Buckle Ghillie Brogues (customization)

[CMcG]

I recently found a pair of barely used, formal ghillie brogues at a second hand store and, for $15, couldn't resist picking them up. The are made in Britain by Gaelic, have thin soles, and are all leather (see pic below). I was actually looking for a pair of formal slipons to attach buckles to but haven't had much luck... beggars can't be choosers!

Ghillie brogues have never appealed to me, perhaps because I most often see them worn with white hose. Now that I have a pair, I'm trying to customize them to make them work for me and intend to wear them with diced or Argyle hose for formal wear.

First, I'm thinking about attaching buckles to them.

Second, I'm planning on wearing them with regular laces instead of twisting them up my leg. I got this idea from Thistledown.

I have found a bunch of vintage images of buckles on ghillie brogues but not much information. Does anyone own or has anyone seen such shoes in person? How are the buckles attached?

Over on the THCD photos thread, creagdhubh was talking about trying it. I think he was planning on gluing the buckles on. I'm thinking of threading the laces through the buckle, because that way the are still detachable. I also like the placement a bit higher on the instep of the foot, rather than where the shoe bends.

There was poll thread a while back called "Ghillie Brogues Yes or No?" and the rabble was split 50/50. What do you think about my idea of buckles on ghillie brogues, tied with regular laces, and worn with formal attire?

Here is what I'm working with. Still building up the shine on them and I'm going to glue those scrap leather bits into the buckles.



These appear to have the buckles held on with the laces, as I am intending:



And here are some other images of what appear to be buckle ghillie brogues. Note that some people use red laces, which I think is cool but not for me.