Best brogues for the best price?

[DougC]

I just picked up a pair of Florsheim Imperial Long wingtip in black with a pebble finish. Very solid shoe that I would wear to a highland game--not as a competitor, mind you. I think they would be great for day wear and for less formal occasions.

[CMcG]

Fortunately CMcG is now back on his medications...

These shoes may be fine for wandering around your local Scottish Games with a dazed, "I've been coshed on the noggin" look, or when pumping gas (petrol to us refined types) down at the local 7-11, but they are strictly OUTDOOR CASUAL shoes.

Here's why:

Take a look at the very thick commando soles (okay, if you are out with the lads and want to go commando, these are the shoes to wear). Aside from packing up with dog poo, rocks, mud, and even more canine crap to drag into the house, they are totally unsuited to dancing. (Unless of course your idea of dancing involves stomping to the beat of a tom-tom or the deafening blare of technocrap in mosh pit, in which case you can stop reading now.) Dancing is one of the hallmarks of a civilized gentleman, especially when kilted. On the dance floor these shoes would display all of the grace and elegance of a hippopotamus on a muddy river bank.

And why is that? Simple. The soles would stick, rather than glide, on the dance floor. Yes, dancing is all about "tripping the light fantastic", not stumbling about the dance floor like a drunken sailor mauling a taxi dancer. Ruth Ettings fans will know that I mean.

And besides, to quote O.J. Simpson-- "Those are ugly-*** shoes..."

Need one say more?

Oh MoR, I knew I could count on you to take the bait I do so enjoy the perspective you bring to these discussions and the invective you use to express yourself with.

First of all, not all the shoes pictured have commando soles, though even the smaller, rubber Doc Marten's soles are still probably thicker than what you recommend.

Second, you obviously abhor modern pop music and the styles of dance associated with it but, at events which you obviously don't attend, that's the way it is. I've seen some major dancefloor disasters from people trying to rock out or get jiggy with the kind of shoes you advocate. Given that the physical embodiment of music in dance is deeply rooted in culture, I think your description applies to certain times and places, but not to others.

Third, there is a question of style vs. tradition. Perhaps if someone showed up at a more traditional formal event with chunky dress shoes, they would be considered uncultured. And if someone showed up at a more young and hip formal event wearing opera pumps or cap toed toes, they might be considered stuffy and out of touch with the times...

[wildrover]

Here's why:

Hit the nail on the head, and then buried the sucker.

One more reason...I have never, ever come across a pair of Docs that will spit-polish up like a proper dress shoe (I've tried, too...waste of time).

Doug, a caution regarding wearing any textured shoe outdoors...dust WILL get in the texture, and it WILL be a pain in the *** to clean. I deal with this every Games, with my piper brogues.

Ah, dancing...a favorite activity of mine. Docs...have no place on any dance floor. There is always something better...Red Wings, skate shoes, leather or thin rubber soled boots or shoes...but not Docs. Ill-fitting, clunky, and sticky soles...they are for walking.

One more thing...and yeah I know this is an opinion, but it's pretty close to mainstream acceptance of style. Chunky is not classic formal, nor is it elegant. A chunky "dress" shoe is more like a pearl-white Escalade with gold emblems and spinners, whereas a classic, sleek dress shoe is more like MoR's ride in his avatar picture. Chunky dress shoes are formal in the same way that big glasses with thick black rims can be sexy on the right girl.

[artificer]

One more reason...I have never, ever come across a pair of Docs that will spit-polish up like a proper dress shoe (I've tried, too...waste of time).

Oh, it can be done. I can get a mirror shine on Docs with not too much work. Not the 'greasy' leather, obviously, but the hard leather will take a wonderful shine.

[wildrover]

Oh, it can be done. I can get a mirror shine on Docs with not too much work. Not the 'greasy' leather, obviously, but the hard leather will take a wonderful shine.

Ok, I guess I can see that. I was thinking more of the classic Docs...mine are so soft now they're like sneakers. They make awesome garage shoes, now.

[artificer]

Ok, I guess I can see that. I was thinking more of the classic Docs...mine are so soft now they're like sneakers. They make awesome garage shoes, now.

