Ghillie brogues or "regular" shoes?

[Paul]

Hi guys. I'm wondering if you could prefer ghillie brogues or regular shoes (that don't tie up the leg) to wear to formal and semi-formal events. I realise buckle brogues and a small range of other shoes worn with the kilt are available - I'm just wondering if you guys choose to wear ghillies to these events or not.

P.S. if you don't wear ghillies I'd appreciate if you could find a picture of your style of shoe and post it up.

[Dall_Piobaire]

To me, Ghillies just don't look right with anything more dress than an Argyl, but that's just my opinion. I don't have the pumps but like the buckle brogues, Glenfinnans, best with a doublet or such.

[fluter]

Plain-toe black Oxfords will go 'most anywhere. I have a pair just like them in brown. Both have Vibram soles, so they are not exactly dancing slippers. However, since I stand around on rocks more often than I dance, it works out well. I aspire to a pair of Glenfinnans, or with luck and frugality, some of DWFII's buckle shoes!

[Dall_Piobaire]

I would love to have a pair of his shoes, afraid that's just not in the cards for me!

[Zardoz]

I'm with Hamish on the ghillie brogues, I personally just don't care for them. On the rare formal events I might attend, I wear my trusty Florsheim Varsities, polished to a nice shine of course. The nice thing about quality footwear, and wearing them rarely, is that I've had those shoes about 20 years.

[Rex_Tremende]

I think - though I could change my mind some day - that the only ghillie brogues I ever want are brown ones. But in the mean time, I've found that I have plenty of regular shoes that work well for me.

Regards,
Rex.

[Jock Scot]

I am not a fan of ghillie brogues and do not wear them, ever.

[caig]

I do not like ghillie brogues at all. I wear classic English brogues in a non-shine waxy leather and with a commando sole. I wear them for day events, highland games, I dance in them at ceilidhs and during the evening.

If you go to a highland games in the true highlands of Scotland ( such as Ballater or Braemar) you will see the locals wearing brogues, but not ghillies. My personal view is that ghillies are "touristy".

[BEEDEE]

I wear them because I bought them before I found this forum and I hate to not use an expensive pair of shoes. I will not replace them with another p[air.

Brian

[Jack Daw]

I don't like ghillie brogues or mary-janes, but I do wear the ghillie brogues for semi-formal (black-tie) and with my black argyll with silver buttons. Otherwise, for casual day, I wear hiking boots or brown oxfords.