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 They are not functional on these shoes and, of course, were not functional on the Mary Jane's they were originally made for.