Formal Buckle Shoes

**CMcG** · 23rd April 11, 08:05 AM

Nice post DWFII, you certainly know your buckle shoes!

Originally Posted by DWFII

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But the shoe depicted in the photo above is...

Could you clarify which of the many photos above you are referring to?

Originally Posted by DWFII

<snip>

I believe the buckle shoe looks much better and much more masculine than the Mary Janes depicted in the second photo. That's just my opinion...for what its worth.

That is also my lass' opinion.

**DWFII** · 23rd April 11, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

Nice post DWFII, you certainly know your buckle shoes!

Could you clarify which of the many photos above you are referring to?

Page one, post one...the first shoe is a faux buckle shoe, the second is a "Mary Jane."

**MacLowlife** · 23rd April 11, 11:22 AM

Those slippers you show are a more elegant version of mine.

MoR's comments remind me of a very funny sequence in the movie version of Tristram Shandy, in which heel height becomes an issue.

I do have some calfskin pumps which I sometimes wear with the kilt, but I am content to leave them with a bow instead of a buckle. I like the look of the buckle, mind, but an old sweetheart was crazy about a shoe famously made by Roger Vivier and worn by Catherine DeNeuve. She called them Pilgrim Flats and thought they were swell. Were I to put a square buckle on my calfskin pumps, they would look a great deal like her Vivier flats. I am ready to defend either the grosgrain bow or the Jolly Roger, but I ain't no pilgrim, Pilgrim...

For those who must have just a little more tartan, at least one company will make up the "Albert" style dinner slipper in your tartan fabric. If wearing them with a kilt, though, I suspect you would want to balance the outfit with a tartan sweatband at the forehead...

http://www.shiptonandheneage.co.uk/c...rs-2559-0.html

(It does also come in a number of plain black versions that might look good with those buckles- and not a bit like Catherine DeNeuve...)

http://www.shiptonandheneage.co.uk/l...rs-2362-0.html

**CMcG** · 23rd April 11, 11:34 AM

Thanks for those links MacLowlife. I like the way the tongue on the Albert slipper looks much better than the dainty openness of the pump:

Yes:

Not for me:

It's also very interesting to read people's associations with these different shoe styles. To some, the buckle shoe is too "pilgrim" or "costumey," perhaps a bit "pirate" even? To others, the bar and buckle dress brogue is a "Mary Jane" and "not masculine."

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 1st May 11, 03:08 PM

Both eBay and your local antique mall are excellent sources for shoe buckles...

**MacLowlife** · 2nd May 11, 02:49 PM

Following MoR's lead, here is a fine looking pair of shoes on eBay- a little pricey and not for the sasquatches, but fine looking...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Churchs-Scottish...item5198bc570e

**artificer** · 2nd May 11, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

Following MoR's lead, here is a fine looking pair of shoes on eBay- a little pricey and not for the sasquatches, but fine looking...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Churchs-Scottish...item5198bc570e

Ah, if only I were 11 years old again, I MIGHT be able to fit into those.

ith:

**CMcG** · 4th May 11, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

Both eBay and your local antique mall are excellent sources for shoe buckles...

eBay came through for me yet again and some very affordable, used buckles are on the way. They will need a good cleaning but I like the fact that they aren't too square:

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

Following MoR's lead, here is a fine looking pair of shoes on eBay- a little pricey and not for the sasquatches, but fine looking...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Churchs-Scottish...item5198bc570e

For those who are interested in bar and buckle brogues, at a lower price point, and in a range of sizes, check out THESE. I can't speak to their quality but I will say that the naming of them is funny: ghillie "brouges."

**smacw** · 4th May 11, 02:10 PM

Kinloch Anderson use to have nice mary janes but they dont appear to be on their web site anymore. I have patent leather gillies from Geoffrey Tailor about 10 years ago. I know, not excatly correct for evening despite being patent, and not suitable for day because of it.

The shoes I like best both day and night with the kilt are these in black cordovan:

http://www.theshoemart.com/alden-men..._cordovan.html

I think the Mad Ave Alden shop in NY still has them in black cordo as well as calf. Perhaps not for everyones budget, but I think you will find them incredibly versatile both with kilt, trews, as well as casual trousers and business suits.

**OC Richard** · 5th May 11, 04:49 AM

I used the standard Scottish thistle pattern buckles. I got them off Ebay.

About the sort of shoes which work for making up into "buckle loafers" I like starting with tassel loafers with wingtip style decoration. I've found these, very cheap, on Ebay:

Allen Edmonds "Chambrey"
I think it's ideal for affixing buckles to. Nice wingtip decoration, and a strap across the top for the buckle to be placed upon. All that has to be done is remove the tassels.

Allen Edmonds "Hardwick"
This shoe is very similar to the Chambrey but lacks the strap. So once you remove the tassels there's a large plain area where the buckle will go.

Nunn Bush
I don't know the name of this style but it's a wingtip tassel loafer with decorative strap over the top and fancy serrated flap. I removed the tassels and cut off the flap before I affixed the buckles.