Types of Shoes

[Dall_Piobaire]

I think he meant the outside, didn't he?

Those Doc whatever inserts the back savers with the charcoal....huge help!!1

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think he meant the outside, didn't he?

Those Doc whatever inserts the back savers with the charcoal....huge help!!1

Nope. I meant the inside which, no matter how little your feet may sweat, still absorbs perspiration into the lining (called the sock) of the shoe. The perspiration contains salts which will, over time, damage the leather and the stitching of the shoe. It also causes the bacteria to breed that create shoe odor.

On a hot day when I take my shoes off I immediately rinse out the inside with about a quarter cup of cool water (I do this by guess and by golly under the tap), swirl it around a few times, and dump it out. I then rest the shoes against the wall, toes up and soles facing out. This allows the shoes to drain out any remaining water. After a few minutes you can either wipe out any residual dampness with a towel, stuff the shoes with newspaper or, if they are suitably dry inside, put wooden shoe trees in them and they will be fresh and ready to wear the next morning (after you've given them a bit of a brush up with a dab of polish).

You do have wooden shoe trees, don't you?

[Jock Scot]

In the locked thread about polished shoes, Nighthawk made the following comment about two photos I posted:

"You make an excellent point! But to me, those look like tuxedo shoes- or semi formal at the very least. So to restate my question in a slightly different way- why wear something so formal to some so informal as the games?

And for clarity- my formal shoes are always polished and beautiful. Anything less in a formal setting is unacceptable."





Dear Nighthawk,

Those are just plain old brogues, "wingtips" as they are called in the US. Nothing very "formal" about them really. They are comfortable, leather shoes, most appropriate for Highland dress. I certainly would NEVER wear them with a tuxedo!

How one interprets "informal" depends on one's upbringing or location or some such factors. I dress quite informally when I attend games: shirt and tie, tweed jacket, kilt, etc. Usually the jacket comes off due to the heat, but the shoes stay on!

Cheers,
Sandford

I wear shoes such as the above as everyday wear too and so would many in Scotland with or without the kilt. In fact if the "going" is not to bad, I wear them on the moor shooting grouse, again, I am not unusual in doing so.

[Heming]

I wear shoes such as the above as everyday wear too and so would many in Scotland with or without the kilt. In fact if the "going" is not to bad, I wear them on the moor shooting grouse, again, I am not unusual in doing so.

Eh, I thought that's what brogues are for in the first place? Maybe there's a cultural difference beween Europe and North America here, but at least to me a brogued shoe is an informal one (and usually brown or tan), something I'd wear to work or with my tweed suit for an informal morning function, garden party etc. I'd certainly never wear brogues with an evening suit or a black tie outfit (unless they're ghillie brogues with a kilt/PC ensemble, but I don't own ghillies).

I was actually very surprised when I first saw ghillie brogues up close, as I had never before seen a brogued shoe for formal wear. But then again conventions are always different for national dress compared to regular formal dress.

[dfmacliam]

I keep a shine kit in the kitchen, and give my proper shoes a good going over, after they get mucked up a bit. Spray them down with foot powder, and a quick dab of polish.. If I have something going on, I am usually going over my outfit the night before, checking for any mending, spit polishing the shoes, and pressing, I being raised military and serving... old habits are hard to break.

As for the shoes, I am actually looking for wingtips/brogues for myself. I am currently wearing a more informal shoe at the moment, but it works for my informal wear.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Peacekeeper.

You gotta check out the goodwill! I've been in and seen hords of classic oxfords, some brand new!

[Bugbear]

I have a rayon cloth that is meant for use on shiney surfaces, for example, on my black bluchers, and I do make sure the surface is clean before I put them away. I have to have my shoes polished by a shoe polishing shop, so I am very careful when I wear them.I use shoe trees in all of my good shoes.

Most of my life is spent digging ditchis, turning compost, and working with clay, so I don't often wear my nice shoes.

I have been planning to get a pair of patent leather evening pumps, and I think those are cleaned and cared for A bit differently.

[Jock Scot]

Wooden shoe trees, I have.

[bikeolounger]

My grandmother always told us to put our best money in our everyday shoes. I am loathe to spend a hundred dollars or more on a pair of shoes I'll wear at most once every six months or so. Wing tips or similar shoes in my size are not available at the discount shoe place, for the most part. Ghillie Brogues? I've not seen them online in my size, period. I would suppose that someone makes them to fit me, but I would also expect the price to reflect the almost-custom nature of such shoes.

That said, yes, I have a couple pair of what some on this list would consider barely half-way decent-looking shoes to wear on the very-odd dress-up occasion.

I even keep them protected when I'm not wearing them, air them out before putting them away, wipe them down with an appropriate cloth before storing them, etc. but for wear with my contemporary kilts, nothing beats New Balance outdoor walking shoes (since they come in my size, 12EEEE).

Not just wooden shoe trees, but cedar--even better.

[Bugbear]

No. I put thick cotton socks over the plastic shoe trees with a fresh sprig of rosemary from the garden inside or a splash of Listerine. Best I can do for now...