Urgent shoe question

[glenlivet]

Help! I'll be going to the Scotland County Highland Games this weekend, as my piping teacher has recruited me to help steward the piping competition.

I asked him what to wear, he said whatever I wanted, even what I was wearing at the time I asked him (which was a polo shirt and shorts!).

But my wife rustled up a loaner kilt that actually fits me! And in a beautiful autumnal looking tartan! It's so bloody comfortable!

The questions:

1) there's no sporran -- will I look weird without it?
2) there are kilt hose, but I have no ghillie brogues, much less shoes with really long laces that might fool anyone not looking closely (as if there weren't SOMEONE who would notice)

Is this a great sin? What kind of shoes could I get away with that might work? My wife swears my organ playing shoes could pass muster, but I have doubts about whether I could 'pass' to anyone else.

Feedback please?
Thanks
Mark

[dfmacliam]

It is my opinion, as well as others, that a shined pair of wing tips (brogues) would be just fine.. If you look at the pictures of the Games or of the Highland Chiefs... Few actually wear the ghillie brogues... So no need for the long laces... Just a very good shine..

[glenlivet]

shoot, I don't even have wing tips, but I do have an oldish pair of black shoes that could take a decent shine...

[davidlpope]

Black leather balmoral-style "wingtip" [i.e. British full brogues] are preferred.
Please don't try to replicate the laces from "ghillie brogues" with normal brogue shoes. This is unnecessary since traditional brogues are perfectly acceptable and just looks misplaced.

I would really try to get your hands on a leather day sporran. Kilts without sporrans look half-baked to my eye. I have several extras in my collection, I bet that someone in your area does as well...Rabble to the rescue?

Cordially,

David

[Squeaky McMurdo]

Regular dress shoes would be fine. Your organ shoes are probably good (I don't know what those are)

There's probably someone on X-marks that could loan you a sporran, if not....well, you will be at a Highland Games so you could buy one. Failing that, you could go to Walmart and buy a leather woman's purse as a "substitute in a pinch"


--Chelsea McMurdo--

[glenlivet]

Organ shoes look like this, btw:
http://www.organmastershoes.com/site...allpicture.jpg

[McMurdo]

I'd say brogues would be fine for your shoes, as you got a loaner kilt could you also borrow a sporran? Perhaps your piping teacher would be able to help with it.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

Your organ shoes will be fine. You really need a sporran. Maybe your piping teacher has one to loan you?

[piperdbh]

By "stewarding" the 'pipers, do you mean you'll be leading them around from judge to judge? If so, a pair of comfortable walking shoes would be in order. I've seen Games officials wearing tennis shoes or boots. Sandals without hose can work, too. Making sure the events go well is the important part.

[glenlivet]

Yeah, telling them when it's their turn to go up and stuff. You're right, all-day comfort is pretty key.