Ghillie brogues, yes or no?

[duchessofnc]

That picture looks almost like ballet slippers. Not quite but very close.

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.

[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.

[Carolina Kiltman]

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.

I voted yes, I do like Gillie Brogues. I think they are fine in the range of day-dress (suite & tie). Possibly slightly less formal, and up to black-tie. Beyond that, the buckle Glenfinnian (sp?) are the thing but currently well out of my price range. Less than suit and tie, any shoe appropriate to the occasion.

For Highland Country Dance, I found (with great difficulty) a pair of "gillies" to fit my over-sized feet. (Actually it is my height that is oversize, my feet fit my height . . . .

But I have not found a pair that feel comfortable , and with my "Donald Duck" Celtic feet, I will not buy a pair unless they feel comfortable the first time I try them on! I'll add the memory foam insoles later if necessary, but the toe box cannot pinch my toes if I am to buy them.

[Bugbear]

Well... If anything this thread has got me thinking about shoes with a kilt.

Last month, I bought a pair of brown, four hole, lace up, leather, dress shoes to go with my brown dressy daywear kilt outfit; the only full kilt outfit I have right now. They very closely match the brown belt for that kilt when not wearing the waistcoat, and also look good with the brown sporran and strap for the outfit. They arent brogues or wing tips; like I posted at the beginning, I don't like wearing those styles of shoes.

I will have to think about what kind of shoes to get when I put together an eveningwear outfit...

I guess if I ever end up at something formal, I would go with the shiney, black buckle shoes.

[McMurdo]

I do have a pair of Ghillie Brogues however they are rarely worn. I bought them only because they were to be worn with my Prince Charlie outfit and they were easily available. I have since procured a pair of Kilties Buckle Brogues which I greatly prefer. I now have a Montrose Doublet for formal wear, I will of course wear the buckle brogues with it and therefore more often than the Ghillies. I do wear a ghillie type dance shoe for my Scottish Country Dancing, essentially a ballet slipper with laces.

One very real and significant drawback of these shoes is the fact that the laces can dig into your leg, and it really is not that pleasant, therefore for me I prefer buckle brogues for formal wear and just a regular everyday business shoe for casual or semi dress wear.

[Tommy Hunt]

Uh oh... Houston we have a problem. Buckle brogues and Glenfinnans are shoes this lad's feet will neeever see.

[Bugbear]

... just a regular everyday business shoe for casual or semi dress wear.

That was the term I was trying to think of, McMurdo, "business shoes." Like what would be worn with a business suit which is basically what that outfit is.

I would go for a black business shoe for the non-black tie eveningwear... semi dressy I guess...

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Another vote, i just like em...

[ThistleDown]

I like them! They are extremely comfortable, very light and, if the laces are tied properly, look good. For me they work well with a business suit and are appropriate to evening wear. I find buckled shoes to be "costumy". That's just me, mind you, and I'm sure okay with others wearing them.

[Casper]

For me, they tip the balance toward "costume."

I agree with this one... I prefer either my regular dress shoes (office job), or a nice pair of polished cap-toed shoes and spats.