Ghillie brogues

[Hachiman]

I'm the wrong guy to ask. If you're dancing, fine: anything else, it's effected. I can't concieve of any practical, historical purpose for the design.

As I'm into medieval re-enactment and amateur leatherwork, Archangel's comment (above) got me thinking... "is there an historical basis or precursor to the modern ghillie brogue?" :confused: .... and so I went looking.

And, I think there are a couple of early (circa 700 AD) shoes that could be considered the early forefathers to the modern ghillie brogue. The links I found are here:

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc...HOES/SHOE2.HTM

http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc...OES/SHOE55.HTM

I seem to recall another shoe that used a similar lacing pattern across the instep of the foot and that, once tied, looked similar to the ghillie brogues, but I can't find it now - they may have been in a book, rather than web-based.

All that being said, for a formal occasion, I don't mind the ghillie brogues, but I don't think I'd be wearing them casually. Kind of a moot point though - I don't attend many formal functions.

cheers

Hachiman

[Macman]

Put me in the ghillie brogue fan club. I wear them when I'm looking for a dressier or formal look. The pipe bands wear them all the time . One day I'll get the buckled shoes (which I thought looked great in a picture in a recent thread) for wearing with my PC.

[Zardoz]

I'm with Hamish on this one. Those are an invention of the Victorian English.

Florsham Varsity's for dress up.

[auld argonian]

Well, one of our sources strikes again:

http://jas-townsend.com/product_info...roducts_id=244

...but you may not be lucky enough to find the wide size that you need...stilll...possible that some other re-enactor supply outfit may be able to fix you up...I'm sure that some of the other forum members know of mor of them.

Best

AA

[Iolaus]

Well, one of our sources strikes again:

http://jas-townsend.com/product_info...roducts_id=244

"Buckles are not included" ?!?!? What's up with that? If I buy a pair of shoes, I want the whole thing!

[auld argonian]

I beleive that the idea is that you can then choose the metal color and shape of the buckle...Townsend seems to straddle the 18th and 19th centuries so some of their stuff is a little "in between" so that you can customize it to suit the period that you're re-enacting.

Best

AA

[Bob C]

I like the ghillie brogues for formal dress, too. Buckle shoes are for dressing up like a pilgrim for Thanksgiving.

[bubba]

I really like the look of the buckle brogues. Some day I'll get a pair.

[David Dalglish]

Ghillie Brogues are good to wear with any formal event with PC or Argyle jackets also good for morning wear --Weddings, funerals etc. I like them & think they set off the the whole look of the formal--semi formal attire. They are a matter of taste.

[Pour1Malt]

ai like the Ghillie brogues tae... guid fur formal dress....

NO fur casual though....