Ghillie Brogues with Buckles, A La CMcG

[Mr.Charles Anthony]

Readers;
Let me be the "Voice of Doom" here and ask: Ghille Brouges were made to be laced, to make them fit and function. Buckles were made to close the lachets on a 'normal shoe'(originally the style from Samuel Pepys to about Napoleon B.) So, why would you do BOTH on one pair of shoes? It is rather like tying your sneakers and then looping Velcro thru the strings.
I will allow that circa 2012 Ghille Brogues look very much like a 'normal shoe' but they retain the tie method, and the lacing style on the shoe(and the lack of tounge)but a buckle is- sorry, no other way to say it, redundant.
Am I alone here, on this thought?
As Ever
CSA

[Downunder Kilt]

Yes the buckles on the ghillie brogue are purely decorative, as is the big buckle on bar and buckle brogues (maryjanes) as is the buckle on Glenfinnan dress shoes. I treat it as a bit of individuality or eccentricity. To me it's like wearing a pair of sports shoes with the 3 stripes or a flash, no fuctional purpose but decoration. You could say the same thing about a jewelled sgian dubh or fancy sporran with studs or patterned leather, no functional benefits of the attachments or designs, just for the pleasure of the wearer or viewer.

[CMcG]

Readers;
Let me be the "Voice of Doom" here and ask: Ghille Brouges were made to be laced, to make them fit and function. Buckles were made to close the lachets on a 'normal shoe'(originally the style from Samuel Pepys to about Napoleon B.) So, why would you do BOTH on one pair of shoes? It is rather like tying your sneakers and then looping Velcro thru the strings.
I will allow that circa 2012 Ghille Brogues look very much like a 'normal shoe' but they retain the tie method, and the lacing style on the shoe(and the lack of tounge)but a buckle is- sorry, no other way to say it, redundant.
Am I alone here, on this thought?
As Ever
CSA

You are correct that the style of buckle used on ghillie brogues has no practical functions i.e. there is no mechanism by which to use it as a latch for holding the shoes on. It is not, however, redundant because it is useful for making the shoes look more snazzy

Yes the buckles on the ghillie brogue are purely decorative, as is the big buckle on bar and buckle brogues (maryjanes) as is the buckle on Glenfinnan dress shoes. I treat it as a bit of individuality or eccentricity. To me it's like wearing a pair of sports shoes with the 3 stripes or a flash, no fuctional purpose but decoration. You could say the same thing about a jewelled sgian dubh or fancy sporran with studs or patterned leather, no funtional benefits of the attachments or designs, just for the pleasure of the wearer or viewer.

To illustrate Downunder Kilt's point here is an old catalogue showing two types of buckled Highland evening shoes. The next picture shows how the toe buckle is attached on bar and buckle brogues. As can be seen, it is entirely decorative as well, so buckles on ghillie brogues is not really beyond the pale.