Ghillie brogues - why the dislike and resentment..?

[Allan Thomson]

In the Manx Museum's folk life gallery there's a pair of Goat Skin Curranes that was made around 100 years ago (I need to date check they could even be 19th C) for an antiquarian by a man who had learned the skills to make them from his predecessors and then made them regularly until they were replaced by more modern shoes in a village that still spoke Gaelic in the early Century. They were made with the hair on the outside which points to their authenticity as being more authentically closer to the style in which they were made traditionally. Given the close historical connections between Mann and the Western Isles personally I feel this shoes probably is closer to a Highland Currane than a lot of other examples cited here.

I've never owned Ghillie Brogues, there have been times I was tempted but in the end a good quality Hoggs Brogue (personally and I know many might disagree but Brown for Daywear with Tweed and Black for formal evening wear) looks much better and less costume like in my opinion. As for Ghillie Boots I fail to see any point.

However I did think there's one glaring error with Ghillie Brogues from my perspective. They are all black. Whereas the evidence seems to point to a more wealthy individual wearing black buckle Brogues and the poorer people (or perhaps also wealthy people in the context of if they were out on the hills) wearing either nothing or Curranes depending on their needs. Therefore to me if Ghillie Brogues should be any colour to be truly authentic it should probably be brown (or even Suede if we accept a rawhide shoe with the fur on the inside rather than outside) and their use should probably be confined to day wear outside whilst wearing tweed and a more formal black Brogues for evening and formal events.

Discuss.