Buckle Ghillie Brogues (customization)

[madmacs]

Well i know one of our vendors does buckles that attach...

http://www.burnetts-struth.com/produ...e-Buckles.html

[CMcG]

Well i know one of our vendors does buckles that attach...

http://www.burnetts-struth.com/produ...e-Buckles.html

Good to know that I'm not totally out in left-field with my laced on buckle idea

Burnett's and Struth says:

"Pick up a pair of shoe buckles and add a traditional flair to your footwear. These buckles are made out of pewter and are attached to leather flaps. Features two eyelets to fasten the buckles to your Ghillie Brogues or formal footwear."

[Cygnus]

The impression that I get from those buckles is that they're intended to be laced near the top of the shoe, not near the toe as is appropriate for formal ghillie brogues.

Using the method that you've shown, I'm a bit concerned that the buckles will be too high on the foot; though I'll reserve judgment until I see something nearer the final product.

As Sandy said, stitching them on or putting snaps on really ought to be quite simple for any cobbler and so shouldn't be too expensive.

[CMcG]

Using the method that you've shown, I'm a bit concerned that the buckles will be too high on the foot; though I'll reserve judgment until I see something nearer the final product.
<snip>

Good eye Cygnus. When I put the shoe on and tightened the laces, the buckle did indeed come up too high on my foot. It didn't look very good with hose being exposed below the edge of the buckle. I untied one of the loops from behind the buckle's crossbar and now it is sitting right where I was intending for it to be.

The guideline for buckle placement I'm using is the image from an old Highland attire catalog that I posted earlier. Note that it appears to sit a bit higher on the ghillie brogue than it does on a "Mary Jane" style bar and buckle brogue:


Any comments are welcome and this is still a work in progress. For the sake of a picture, I just stuffed the spare leather into the buckle but have not yet glued it. FYI my lass has already chastised me for not having a good enough shine on the shoes yet

[Downunder Kilt]

CMcG I like the positioning that you have for the buckle. On "Mary Janes" the buckle has always looked odd to me sitting down where it does. I understand that it's meant to be a bit of extra bling and I much prefer the location that you have used. I know it's down to personal preference and I think you are spot on.

[creagdhubh]

I like the current positioning of the buckles on your ghillie brogues and understand where Downunder Kilt is coming from, despite the fact that all I wear for evening attire are the 'Mary Jane' style of buckle brogues and love them dearly. It also seems to me that the buckle positiong for your ghillies needs to be further down towards the toe, as in the style of buckle brogues, but where you currently have it positioned doesn't look bad to my eye either. I agree with Sandy, take your shoes to a cobbler and allow him to properly affix the buckles on, that way it is professionally done, and you wont have to worry about it. I am friends with P/M Gordon Walker, so I'll contact him and ask him about his red-laced, ghillie brogues with silver buckles and will share with the rabble what he has to say. I do like the fact that your ghillies have thin soles and a nice heel, not the grotesque, overly 'chunky' soles and heels that are on so many ghillies these days, which to my eye, looks very ugly (unless you are a piper or in a pipe band) Get a pair of red laces mate, you are well on your way and are doing a fantastic job!

Slainte,

[creagdhubh]

Good to know that I'm not totally out in left-field with my laced on buckle idea

Burnett's and Struth says:

"Pick up a pair of shoe buckles and add a traditional flair to your footwear. These buckles are made out of pewter and are attached to leather flaps. Features two eyelets to fasten the buckles to your Ghillie Brogues or formal footwear."

I used buckles like these to replace the standard chrome buckles that come with buckle brogues. I simply cut the buckles out of the leather 'tongues' and affixed them to the snap closure on the buckle brogues...took a wee bit of time to get it right, but it worked well!

[creagdhubh]

Good eye Cygnus. When I put the shoe on and tightened the laces, the buckle did indeed come up too high on my foot. It didn't look very good with hose being exposed below the edge of the buckle. I untied one of the loops from behind the buckle's crossbar and now it is sitting right where I was intending for it to be.

The guideline for buckle placement I'm using is the image from an old Highland attire catalog that I posted earlier. Note that it appears to sit a bit higher on the ghillie brogue than it does on a "Mary Jane" style bar and buckle brogue:


Any comments are welcome and this is still a work in progress. For the sake of a picture, I just stuffed the spare leather into the buckle but have not yet glued it. FYI my lass has already chastised me for not having a good enough shine on the shoes yet

LOOKS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get a pair of red laces now!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'd strongly suggest attaching the buckles with snaps or velcro so they may be easily removed to polish your shoes, or to easily replace them should a pair of antique cut-steel or silver buckles come your way.

[creagdhubh]

I'd strongly suggest attaching the buckles with snaps or velcro so they may be easily removed to polish your shoes, or to easily replace them should a pair of antique cut-steel or silver buckles come your way.

Velcro, excellent idea Scott! I hadn't thought of that. Snaps could also be easily inserted, a good cobbler could get this done, especially if one could provide a pair of buckle brogues that have this button/snap design, as a frame of reference. In any rate, being able to effectively polish the leather is very important...must have that 'spit-shine'!

Cheers,