Mosying back toward the topic, I have a pair of the heavy sole, heel cleat piper's brogues...they're comfortable enough to tromp around all day long at a Games and I don't feel like my feet will fall off. The leather seems to be good quality, and they take a shine well.

It's worth re-hashing what at least one other person (MoR) said, that those big piper brogues aren't necessarily the best thing to be wearing at a formal indoor event...tho photographic evidence may show that particular style being worn, the heel cleat on the piper brogue is steady on ice...and hardwood, linoleum, veneer, and other soft surfaces.

The advice to buy a nice pair of dress shoes is spot on. Don't forget the socks...piper's brogues pair well visually with big cable-knit socks, and can work fine with less-embellished socks. Big cable-knit fatties, IMHO, do not look nearly as good with smooth formal shoes.

I also have a pair of Florsheim Imperials...comfortable, once they're broken in, but I wouldn't tromp around a Highland Games in them, either. The quality of the leather, and the shine I can get on them, may be similar to the piper's brogues I have...but there's no way the leather soles would hold up outdoors.