ghillie brogues

[Barb T]

Reminds me of a Highland dance competition where I watched a mother and her very young dancer daughter putting on the hose to go with her kilt. Mom picked up a big glue stick, ran it once around the top of her daughter's calves, pulled up the socks, pressed smartly, and sent the little tyke up onto the stage....!

Barb

[Hamish]

Reminds me of a Highland dance competition where I watched a mother and her very young dancer daughter putting on the hose to go with her kilt. Mom picked up a big glue stick, ran it once around the top of her daughter's calves, pulled up the socks, pressed smartly, and sent the little tyke up onto the stage....!

Barb

Barb, that is the best yet! It brought back memories from my years of dancing in the demonstration team of the London branch of the RSCDS. Sticky paste, double-sided sticky tape; you name it and I daresay it has been used at the last minute before stepping into the limelight!

As I have stated before, I will not wear those Ghillie brogues. They look dreadful; few guys seem to be able to do them up so that they look neat and tidy, and, in any case, they are not traditional at all. [Oooops! Having said that, I suppose I should stop wearing my kilt pins!]

All my kilted life, I have worn only ordinary, highly-polished, black brogues with my formal dress outfits BUT, I have just ordered a pair of the Glenfinnan buckled shoes from Mackenzie Frain. They will make a difference, I'm sure.

[CameronTaylor]

I've never liked the looks of those "things", I have a pair of CAT boots that look similar to the ones Hamish has on in his leather kilt pics. Polished up nice and shiny they look good but they're hell to dance in ...

CT -

[Hamish]

I've never liked the looks of those "things", I have a pair of CAT boots that look similar to the ones Hamish has on in his leather kilt pics. Polished up nice and shiny they look good but they're hell to dance in ...

CT -

Hmmmn! Not quite the same thing, Cameron. Ghillies and polished (black) brogues are strictly formal (ie: for wear with a Prince Charlie, doublet or formal jacket). In no way can they form part of a casual outfit.

Boots, such as those you mention, are on the other hand, strictly casual (ie: for wear with folded-down hose, T-Shirts, open-necked shirts, etc.). Boots are workwear, designed for walking, ankle support or for protection - they are not formal wear at all.

Our footwear should always be polished, unless it is of suede or a similar material, and clean.

Dancing in boots?! I did it once, in a comedy demonstration of Highland Dance, but I would never subject a dance partner (nor a dance floor) to the risk of resulting permanent damage!

[michael steinrok]

While you're thinking about that glue, think about the hair on your legs OUCH!

[chacbalam]

I hate the silly things, I don't think they look good, and I refuse to wear them. For caual wear I usualy use hiking boots ( see pict) and for dressier times, including formal wear I stick to good dress shoes, with or without buckles.

[GlassMan]

I've actually often wondered where the whole "extra long laces" thing came from for ghillie brogues. Does anyone know the actual history of it?

[Blu (Ontario)]

....As I have stated before, I will not wear those Ghillie brogues. They look dreadful...

They are distinctive.... and I will admit that they look quite out of place unless worn with jacket and tie. I wear mine 3 - 4 times a year. But on those occasions, I wouldn't wear anything else.

...Mom picked up a big glue stick, ran it once around the top of her daughter's calves...

Somebody posted quite a while back about Japanese school girls wearing loose socks glued into position halfway up the leg. I guess wheels do get re-invented from time to time.