Tassels on Red Laces?

[Cygnus]

After a great deal of debating, I recently acquired a pair of leather-soled "dress" ghillie brogues. They're not quite to my liking just yet, but I have a pair of vintage court-shoe buckles (that I got with a pair of pumps that were worn to the Queen's coronation in 1953, but the shoes were in such sorry shape as to be beyond repair) and some long, red laces that should get them to be different enough from the hire-shop brogues that seem ubiquitous these days while still being strictly traditional.

Once the cobbler is back from holiday I'll see about getting a small leather strap stitched to the shoes, which is how the buckles attached to the sadly-defunct court shoes.

Pictures will be posted when the shoes are complete.

Finally, to the point: as the title suggests, my question is about the tassels for the lace ends. Should they be red to match the laces? If so, are they always made of leather?

Thank you for your input!

[piperdbh]

I've never seen shoelaces with different-colored tassels, but there's no reason that they would have to be the same color. I'd recommend you stick with leather tassels, especially if the laces themselves are leather.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'd probably go with red leather tassels, or possibly the "acorns" off the hat cords worn by enlisted ranks on campaign hats. The tassels might be easier to source, though.

[JSFMACLJR]

I'd probably go with red leather tassels, or possibly the "acorns" off the hat cords worn by enlisted ranks on campaign hats. The tassels might be easier to source, though.

I've also seen gold tassels.

[Cygnus]

The laces are actually not leather, but I do think I would prefer leather tassels.

I've never actually seen buckle ghillie brogues in the flesh, which is part of the reason that I chose them rather than buckle-and-strap brogues (I like to be both traditional and original, when possible). Thank you for sharing your experience with me on this, otherwise I'd be "flying blind", as it were.

Red leather tassels have proven to be somewhat difficult to find, so it is looking like I may need to make my own.

[EagleJCS]

You could try tying a fancy 'stopper knot' at the ends of the laces instead of tassels. Just something to think about.

[Kilt-alope]

Black shoes, red laces.... I think black, white, red or gold tassle could all work. Honestly, red might be my last choice, the different color could make them "pop" even more than what you are already planning. What kilt hose would you wear them with?

[creagdhubh]

I love red laces with ghillie brogues and buckles for evening wear, but I have yet to see the leather tassles in red. Is there a place where these can be sourced? I am sure they could be easily made too, as the construction seems rather simple. I leave off the tassles of my red laces completely - I think this is what P/M John D. Burgess and P/M Gordon Walker have done in the past as well.

Cheers,