Boot Toe Style

[JPS]

Generally speaking I think boots with the kilt would be considered as rather agricultural and unnecessary for normal kilt attire over here. Yes there is a time and place for boots, but not often. A good pair of brogues would do the job much better and with rather more style.

Having given this some thought, my curiosity has only increased. I wonder whether the "agricultural" feeling of boots with kilts reveals something about the nature of kilt-wearing, if not the kilt itself, in Scotland today. If you'll indulge me, understanding that I know very little about this...

If wearing a kilt outside the city (festivals excluded) would be seen as too much of an affectation, then I can absolutely see that situations for wearing seemingly agricultural footwear with a kilt would be few and far between.

And to Richard's point, while boots were more popular during the Victorian age, I wonder whether any of that popularity was owing to a general popularity of more military-style clothing, or whether it was just the result of a more rurally rooted population.

Now I'm a little sorry I framed my question so narrowly. Jock, I imagine you and I might be having a more helpful conversation had I asked about toe styles in general. I don't personally have a set of full-brogue shoes, though I do have a pair of black plain-toe, two-eye derbys, as well as a pair of burgundy oxfords with just the smallest amount of broguing across the toe. I'd love your thoughts on pairing these with the kilt, if it's ok to veer slightly off-topic.

[Jock Scot]

Having given this some thought, my curiosity has only increased. I wonder whether the "agricultural" feeling of boots with kilts reveals something about the nature of kilt-wearing, if not the kilt itself, in Scotland today. If you'll indulge me, understanding that I know very little about this...

If wearing a kilt outside the city (festivals excluded) would be seen as too much of an affectation, then I can absolutely see that situations for wearing seemingly agricultural footwear with a kilt would be few and far between.

And to Richard's point, while boots were more popular during the Victorian age, I wonder whether any of that popularity was owing to a general popularity of more military-style clothing, or whether it was just the result of a more rurally rooted population.

Now I'm a little sorry I framed my question so narrowly. Jock, I imagine you and I might be having a more helpful conversation had I asked about toe styles in general. I don't personally have a set of full-brogue shoes, though I do have a pair of black plain-toe, two-eye derbys, as well as a pair of burgundy oxfords with just the smallest amount of broguing across the toe. I'd love your thoughts on pairing these with the kilt, if it's ok to veer slightly off-topic.

As you are the OP then I think you are not going to "rock any boat" by going off topic, besides, you are only asking a question that arose from a post on this thread, so the conversation is just moving naturally along as any conversation often does.

I think you are taking my "agricultural"comment a tad too literally. I was not intending to limit my comment to the countryside. Although if we are talking about the countryside then as I have said that there are occasions where wearing boots with one's kilt is sensible. I am a countryman, I farmed, shoot and fish in some wonderful places and of course knowing one's ground does help with one's decision making when venturing out. A good pair of brogues will often be sufficient and if not the the wellington boot-----particularly the newer versions with cortex or leather linings-------do make life rather more pleasant. Of course if wading is required then waders are the obvious choice , although I would not be likely to be wearing the kilt in that case!

Black Brogues/low shoes with the kilt is the usual choice for most town/city or country here and one does not need to delve too deeply into colours or minute style differences, although its fair to say black is the most favoured choice. However I would say shoes built on the stout side are a lot more versatile. I am having trouble loading pictures at the moment, but if you care to go back through the pictures I have posted here in the past you will see the same black brogues being worn at weddings, social gatherings, country sporting events, in town, graduations, in the office, strolls out in the country and so on. So why wear boots?

[Panache]

Jock,

Here is a photo of me and the low boots I have taken to wearing when wearing daywear (Saxon and Highland). I don't think they look particularly bad (or good) with the kilt. In truth I wear them mainly because they are at this moment (with their Aetrex insoles) the most comfortable shoes I currently own.

Cheers

Jamie

[KnittedReenactor]

What kind of situation are you thinking of for wearing boots? Camping, festivals, daily, weddings... Contextus Rex. But considering you're asking for styles, I am going to presume at least some minimal level of dressiness.

-Combat style boots or hiking boots, are great for casual or outdoorsy scenarios. Comfy and sturdy, but definitely not the height of societal fashion.
-One of my more fancy footwear sets for a while was a cap-toe, brown ankle boot, of the type used in WWII, which were then called 'Service Shoes'. There was some broguing along the edge of the toe cap, and when shined up nice... oooowweeee! And the Army intended them for business room or battlefield.
-If you're trying to get semi-fancy with boots, get yours with a cap-toe or wingtip. But really any pair of boots is really best avoided at the ballroom or state function, unless in a very specific uniform that calls for them. Even then, you're looking at highly polished black leather.

[Troglodyte]

I have seen Highland outfitters here in Scotland selling black brogue boots with ghillie-style lacing at affordable prices.

They look good, and are probably intended to be worn with trousers - but if boots with the kilt is your thing, these could be an option.

[jrhonea]

I wear cap toe ankle boots when I wear the Utility kilts. I think they are called iron rangers from redwing. Not so much for fashion but out of necessity for doing outdoor work etc.
I don't know that I would wear them with a traditional Kilt if I was going out to dinner or something like that. They are a little too rugged, big and heavy. I am looking to buy a pair from Thursday Boots for occasions like that.

[kingandrew]

JPS,

I don't think the Victorian vogue for high-top button shoes/ankle boots was related to the military. Most of the boots I see in military illustrations of the period are much taller, climbing to mid-calf if not knee level. Think of the Wellington boot, which is of course named for the famous general from the Napoleonic wars.

Now the agricultural or outdoors aspect may be more to the point. A very large percentage of Victorian people made their living in farming or worked in other outdoor jobs like railroading. And businessmen in the city had to deal with a world where most travel was horse-drawn and the gutter and sewer system for clearing water off the streets was not as advanced as today. Both of these circumstances might make an ankle boot very practical for even formal business attire.

Of course, we have all seen high-top and low-top sneakers rise and fall in popularity, so the power of changing fashions is surely also at work on the dressier end of the shoe market as well.

Andrew