Has anyone found a source for formal brogues?

[orangehaggis]

Has anyone found a reliable source for British or western made formal evening brogues? I own a pair of Thistle buckle brogues, which I later found were made in India. Sadly, this is reflected in the substandard quality of the leather and metalwork. I'd prefer buckle brogues, but I'd probably wear patent ghillie brogues, or indeed patent Oxford brogues.

Orangehaggis

[The Wizard of BC]

Just so we are all using the same terms in the same way.

The term brogue refers not to a type of shoe - but to a shoe with brogueing or the pattern of small holes. In the UK a brogue is what we on this side of the pond refer to as a wing tip although technically a wing tip refers to the wing shaped pattern of the toe cap on some, but not all brogues.

And oxford brogue is an oxford shoe with the brogueing pattern of holes. A Ghillie Brogue is an Oxford brogue without a tongue and with cut-outs around the laces holes.

Shoes with brogueing are seen, at least originally in the UK, as casual, country, or day-wear shoes.

Buckle Brogues are now seen as formal shoes but this is a fairly recent development. Originally formal buckle shoes had no brogueing.

[orangehaggis]

There is, I believe, no misunderstanding then. It doesn't look as if there are sources for these at the moment other than Thistle.

Would it be fair to say that Highland formal shoes with broguing are very much a part of modern traditional highland dress? I don't recall having seen any photographs taken in the last, say, half century showing plain formal Highland shoes. If I haven't got that right, I'd be grateful if you could point me in the direction of some illustrations.

Orangehaggis

[Wareyin]

I thought brogues or wing-tips were formal for Highland dress. If they are not, what is?

[orangehaggis]

I don't think I've ever worn anything other than brogues with highland dress since I first started wearing it in my youth. I've a pair of heavy, storm welted Gibson ('Blucher' in American Speak?) brogues that I ordinarily wear with Highland and trousered country attire. Thin soled Goodyear welted brogues aren't terribly useful in more rugged terrain, especially when it's damp outside.

I usually always wear black Oxford brogues with business suits. They're great for treading pavement and interior floors.

Orangehaggis

[Katia]

Just so we are all using the same terms in the same way.

The term brogue refers not to a type of shoe - but to a shoe with brogueing or the pattern of small holes. In the UK a brogue is what we on this side of the pond refer to as a wing tip although technically a wing tip refers to the wing shaped pattern of the toe cap on some, but not all brogues.

And oxford brogue is an oxford shoe with the brogueing pattern of holes. A Ghillie Brogue is an Oxford brogue without a tongue and with cut-outs around the laces holes.

Shoes with brogueing are seen, at least originally in the UK, as casual, country, or day-wear shoes.

Buckle Brogues are now seen as formal shoes but this is a fairly recent development. Originally formal buckle shoes had no brogueing.

Most educational! I had always thought "brogue" was just referring to a shoe in general.

.

('Blucher' in American Speak?)

Apologies, but I must do it:

[davidlpope]

Loake makes ghillie brogues, if that's what you're interested in.

[orangehaggis]

No, not quite. I'm looking for one in patent, or even in calf. Loake's ghillie brogues is made in 'polished' leather which is made from leather that's had its blemished top grain sanded off and has had a new synthetic surface layer applied to the hide. This sort of leather doesn't wear very well as the top layer eventually cracks. It doesn't have the high gloss appearance of patent, nor is it as durable as calf which retains its natural grain.

Orangehaggis.

[Nathan]

Thistle shoes is a Scottish company and their bar and buckle, patent leather brogues are fine quality. I wasn't aware that they outsourced to India but even so, their offerings are far better than some of the off brand Pakistani shoes on ebay. I don't know of any other maker in the UK doing bar and buckle evening brogues. There are some bespoke shoe makers but you'll pay dearly. If you've got the budget you may go that route.

[Downunder Kilt]

You can always add buckles to existing formal shoes