Formal Buckle Shoes

[CMcG]

Both eBay and your local antique mall are excellent sources for shoe buckles...

eBay came through for me yet again and some very affordable, used buckles are on the way. They will need a good cleaning but I like the fact that they aren't too square:

Following MoR's lead, here is a fine looking pair of shoes on eBay- a little pricey and not for the sasquatches, but fine looking...


http://cgi.ebay.com/Churchs-Scottish...item5198bc570e

For those who are interested in bar and buckle brogues, at a lower price point, and in a range of sizes, check out THESE. I can't speak to their quality but I will say that the naming of them is funny: ghillie "brouges."

[smacw]

Kinloch Anderson use to have nice mary janes but they dont appear to be on their web site anymore. I have patent leather gillies from Geoffrey Tailor about 10 years ago. I know, not excatly correct for evening despite being patent, and not suitable for day because of it.

The shoes I like best both day and night with the kilt are these in black cordovan:

http://www.theshoemart.com/alden-men..._cordovan.html

I think the Mad Ave Alden shop in NY still has them in black cordo as well as calf. Perhaps not for everyones budget, but I think you will find them incredibly versatile both with kilt, trews, as well as casual trousers and business suits.

[OC Richard]

I used the standard Scottish thistle pattern buckles. I got them off Ebay.

About the sort of shoes which work for making up into "buckle loafers" I like starting with tassel loafers with wingtip style decoration. I've found these, very cheap, on Ebay:

Allen Edmonds "Chambrey"
I think it's ideal for affixing buckles to. Nice wingtip decoration, and a strap across the top for the buckle to be placed upon. All that has to be done is remove the tassels.

Allen Edmonds "Hardwick"
This shoe is very similar to the Chambrey but lacks the strap. So once you remove the tassels there's a large plain area where the buckle will go.

Nunn Bush
I don't know the name of this style but it's a wingtip tassel loafer with decorative strap over the top and fancy serrated flap. I removed the tassels and cut off the flap before I affixed the buckles.

[MacRobert's Reply]

I would not wear these to a black or white tie event but IMHO they are fine for an 18th Century Costume Ball in Venice and for a recent charity do at Balgonie Castle.

They are calf-leather monk-strap shoes with the small functional buckles removed and replaced with sam-brown studs. On this type of leather it is difficult to create the high shine that a dress shoe should have.

The thistle-buckles are ex-Gordon Highlanders'. I think my wife paid £10 or £12 for them. They are not functional on these shoes and, of course, were not functional on the Mary Jane's they were originally made for.

[creagdhubh]

MacRobert,

I have the exact same buckles on my patent leather buckle brogues. I took the old, rather plain silver buckles off the brogues after purchasing them and replaced them with the thistle embossed buckles - much better look in my opinion. However, I do own two pairs of buckle brogues, one pair with the standard, plain silver buckles, which aren't terrible, they just lack ornamentation, yet I do wear them at times. Wonderful thread, thanks to all who have posted.

Top view of the buckles.


I am second from the left - obviously, as I am the only one wearing buckle brogues!


Photo of me, my lovely wife, Stephanie (whom is Robertson), Lady Hilary Burnham and Sir William Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, Chief of Clan Macpherson - note myself and Cluny are wearing buckle brogues - his date from the 1950's!

[CMcG]

OC Richard, thanks for the tips.

And MacRobert's Reply, you've given me another idea with your converted monk's straps! I've checked all my local formal wear rental shops and they don't deal with slip on shoes. At my local thrift shops, monk strap shoes are much more common than opera pumps and I'm sure I could find a pair that would take a shine

<snip>
They are calf-leather monk-strap shoes with the small functional buckles removed and replaced with sam-brown studs. On this type of leather it is difficult to create the high shine that a dress shoe should have.

[GMcNab]

There's a very nice pair of British Army issue buckle brogues going on eBay UK at the moment...UK size 9

ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND BUCKLE KILT BROUGES

[creagdhubh]

There's a very nice pair of British Army issue buckle brogues going on eBay UK at the moment...UK size 9

ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND BUCKLE KILT BROUGES

Those are fairly nice...a wee bit worn and in desperate need of shoe trees, but not a bad price at all. I think they could be brought back to active-duty status with a wee bit of care.