Neo Brogues?

[Dreadbelly]

Well, I've been wanting some brogues... And they do not make brogues for people with bog crawler feet. Which is sad really. I wear a size EEEE or EEEEE shoe. And every brogue I have found thus far has been some dainty little girly shoe at maybe a D, a DD, or a sad single E.

So, I was talking to my friends at the Barefoot Comfort Company, and I saw something that looked vaguely broguelike. It was a shoe made by Croc, called 'The Islander.' They have holes in them, have leather uppers, come in all kinds of colours, and they look an awful lot like brogues. Oh, and did I mention they are w i d e?





You can also buy little buttons that pop in to the holes for decoration. They are, in my rather worthless opinion, somewhat dressy. Or could be. I don't think they would look to bad with socks or hose. Like the brogues of old, they have holes in the sides and the tops to let bogwater drain out... Er, water. They are incredibly light and airy. Wearing them, you honestly don't know that they are there. The leather is actually soft and of decent quality, and treated to be highly water (and I am told, saltwater) resistant. They have some arch support too, which is nice.

Mind you, my opinion of dressy is no where near some of our esteemed members. I am a bit more like that fella in Braveheart who uttered the words "at least we didn't get dressed up for nuttin."

I could see these looking very nice with some canvas kilts, like an FK or RK. Or even a UK. I would highly recommend them for anybody looking to be comfortable.

[Colin]

Not my cup of tea, but try them with the laces rolled up like ghillies and see how they look.

[Dreadbelly]

Yeah, I was thinking the exact same thing... What would they look like with longer laces? I didn't buy longer laces today, but I was thinking about what it might look like with some long leather laces wound around some hose.

If you wore green hose, you would have little snatches of green peeking out of the shoe. I tried them on with some grey socks... I am still not sure what to think, but the effect is not unpleasant. Later, I may try on my thick green woolen hose, my blackwatch kilt, and my new shoes, and see how everything looks as a whole in a somewhat 'dressy' outfit. I'll probably have my wife snap a picture. I can post them if anybody is interested.

Oh, and before I forget, I really, REALLY would like to find a little Saltire nubbin to pop in to my shoe. I've seen the USA flag and the Union Jack, so I am hoping and praying that somebody has a Saltire flag.

[Big Mikey]

I have the same problem finding shoes, size 12 EEEE. A local store set me up with a pair of Florsheims that are great. I don't know if you have a retailer near that carries this brand but they are worth looking into. You may also want to do a google search for Haband. Thaey are a retailer that specializes in big guys clothing and shoes. Good luck!

[Riverkilt]

I'm a 4E or wider foot too Dread....no clue why most shoes are only made for narrow feet these days.

No clue why ghillie brogues aren't made in wide sizes...would hate to have to wear a too narrow pair if I were a piper etc.

I think Beloitpiper has the answer in his pic thread
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=23060

Guess I can cut the tongues out of an old pair of black New Balance tennies to make me some "gillie brogues" that fit my width.

Ron

[Tattoo Bradley]

Those remind me of the currently popular rubber girls shoe.

[neo71665]

Ya'll guys dont think its just you left out, I wear a 10 1/2 B and can't find shoes either.

[beloitpiper]

You might also want to try Converse. Buy some all black Converse All-Stars, cut out the tongues, and put in bootlaces. It's what I used for casual wear.

[beloitpiper]

...as Riverkilt so graciously pointed out.

[Riverkilt]

You've got a winner of a niche market idea there cousin Gregory...

Its a lot of hassle for some folks to cut out the tongue, find the bootlaces....maybe you should offer up some "ready mades" and rake in the dough.

I think your look might be a hit with the "grunge kilt" folks too.

Ron