Formal Buckle Shoes

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I buy buckles from Fugawee. For my own new pair I have ordered a Tudor Rose in white bronze. The Great Scot is is only slightly larger (1/8" longer?) than the Tudor Rose but engraving on the Great Scot doesn't stand out from the background the way the "roses" in the TR do.

Be aware that most white bronze still has some yellow in it. It will never be mistaken for silver, I'm afraid. And neither the brass nor the white bronze shine up much beyond what pewter will.

Ask your local jeweler to send them out and have them silver plated.

[DWFII]

Ask your local jeweler to send them out and have them silver plated.

MOR,

What a good idea. I never thought of that...especially that a local jeweler could do it.

What do you suppose something like that would cost?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

MOR,

What a good idea. I never thought of that...especially that a local jeweler could do it.

What do you suppose something like that would cost?

I'm guessing that it might cost about $50-- but that's only a guess. The process uses bugger all silver, so it's really down to what the jeweler thinks he can get away with charging. You might also want to check the yellow pages under plating and see if you can find the shop to which the jeweler would send your buckles if he can't do them in house.

If you run into a brick wall, let me know and I'll see what I can do for you out here.

Best Regards

Scott
MoR

[OC Richard]

In the 20th century the Scottish Highland regiments have universally worn the "Mary Jane" style buckle brogue with diced full hose. But in the 19th century they wore slip-on shoes with nonfunctional buckles, without the strap:



I decided to go with something like that. I got ordinary modern loafers, cut off the flaps, and affixed buckles:



Both styles, the slip-on loafers and the Mary Jane, appear in The Highlanders of Scotland along with a number of styles which no longer exist.

One interesting shoe which appears in The Highlanders of Scotland also appears in this Highland Dress catalogue from1930, cut much like a Mary Jane but laced across the opening:

[CMcG]

That sounds pretty much like what I'm planning. Can you tell us a bit more about your process and/or show a closeup of the shoes? Did you do it yourself? Where did you get the buckles?

<snip>
I decided to go with something like that. I got ordinary modern loafers, cut off the flaps, and affixed buckles:

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

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

[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

[artificer]

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]

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:

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]

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.