Buckle Ghillie Brogues (customization)

[OC Richard]

Looks great, the way you've attached the buckles. It seems to be exactly as shown in that old Highland Dress catalogue.

BTW my c1926 Lawrie catalogue doesn't show ghillies at all.

My 1936 Paisley catalogue shows only ghillies without buckles. Buckles are shown on Mary Janes and "Cromwell" brogues.

It's my 1936 Anderson catalogue that that photo was from showing:

Patent Lacing Brogues, with Buckles (what we call ghillies)

Patent Buckling Brogues (Mary Janes)

Listed but not illustrated with the other footwear are

Plain Patent Shoes, with Buckles (possibly the slip-on loafers called "Cromwell style brogues" in the Paisley catalogue)

The illustrations of men's Highland Dress in the 1936 Anderson catalogue show all three styles. The ghillies with buckles are worn by a man wearing a Navy Blue "Coatee" (Prince Charlie), what perhaps is a Black Watch kilt, and dark green and dark blue diced full hose.

Later Anderson catalogues from the 1950s perpetuate those photos of buckles ghillies and Mary Janes.

(Personally I'm not a fan of buckles on ghillies. I prefer putting buckles on slip-on loafers in imitation of the old 'Cromwell' brogues.)

[CMcG]

Looks great, the way you've attached the buckles. It seems to be exactly as shown in that old Highland Dress catalogue.

<snip>...

(Personally I'm not a fan of buckles on ghillies. I prefer putting buckles on slip-on loafers in imitation of the old 'Cromwell' brogues.)

Thanks OC Richard for the historical context. I've seen your buckled loafers and was actually looking for something like that. With a budget of about $20, I wasn't having much luck finding decent shoes for the job. When I saw the very gently used ghillie brogues for $15, I decided to call it serendipity and go that route!