Even with the really USED ones, Kiwi, rubbing alcohol, beeswax, spit and a match or two will allow you to get a near mirror finish. It gets less easy when the boots are truly beaten though.

[wildrover]

Even with the really USED ones, Kiwi, rubbing alcohol, beeswax, spit and a match or two will allow you to get a near mirror finish. It gets less easy when the boots are truly beaten though.

Mind giving me the rundown on all that? I can do Kiwi, spit and a cotton ball...the rest I'm not sure of.

[artificer]

It's a very time consuming process to revive truly battered boots. I learned it in college from my roommate (who was in the service) and I got good enough at it that I'd end up polishing his boots for beer.

1) clean boots, if needed strip off old wax using the rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth. This isn't needed often, but you don't want get huge amounts of build up either.

2) pour a tiny amount of rubbing alcohol into the tin of Kiwi, light. It should be a small enough amount that it won't burn for more than 10-15 seconds. You DON'T want the polish to burn, only to melt the top 1/8" or so.

3) Give the boots a GOOD coat of melted Kiwi. If you've got gouges in the toes, etc, you can melt some beeswax mixed with polish into them. Allow the polish to dull and any 'filler' to solidify.

If you've stripped the boots down, you may need to build up a few coats of polish before you get to the 'shine' stage.

4) Buff like a madman. Using a very soft cloth (scrap of flannel, undershirt, old diaper or old gym sock) continually buff in small circles until you've got a good shine over the whole boot. A boot brush can be used if you prefer.

5) SHINE- using a tiny bit of water (I like an ACTUAL spit shine) slightly dampen a VERY soft clean cloth/cotton ball and lightly but vigorously buff until you get the mirror finish you're looking for.

This can take upwards of two hours for a new or badly treated pair of boots.

I've been told some people apply COLD Kiwi polish in large amounts and then hair dry heat it for the same effect.

[BobsYourUncle]

Fortunately CMcG is now back on his medications...

These shoes may be fine for wandering around your local Scottish Games with a dazed, "I've been coshed on the noggin" look, or when pumping gas (petrol to us refined types) down at the local 7-11, but they are strictly OUTDOOR CASUAL shoes.

Here's why:

Take a look at the very thick commando soles (okay, if you are out with the lads and want to go commando, these are the shoes to wear). Aside from packing up with dog poo, rocks, mud, and even more canine crap to drag into the house, they are totally unsuited to dancing. (Unless of course your idea of dancing involves stomping to the beat of a tom-tom or the deafening blare of technocrap in mosh pit, in which case you can stop reading now.) Dancing is one of the hallmarks of a civilized gentleman, especially when kilted. On the dance floor these shoes would display all of the grace and elegance of a hippopotamus on a muddy river bank.

And why is that? Simple. The soles would stick, rather than glide, on the dance floor. Yes, dancing is all about "tripping the light fantastic", not stumbling about the dance floor like a drunken sailor mauling a taxi dancer. Ruth Ettings fans will know that I mean.

And besides, to quote O.J. Simpson-- "Those are ugly-*** shoes..."

Need one say more?

Ok, this is one of the more entertaining posts on this forum....

[CMcG]

<snip>

Ah, dancing...a favorite activity of mine. Docs...have no place on any dance floor. There is always something better...Red Wings, skate shoes, leather or thin rubber soled boots or shoes...but not Docs. Ill-fitting, clunky, and sticky soles...they are for walking.

One more thing...and yeah I know this is an opinion, but it's pretty close to mainstream acceptance of style. Chunky is not classic formal, nor is it elegant. A chunky "dress" shoe is more like a pearl-white Escalade with gold emblems and spinners, whereas a classic, sleek dress shoe is more like MoR's ride in his avatar picture. Chunky dress shoes are formal in the same way that big glasses with thick black rims can be sexy on the right girl.

My favourite dance shoes for the club are definitely skate shoes! Not quite right for formal wear, though apparently Prada makes patent leather brogue sneakers...

The OP purchased "Cali-brogues," which take chunky to a whole other level beyond Docs: steel toes and combat soles. I'm interested to know how troxel87 plans on wearing them? They definitely suggest an alternative approach to formal wear...