making a pair of Ghillie Brogues

[Panache]

It would seem to me that for the time expended, to say nothing of the potentially dreadful outcome, you might be ahead to toss a dollar or two into the cookie jar from time to time until you have saved up enough to buy a proper pair of ghillie brogues...

I agree with MoR here.

You can buy ghillie brogues from Rocky for under $90.

It is certainly possible (as shown) to convert a nice pair of dress shoes into ghillie brogues but I have seen efforts where people tried to do so and the results looked very poor.

It seems that buying a pair of real ghillie brogues, especially if they are only going to be worn a few times a year, is a lifetime investment.

I have a pair of very nice quality dress shoes I bought when I was twenty to wear with my tux. Now they were/are only worn a few times a year to various dances and they still look in perfect condition.

Unless you have talent with leather work and know you can make a perfect job of it I'd just save a little bit and go for the real thing.

Cheers

Jamie

[Earl D]

A couple of years ago I saw a gent at one of the local Highland Games that did his own DIY Ghillie Brogues. He took a pair of wing-tips that he didn't wear much (he's mostly a blue jeans and sneaker type) and removed the tounge and replaced the laces for the ghillie laces. At a glance you wouldn't notice but since I was shopping for some ghillies his shoes kind of stood out.

Before I got my ghillies, I wore my wing-tips and still do when I know I'm going to be walking on wood floors-I still need to get the metal heel plates replaced.

[Tartan Hiker]

Yep, I agree with the general sentiment here. If you know a fair bit about leather work, this would not be a hard conversion at all (if you start with the right pair of shoes...the NZ web site illustrates this very well). I would definitely not suggest it as a first project, however. A pair of wingtips picked up at Goodwill or some other thrift store would be a great way to go, and you'd not be out a bundle if they turned out badly.

I've never done the conversion myself, although I probably will get around to it some day. I still just wear ordinary wingtips while in formal get-up.

[Panache]

...Before I got my ghillies, I wore my wing-tips and still do when I know I'm going to be walking on wood floors-I still need to get the metal heel plates replaced.

There is certainly nothing wrong in the least with wearing nice wing-tip shoes with a formal or semi-formal kilted outfit.

I would say nice wing-tip shoes would be much better than a conversion badly done.

(I'm not trying to be discouraging, but foot wear is one of those little details that really matter in any sort of outfit.)

By the by, get those heels replaced! I only wore mine twice before doing so and had to make sure to walk very, very carefully to avoid destroying some nice hardwood floors.

Cheers

Jamie

[Captain Karrot]

yea, Captain Karrot did a very good job on a pair of shoes. They looked very good and was hard to tell the different unless you got really close to them.

Yup...it worked out rather well. Used a pair of oxfords I don't wear much any more, and it passed casual inspection quite well. Then again, who will be getting that close to my feet?

I understand where Jamie and others are coming from, but from my perspective, for a pair of shoes that I will only wear once or twice a year, even $90 seems steep to this frugal mind. Better to make use of what you already have. Took me about 90 minutes.

Cheers!

[Panache]

Yup...it worked out rather well. Used a pair of oxfords I don't wear much any more, and it passed casual inspection quite well. Then again, who will be getting that close to my feet?

I understand where Jamie and others are coming from, but from my perspective, for a pair of shoes that I will only wear once or twice a year, even $90 seems steep to this frugal mind. Better to make use of what you already have. Took me about 90 minutes.

Cheers!

CK,

I'm certainly not knocking anyone using their creativity and a little effort to make some kit. I'm all for it. I myself proudly wear several converted jackets, waist coats, sporran belts, and other bits of kit (though not all at the same time ).

Not having seen your shoes I can't comment one way or the other on the job you did. The ones in the link provided looked good.

All I'm saying that given a choice between nice oxfords as is or a poor conversion (again I'm not saying that yours are ) that I think that nice oxfords would be better.

My hat off to anyone with the patience and skill to do a conversion and make it work.

Cheers

Jamie

[Captain Karrot]

Jamie,

No slight taken...and I am sure that many can see flaws with my craftsmanship - shoot, I know I can...if I look.

I just wanted to provide the other side of the argument. Being creative, and having a little skill can lead to all sorts of things.

CK,

I'm certainly not knocking anyone using their creativity and a little effort to make some kit. I'm all for it. I myself proudly wear several converted jackets, waist coats, sporran belts, and other bits of kit (though not all at the same time ).

Not having seen your shoes I can't comment one way or the other on the job you did. The ones in the link provided looked good.

All I'm saying that given a choice between nice oxfords as is or a poor conversion (again I'm not saying that yours are ) that I think that nice oxfords would be better.

My hat off to anyone with the patience and skill to do a conversion and make it work.

Cheers

Jamie

[Cherub]

I have a pair of very nice quality dress shoes I bought when I was twenty to wear with my tux. Now they were/are only worn a few times a year to various dances and they still look in perfect condition.

Unless you have talent with leather work and know you can make a perfect job of it I'd just save a little bit and go for the real thing.

Cheers

Jamie

and if you have said shoes or similar and will never use them again you could sell them and defray the cost of the Gillies.

[Peter C.]

I'm not keen on ghillie brogues, I find ordinary brogues much more comfortable and you can get them in an ordinary shoe shop and wear them with other outfits if you wish.

Peter

[MacCathmhaoil]

Goodwill or Salvation Army almost always has brogues for a low price, I have seen some that were brand new on my sporran/tweed hunts. Why not buy a cheap pair and give it a try, if it works brilliant and if not you are only out a small amount.