Ghillie brogues, yes or no?

[ThistleDown]

Alright, I'll change my opinion of Ghilli brogues from too "costumey" to too Brigadoonish (or Brigadoony, if you will). I feel the same way about jacobite shirts and wearing a pipers dirk or baskethilt. All traditional. All not to my liking.

Perhaps we are branching out from the original thread? If that's where this is going, we need to be cautious and recognise that we are talking about many quite different societies in this forum. In Western Canada you will see ghillie brogues often in the evening and bonnets, sometimes, during the day -- quite acceptable; never, never will you see dirks, claymores, broadswords or pheasant feathers -- they are not "traditional" there. In Scotland you wiill see ghillie brogues about as frequently in the evening, but rarely a bonnet during the day (except by those who are rightfully wearing eagle feathers), and never, never any edged thingme except an ornamental sgian dubh.

Scotus is quite right. What is seen as "costumey" or, if you will, "Brigadooney" in both places is anything that is a deliberate attempt to dress in another era. Ghillie brogues don't fall into that category even though they are something of a throwback themelves. Everyone to his own, of course, but we do need to recognise that what is traditional, or "costumey", in one place may not be traditional or "Brigadooney" in another.

[Scotus]

Ghillie brogues don't fall into that category even though they are something of a throwback themelves. Everyone to his own, of course, but we do need to recognise that what is traditional, or "costumey", in one place may not be traditional or "Brigadooney" in another.

Thank you, ThistleDown. This is the point I was trying to make, in spite of JRB's less than mature response to my post. I realize what some are trying to say about ghillie brogues, but they are wrong to say they are costume-like, since they're a part of modern Scottish attire.

As Jamie correctly pointed out, the so-called kilt shirt is a modern invention, not a traditional part of Scottish attire, the view point I come from. However, this is a thread about ghillie brogues, so I'm not adressing the so-called kilt/Jacobite shirts, dirks, or anything else one might see being worn.

too Brigadoonish (or Brigadoony, if you will)

P.S. The proper term is "Brigadoonery."

[Jock Scot]

Just an observation! Since this thread has been going I have had occasion to don my kilt and attend one or two daytime functions in the Western Highlands and it seems to me that the ghillie brogue is being worn more often, these days, as day attire. The people wearing them are locals and many have lived in the area for all their lives----not incommers ---so they know a thing or two about wearing the kilt.It is a growing trend I fear.

[Scotus]

The people wearing them are locals and many have lived in the area for all their lives----not incommers ---so they know a thing or two about wearing the kilt.

Thanks for that post. This is why I keep repeating that it's a part of modern Scottish attire; not something people are wearing in order to look like something from a period movie.

[JerseyLawyer]

Just an observation! Since this thread has been going I have had occasion to don my kilt and attend one or two daytime functions in the Western Highlands and it seems to me that the ghillie brogue is being worn more often, these days, as day attire. The people wearing them are locals and many have lived in the area for all their lives----not incommers ---so they know a thing or two about wearing the kilt.It is a growing trend I fear.

I also wonder, aesthetics aside, if it might have something to do with ghillie brogues being both more available and less costly than they were in the past.

When I bought my first pair, lo those fourteen or fifteen years ago, you had to go to a kilt store to buy this stuff, and the shoes cost, in the early 90's, $150 a pair or something like that. For rather uncomfortable, leather-soled ghillies. When you consider that you can get a pretty good pair of dress shoes for that money, and not be limited to wearing them with the kilt, the investment in special "kilt shoes" doesn't make sense.

Now, there are tons and tons of manufacturers out there and, starting with the "Doc Marten" style ghillies and now the "Piper" ghillies, there are brogues that are designed for more wearability. (I personally think that dress shoes should have leather soles, but, that's not really the point.). I'm pretty sure you can get a pair similar to what I got back in the day for $50 or so.

Not as expensive and more easily available might lead to more people wearing ghillies than in the past.

Just conjecture, though.

[Jock Scot]

I also wonder, aesthetics aside, if it might have something to do with ghillie brogues being both more available and less costly than they were in the past.

When I bought my first pair, lo those fourteen or fifteen years ago, you had to go to a kilt store to buy this stuff, and the shoes cost, in the early 90's, $150 a pair or something like that. For rather uncomfortable, leather-soled ghillies. When you consider that you can get a pretty good pair of dress shoes for that money, and not be limited to wearing them with the kilt, the investment in special "kilt shoes" doesn't make sense.

Now, there are tons and tons of manufacturers out there and, starting with the "Doc Marten" style ghillies and now the "Piper" ghillies, there are brogues that are designed for more wearability. (I personally think that dress shoes should have leather soles, but, that's not really the point.). I'm pretty sure you can get a pair similar to what I got back in the day for $50 or so.

Not as expensive and more easily available might lead to more people wearing ghillies than in the past.

Just conjecture, though.

Do you know,I was thinking along the very same lines. When I find some one wearing ghillies at the next function,that I know well enough to ask, I will.

[JerseyLawyer]

Do you know,I was thinking along the very same lines. When I find some one wearing ghillies at the next function,that I know well enough to ask, I will.

Great minds, or something like that...

It could be worse - they could come in a two-toned version. I hope not to see those.

Nothing wrong with spectator shoes, but I just don't see them with a kilt. And remember, they're summer shoes, which means you can only wear them for three days in August when it's warm in Scotland. ;)

[Jack Daw]

Nothing wrong with spectator shoes, but I just don't see them with a kilt. And remember, they're summer shoes, which means you can only wear them for three days in August when it's warm in Scotland. ;)

So it is for Scotland, but in Houston - that would be 10 months out of 12. The high for today is 88F.

[Tommy Hunt]

Just an observation! Since this thread has been going I have had occasion to don my kilt and attend one or two daytime functions in the Western Highlands and it seems to me that the ghillie brogue is being worn more often, these days, as day attire. The people wearing them are locals and many have lived in the area for all their lives----not incommers ---so they know a thing or two about wearing the kilt.It is a growing trend I fear.

Why a fear though? Is this something you don't want to see? Why?

[Jock Scot]

Why a fear though? Is this something you don't want to see? Why?

I am not a fan of ghillie brogues.