Does anyone always wear ghillie brogues when kilted?

[Jack Daw]

I only wear ghillie brogues for piping, semi-formal (black tie), and weddings (with my black argyll jacket). Otherwise, if I'm wearing a day-wear argyll jacket, I wear casual (non-glossy) oxfords.

[Highlander31]

I have a pair that I would use in semi formal settings, and for work (clients liked the look of the ghillies.) However, I haven't worn them in about two years. Instead I prefer to wear my Balleys loafers or a pair of low quarters. Boots for hiking or working in the yard.

[OC Richard]

It is odd to me that several people have made comments linking Ghillies with formal wear. In the "traditional" Highland Dress that's come down to us, which as far as I can tell became more rigid and systematised in the early through mid 20th century, Ghillies were for Day Dress only. Evening Dress required tartan full hose and buckled brogues.

The Highlanders Of Scotland seems to bear this out, as only 11 of the 56 kilted men are wearing Ghillies, and most of these are tan leather, a few are brown, one pair is grey, and only one pair is black, the black pair having decorative buckles attached.

[Ancienne Alliance]

It is odd to me that several people have made comments linking Ghillies with formal wear. In the "traditional" Highland Dress that's come down to us, which as far as I can tell became more rigid and systematised in the early through mid 20th century, Ghillies were for Day Dress only. Evening Dress required tartan full hose and buckled brogues.

The Highlanders Of Scotland seems to bear this out, as only 11 of the 56 kilted men are wearing Ghillies, and most of these are tan leather, a few are brown, one pair is grey, and only one pair is black, the black pair having decorative buckles attached.

My father, before going out, would take his hat and cane.

I never saw him with jeans and he often wore a bow tie.

His looks would be considered, if not formal, at least "dressy" today.

Things are the same for civilian (non piping) highland wear. Things and priorities change with time.

Also according to countries.
In France, a very distinguished kilted gentlemen of a noble family could wear buckle shoes and a cashmere sweater for day wear and a tweed Argyll with normal Richelieu shoes for dinner.
Not only would he be accepted among the French kilted gentry descending of Scottish aristocracy but he would be admired for his taste.


Best,

Robert

[JSFMACLJR]

It is odd to me that several people have made comments linking Ghillies with formal wear. In the "traditional" Highland Dress that's come down to us, which as far as I can tell became more rigid and systematised in the early through mid 20th century, Ghillies were for Day Dress only. Evening Dress required tartan full hose and buckled brogues.

I dislike blanket statements such as your assertion, "In the "traditional" Highland Dress that's come down to us, which as far as I can tell became more rigid and systematised in the early through mid 20th century, Ghillies were for Day Dress only."

Oh? Tell that to Sir Ian Malcolm of Poltalloch!

[Jordan]

I dont own Ghillie brogues and I cant see myself rushing out to buy them anytime soon, I survive with my plain black shoes which I keep polished.
That said if a pair come my way at a decent price I wouldnt say no!

My father, before going out, would take his hat and cane.

I never saw him with jeans and he often wore a bow tie.

His looks would be considered, if not formal, at least "dressy" today.

Things are the same for civilian (non piping) highland wear. Things and priorities change with time.

Best,

Robert

Thats somthing I would like to see is the return of the days when a man didnt go outside without his hat nowadays its considerd strange atleast over here to wear a hat thats not a part of a uniform or costume etc.

[Buckskin]

I have both brown and black pairs of ghillie brogues. I wear them when I am more dressed up above the waist than a t-shirt or golf shirt---nice dres shirt, shirt and tie, vest and tie, kilt jacket of any sort, etc.. Depending on my activity I may wear them with a nice sweater. If I am doing outdoors activities like housework, shopping the hardware store, or woodsy hiking where I would tend to be dressed more casually and functionally oriented I default to a pair of hiking shoes (Merrells) or even the scrunch hose hiking boots look.

Having brown and black allows for decent day wear with brown accessories and saving the blacks for slightly more dressy occasions and evening wear.

jeff

I also have a brown and a black pair. Pretty much follow the same dress styles with them.

[Andrew M. Stewart]

I wear ghillies when piping, I'm looking into a nice pair of buckle brogues. I've been known to wear a pair of steel capped 10 hole Doctor Martins, depending on the occasion.

[David Dalglish]

I wear them with my PC, I like them

[OC Richard]

I dislike blanket statements such as your assertion, "In the "traditional" Highland Dress that's come down to us, which as far as I can tell became more rigid and systematised in the early through mid 20th century, Ghillies were for Day Dress only."

Oh? Tell that to Sir Ian Malcolm of Poltalloch!

Yes for sure there are always exceptions! But can anyone seriously deny that buckled brogues have been the norm for formal Highland dress for at least the last century and a half?

One exception, or two or three, doesn't alter the norm, the usual, the average.

It's clear that at the time of The Highlanders Of Scotland ghillies were usually seen as informal footwear.

Buckled brogues were always worn in the military in orders of dress having full diced or tartan hose.

In the third quarter of the 20th century, and persisting for some time afterwards, it was usual to wear ghillies with Day Dress and buckled brogues and tartan full hose with Evening Dress.

Perhaps the huge expansion of the kilt hire industry in the late 20th century helped make the Prince Charlie + white hose + ghillies look the Evening Dress standard.

Anyhow I tend to give modern images of individual Clan Chiefs the weight they statistically deserve, in the sweep of imagery of Highland Dress over the last two or three centuries.