Normal or formal?

[longhuntr74]

I'd have to look, but I think Townsend gets their shoes from Fugawee...if not, they have a maker that they purchase from. I have bought some stuff from Townsend in the past...I would tell you that they AREN'T the choice of most reenactors!! They make cheap commercial grade cookie cutter goods...some of which aren't at all historically appropriate/accurate. I'm not saying this is the case with the shoes....they may be fine...but what I AM SAYING is that Fugawee makes some of the best researched, historically accurate, quality 18th Century footwear on the market. I'm not advertising for them...but I figured I'd share my observations about 18th century sutlers as I am an avid reenactor and have made purchases from many of them and attended many events over the past few years. The only shoes I've seen rated higher are those made by a canadian company called Flying Canoe Traders...but the feedback I saw was primarily with durability over years of hard field use...but if you're talking about shoes for formal wear, that's not really a factor. OK...I think the horse is dead...not sure if we derailed this thread or not?

[Bugbear]

It's ok. At this point, it's all academic or theoretical for me, or something like that.

[MacLowlife]

I sit reading this, wearing my "let the dogs out" clothes- a denim shirt and old Foreign Legion khakis and slip-on shoes. In most people's minds, the shoes could pass for moccasins, but Natty Bumpo or Atta Kula Kula or Pocohantas or any other character from our childhoods ( whenever that may have been) who either was or knew people who were what we now called Native American- none of those people would have recognized them as moccasins. They have metal eyelets and funny little bumps on the bottom for driving a car. And the shirt, which buttons up and has long sleeves, would have looked odd to most people before about 1900, I expect, with its close fit and open breast pocket and button-down collar. The pants even button up, but they, too, are definitely different from anything before about 1918, with their moderate rise and back pockets and skinny belt loops. I bring this all up because I am too lazy to go looking for the thread where somebody said the kilt is timeless.

Yeah, the kilt is timeless, and so are shirts and trousers and simple shoes, but they all evolve. Fashion is responsible for quick changes that may not last, but subtler changes that DO last have occurred to most garments, caused by technology ( zippers and velcro ) politics and the environment ( different kinds of leather and fur, used differently), and differing occupations. Mostly, we need clothes for sitting down these days, but for some reason people tend to dress more like they are ready for bed. If we ever get out of these economic times, it might be that a fashion will arise for really elegant sitting-around clothes that are impractical for the field- who knows?

My two pairs of evening shoes represent the poles of the marketplace: real calfskin pumps made by Cole Haan about 15 years ago and the velvet slippers made by some cheesy fashion house like Giorgio Brutini. I am sure somebody would point out that the burgundy grosgrain trim on the pumps is not traditional- or for that matter, that they really ought to be patent leather, not calf. And the velvet ones? They were probably OK before I stuck the skull and bones "applique" on them. When I got the semi-formal rig on a week or so ago, I wore black blucher oxfords, polished, but not very well shined.

Just remember, when I wear them with my red PC, the protocol is to bow ALL OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.

[Bugbear]

All I have is black bluchers, and brown bluchers. Both have a shine to them, but not patent leather.

Those have to go with my suits. I really don't think I should have bought separate shoes just to go with the kilt.

* Oh, I forgot.

We're not worthy! We're not worthy!

[ThistleDown]

All I have is black bluchers, and brown bluchers. Both have a shine to them, but not patent leather.

Those have to go with my suits. I really don't think I should have bought separate shoes just to go with the kilt.

* Oh, I forgot.

We're not worthy! We're not worthy!

It's OK Ted, just hit "back" before you hit "send" when you find you have bought the wrong shoes and posted longly about them....

[Bugbear]

It's OK Ted, just hit "back" before you hit "send" when you find you have bought the wrong shoes and posted longly about them....

I'm not sure Lord MacLowlife would allow that.
I won't be at his black tie dinner either...

[ThistleDown]

I'm not sure Lord MacLowlife would allow that.
I won't be at his black tie dinner either...

No, proabaly not in both circumstances. So, so sad.

[ThistleDown]

It's ok. At this point, it's all academic or theoretical for me, or something like that.

But, Ted, are you saying anything (academic) or nothing (theoretical?) or is this post just for the count?

[Bugbear]

But, Ted, are you saying anything (academic) or nothing (theoretical?) or is this post just for the count?

I am saying in that post, I have stopped planning to purchase more Highland attire. This is after having done a great deal of reading and searching for products that would be suitable for black tie Highland attire; as well as, studying and experementing with adapting jackets for that perpose.

Around the same time that I came to this decision, MacLowlife joined the forum with somewhat of the same approach.

I'm done.

[MacLowlife]

I guess world domination was my destiny before I realized it. I would feel worse about it, but then I see those RHR pictures with the guy who looks like he's wearing his older brother's uniform. SOMEBODY has to stand for elegance and grandeur, eh?

I came across this and after much pining, have decided to let others have it instead:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Laird-Lord-Lady-...item4a9c589bd3

Oh, and that dinner? It will be WHITE tie , except for the waiters of course.