Quote Originally Posted by Will Macadam
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It was this very 'white hose debacle' that freed me from the constraints of THE RULES to experiment with footwear and one or two other small details.

For example, the rather odd persistence with the uncomfortable (and kilt destroying) sporran chain. There are leather alternatives, and for the sake of my kilt alone, I'm going to be wearing one with my dress Sporran.

Next, The Brogue, Ghillie, Oxford, or otherwise.
Why this has become a standard for eveningwear, is beyond me, after all, who wears brogues with a tux?...
Well, Uill (I've got these bloody puns on the brain at the moment - please forgive me!), I'm glad that straight off you're not in favour of the chains - I will only make chained sporran belts if the customer can really persuade me that he fully understands what they do to his (very expensive) kilt and really insists on wearing the bloody things. I might even charge him more on point of principal. A piece of good black bridle leather will polish up a treat, and look as formal as regimentals or patent leather.

As for footwear on formal occasions, I also agree with you - I don't know about others, but I don't wear ghillies. I stick to my old "shoes, black, highland pattern" mainly because they're comfortable (and out of residual sentiment, too, I suppose) and I hate standing round jawing when my shoes are pinching, let alone dancing.

J. C. Thompson (a rather rebellious "authority") suggests (p. 65) wearing "Mary Jane" silver buckled shoes on formal occasions - much smarter than ghillies anyway, and much more like the patent shoes people wear with dinner jacket.