I like the current positioning of the buckles on your ghillie brogues and understand where Downunder Kilt is coming from, despite the fact that all I wear for evening attire are the 'Mary Jane' style of buckle brogues and love them dearly. It also seems to me that the buckle positiong for your ghillies needs to be further down towards the toe, as in the style of buckle brogues, but where you currently have it positioned doesn't look bad to my eye either. I agree with Sandy, take your shoes to a cobbler and allow him to properly affix the buckles on, that way it is professionally done, and you wont have to worry about it. I am friends with P/M Gordon Walker, so I'll contact him and ask him about his red-laced, ghillie brogues with silver buckles and will share with the rabble what he has to say. I do like the fact that your ghillies have thin soles and a nice heel, not the grotesque, overly 'chunky' soles and heels that are on so many ghillies these days, which to my eye, looks very ugly (unless you are a piper or in a pipe band) Get a pair of red laces mate, you are well on your way and are doing a fantastic job!

Slainte,