em.

[MacDhunadh]

As muirkirkca has written, the Ghillies are the descendants of the old highland brogues, so it's not possible to find them at Culloden or earlier times.

Ok, Ghillies are no shoes for casual wear, but i like them, because, nobody would wear old highland brogues when he doesn't wear the great kilt. At Culloden only the richer ones have worn shoes with buckles, the poor ones have worn the old highland brogues.

[Hamish]

I have never made a secret of the fact that I loathe Ghillie Brogues! To me they are just about acceptable as pipe band footwear, but nothing else. Ghillie Brogues very often detract from the beauty of the kilt itself by their very fussiness, and one sees some terrible disasters in assorted attempts at tying them. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing correctly - but, in this case, I often wonder if there can be a correct method (from the appearance point of view!).

Ordinary, everyday brogue shoes serve me perfectly for semi and fully formal occasions, as long as they are clean and well polished and, if I am really dressed up, my Glenfinnan buckle shoes are just the answer.

I am afraid I see Ghillie Brogues, or rather their extravagant lacing, as another opportunity for the wearer to over dress. The shoes themselves are fine - just take away those ghastly laces, replace them with ordinary length ones and enjoy the uncluttered look that results.

Take care,
Ham.

[Tommy Hunt]

I have never made a secret of the fact that I loathe Ghillie Brogues! To me they are just about acceptable as pipe band footwear, but nothing else. Ghillie Brogues very often detract from the beauty of the kilt itself by their very fussiness, and one sees some terrible disasters in assorted attempts at tying them. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing correctly - but, in this case, I often wonder if there can be a correct method (from the appearance point of view!).

Ordinary, everyday brogue shoes serve me perfectly for semi and fully formal occasions, as long as they are clean and well polished and, if I am really dressed up, my Glenfinnan buckle shoes are just the answer.

I am afraid I see Ghillie Brogues, or rather their extravagant lacing, as another opportunity for the wearer to over dress. The shoes themselves are fine - just take away those ghastly laces, replace them with ordinary length ones and enjoy the uncluttered look that results.

Take care,
Ham.

Those cool laces are the very reason I'd buy a pair of Ghillie Brogues. I think the laces make the shoes look very stylish. Now the reason I wouldn't buy a pair is if the shoes were uncomfortable.

[Zardoz]

I have never made a secret of the fact that I loathe Ghillie Brogues! To me they are just about acceptable as pipe band footwear, but nothing else. Ghillie Brogues very often detract from the beauty of the kilt itself by their very fussiness, and one sees some terrible disasters in assorted attempts at tying them. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing correctly - but, in this case, I often wonder if there can be a correct method (from the appearance point of view!).

Ordinary, everyday brogue shoes serve me perfectly for semi and fully formal occasions, as long as they are clean and well polished and, if I am really dressed up, my Glenfinnan buckle shoes are just the answer.

I am afraid I see Ghillie Brogues, or rather their extravagant lacing, as another opportunity for the wearer to over dress. The shoes themselves are fine - just take away those ghastly laces, replace them with ordinary length ones and enjoy the uncluttered look that results.

Take care,
Ham.

What he said!