Quote Originally Posted by Archangel
I'm the wrong guy to ask. If you're dancing, fine: anything else, it's effected. I can't concieve of any practical, historical purpose for the design.
As I'm into medieval re-enactment and amateur leatherwork, Archangel's comment (above) got me thinking... "is there an historical basis or precursor to the modern ghillie brogue?" :confused: .... and so I went looking.

And, I think there are a couple of early (circa 700 AD) shoes that could be considered the early forefathers to the modern ghillie brogue. The links I found are here:

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc...HOES/SHOE2.HTM

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc...OES/SHOE55.HTM

I seem to recall another shoe that used a similar lacing pattern across the instep of the foot and that, once tied, looked similar to the ghillie brogues, but I can't find it now - they may have been in a book, rather than web-based.

All that being said, for a formal occasion, I don't mind the ghillie brogues, but I don't think I'd be wearing them casually. Kind of a moot point though - I don't attend many formal functions.

cheers

Hachiman