Finally a pair Ghillie Brogues

[Arlen]

Well, I'm not one for wearing them, but you make them look good.
There is a lot of fuss about the laces... pipers tend to tell you that they need to be laced on the outside of the leg, everyone else seems to say the front.

Either way, they look good and I am sure you will look fantastic in them.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Jamie,
(if I may presume to give a dollop of advice) Take your new GBs to a shoe repairer and have them replace the iron heel plates with rubber. While you are at it, have them put a thin rubber sole OVER the leather sole. This will prevent a potentially nasty fall as these shoes can be treacherous on even slightly damp paving.

[Nighthawk]

You know, I have a pair and I love the way they look. I would wear them for every day wear, of course, but to weddings and such they're great. I never did understand why people have such a problem with them. Ah well, each to his/her own.

[Bob C]

Congrats on the shoes, Jamie. I like mine a lot. Here's a pretty good illustration on the proper way to tie them. http://www.bagpipejourney.com/articl..._brogues.shtml

You seem to have skipped the twists.

Like everything else, you'll make them look great.

[Scot01always]

They really look good. I would mind owning a pair except I don't go to functions where I could use them.
Cheers, Leslie

[BEEDEE]

Jamie,
(if I may presume to give a dollop of advice) Take your new GBs to a shoe repairer and have them replace the iron heel plates with rubber. While you are at it, have them put a thin rubber sole OVER the leather sole. This will prevent a potentially nasty fall as these shoes can be treacherous on even slightly damp paving.

I had the same thing and found the heel noise on hard surfaces annoying, so I had the metal plate replaced with rubber. Much better now.

Brian

[beloitpiper]

They're very nice shoes. They should look good with a formal attire.

[EagleJCS]

I like Moosedog's suggestion. I wear ghillie brogues with my kilts (personal and band) most of the time. My laces also have the tassles on the ends.

Similar to Andrew Lenz (Bagpipe Journey), here's my tying routine:

1) Tie a half-hitch (like you're starting a standard bow knot). This helps to snug the shoe together like a regular tie-on.
2) Twist the laces 3 times and snug the twists down.
3) Pass the laces to the back and up at no more than 45 degree angle.
(you want to wind up no more than 2-3 inches above your ankle bone, or 2-3 inches below the bottom of your calf muscle bulge)
4) Tie another half-hitch.
5) Twist three times and snug the twists down.
6) Pass back around front, parallel to the ground (level).
7) Tie off to the outside of your leg with a standard bow knot, including the initial half-hitch, below the flashes. (At about 10 & 2, the knot should be close to centered below the flashes)

I usually double-knot the bow, just so it doesn't come untied easily while I'm walking around. This usually looks pretty good and stays in place most of the time.

I also second Rathdown's suggestion of replacing the heel plates and adding a rubber covering on the sole. At least scuff the soles with 50-grit sandpaper to give some traction. I had rubber put on mine after I wore holes in the soles. Big difference! (The repair shop said they couldn't resole due to the way the soles are constructed - found out they're not full leather soles).

[chasem]

hrm, at that price... does he have anything in a US size 13?

They look great though, Panache. Wear them well.

[ozth3dog]

moosedog has the right way to lace them. I personaly really like the look of them, it adds a bit of...panache to the kilted outfit esp. for semi and total formal dress.