My New Brogues for Highland Evening Wear

[creagdhubh]

I have just purchased the following formal shoes, actually called 'pumps' from Brooks Brothers. They are made high quality patent leather (they come in calf skin as well), stiched leather soles, and have grosgrain ribbon in black on the toes. I have ordered silver brogue buckles with thistle embossements to attach to the grosgrain part of the shoes.

They should make for the finest pair of Highland evening wear brogues I've ever owned. These 'pump' style of shoes can often be seen worn by certain officers of the Argyll-Sutherland Highlanders for mess dress. I will post more photos once I have affixed the silver buckles. There is no doubt in my mind that these 'pumps' will look wonderful with red and white diced hose (or any tartan/diced hose color for that matter).

I plan to wear them with the fullest of my full evening dress: red and white diced hose, regimental style sgian dhubh (cairngorm stone affixed), Macpherson red modern kilt, 6-tassle badger sporran with silver cantle and cones (embossed thistle) with patent black leather sporran strap, black velvet Sheriffmuir with silver buttons and braided epaulettes, Macpherson red modern 5 silver button waistcoat cut on the bias, white lace jabot evening shirt with lace cuffs, black patent leather kilt belt (underneath by waistcoat hidden from view) to hold (by use of a black leather dirk 'frog') my Highland dirk-compelte with knife and fork (cairngorm stone affixed), drummers plaid of Macpherson red modern tartan with purled fringe, silver plaid brooch embossed with thistles and with cairngorm stone affixed, and my plain black glengarry with one eagle feather and white heather affixed behind my silver Clan Macpherson badge (optional-mainly for outdoor events, i.e.-the patio deck at the Duke of Gordon Hotel in Kingussie, Inverness-shire, Scotland-HA!).

I shall indeed post a photo in my full evening attire. I am very much excited to see everything come together! The new formal shoes should be a most welcome addition, adding that subtle uniqeness of historical and traditional Highland fashion.

You can view the shoes at the following link: http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatP...=&sectionsize=

An officer of the Argyll-Sutherland Highlanders wearing the "strapless" buckkle brogues, or "pumps" on the right.

[piperdbh]

That sounds like quite a kit. I'm looking forward to the pictures!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

For what it's worth, it has been my experience, and that of other gentlemen on this forum, that when one wears a dirk with formal Highland attire the dirk belt is worn over, not under, the waistcoat. This allows one to easily remove the dirk without having to fiddle with their waistcoat, etc.

If you are wearing pumps with your evening attire, you may wish to have your local cobbler fit a bit of moleskin at the inside of the heel to keep the shoes from slipping off your feet when dancing. It is precisely because pumps tend to slip at the heel that the top strap was added to dress Highland shoes in the first place.

Do post pictures when you get a chance.

[Chas]

It sounds very impressive, Kyle.

I was just wondering why you intend to wear an eagle's feather in your Clan Macpherson badge. The single eagle feather is normally worn by a Scottish armiger, that is to say someone who has had arms granted or matriculated by the Lord Lyon.

Your thoughts?

Regards

Chas

[JSFMACLJR]

It sounds very impressive, Kyle.

I was just wondering why you intend to wear an eagle's feather in your Clan Macpherson badge. The single eagle feather is normally worn by a Scottish armiger, that is to say someone who has had arms granted or matriculated by the Lord Lyon.

Your thoughts?

Regards

Chas

I believe Kyle is armigerous, Chas. I'm not so sure about wearing a feather with his chief's crest badge, though. I would suggest he acquire his personal crest badge. His clan is obvious from his tartan.

[mull]

Since it has come up, I wonder about wearing a golden eagle feather in the US, where the possesion/ownership of such an item is restricted. Is there an allowance for this type of use?

Back on subject, The outfit as described sounds wonderful and look forward to the pics.

[JSFMACLJR]

Since it has come up, I wonder about wearing a golden eagle feather in the US, where the possesion/ownership of such an item is restricted. Is there an allowance for this type of use?

Back on subject, The outfit as described sounds wonderful and look forward to the pics.

Ample coverage of this very topic has been given in the XMTS Forum. The search application will help greatly.

[davidlpope]

I'm not so sure about wearing a feather with his chief's crest badge, though. I would suggest he acquire his personal crest badge.

I'm curious about this situation, as well. My understanding is that armigers have the choice of wearing either:

1) their crest on a circlet. In this case the crest on the circlet denotes that they have been granted arms.
2) the conventional strap and buckle badge of their chief, demonstrating their adherence to their chief despite having arms themselves. In this case their single feather would denote them as armigerous.

Perhaps an inquiry to SSA or Lord Lyon?

Cordially,

David

[Chas]

I believe Kyle is armigerous, Chas. I'm not so sure about wearing a feather with his chief's crest badge, though. I would suggest he acquire his personal crest badge. His clan is obvious from his tartan.

I'm curious about this situation, as well. My understanding is that armigers have the choice of wearing either:

1) their crest on a circlet. In this case the crest on the circlet denotes that they have been granted arms.
2) the conventional strap and buckle badge of their chief, demonstrating their adherence to their chief despite having arms themselves. In this case their single feather would denote them as armigerous.

Cordially,

David

I agree with Sandford. It is either one or the other, feather with your own crest or the clansman's badge.

This page from the Court of the Lord Lyon refers:

http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/242.html

Regards

Chas

[mull]

JSFMACLJR,
Thank you for the referal to the search. I guess I was trying to gently point out what we already know. It is illegal.
Joe