Ghillie brogues

[smaughazard]

I'd like to hear your thoughts about ghillie brogues; including alternative styles (buckle brogues, etc.). What are the pros/cons? Who makes the most comfortable? More importantly, who makes w-i-d-e sizes? I wear a 12EEEE, and have yet to find a supplier…

[Archangel]

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.

[flyv65]

I rather like the buckle brogues that I've seen linked on Matt Newsomes site, but haven't the cash to consider such an expense at this time. I also don't much care for the laces on the traditional Ghillie brogues and haven't heard anyone complain because I'm only wearing a decent dress shoe.

Bryan...but then again, my hearing isn't the greatest...

[Hamish]

Please don't get me started on the Ghillie brogues - I've given my opinion in this place more times than is good for my health! They were designed for formal evening wear (not SO many years ago), but seem to have been adopted in recent times for day wear - even informal day wear! Ugggh!

The buckle shoes are far more historically authentic, and look really good with full evening dress. A few months ago, I bought a pair of the Glenfinnan shoes from Mackenzie-Frain www.mackenziefrain.com, but have not yet had a 'dressy' opportunity to wear them. They look marvellous however (thinks: must get a photo done!). Before I had these, and was dressed to the nines in Prince Charlie, etc., I'd wear polished black standard brogues.

[Robin]

I don't like ghillie brogues...in fact I think they're pretty ugly.
When you're a sniper a ghillie suit can be handy :rolleyes:


a ghillie (sniper) suit

Nice, well polished brogues ("wingtips") are perfect.
Buckle shoes are nice for evening wear (Prince Charlie Jacket or a doublet).

Oh...and tartan hose are great for evening wear also

[Nick]

I like ghillie brogues, and I don't like shoes with buckles at all. I wouldn't wear ghillies if I wasn't dressing up, but I think they look good.

I just got mine from J. Higgins, but they're a bit to big! I wear 9s or 9 1/2s (US sizes), and got a 9 1/2. So of course I need a 9. Shipping them back tommorrow, they got here really fast so hopefully they'll be here in time for the wedding.

[Blu (Ontario)]

I have a pair of ghillies that I purchased as part of a kilt package a while back. I only wear them formally. I recently bought a pair of nice leather wingtips for all those other dress occasions when the ghillies would look a bit over the top.

[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.