Best brogues for the best price?

[troxel87]

Who (in your opinion) has the best ghillie brogues for the best price? I'm building up my more dressy ensemble, and need a decent pair that won't break the bank.

Suggestions?

[artificer]

Are you dead set on Ghillies? A good pair of full brogues (wingtips) will give you a better value, in that you can wear them apart from Kilt related activities.

Florsheim makes a decent pair for around $100, and you can get an ASTOUNDING pair from Allen Edmonds for ~$275 which will likely last you 20+ yrs.

[troxel87]

Well, here goes the show of my ignorance: I didn't know there were "full" brogues that were different from ghillies.

I have a few pair of other dress shoes in black, but none of them would really look right with a kilt. They're mostly very contemporary styles that I just don't think would match well.

But in answer to your question - no, I'm not dead set on *anything* in particular, just what would look best for more semi-/formal occasions; I honestly thought that ghillie brogues were the only things that were really acceptable for more black tie affairs...

[Whidbey78]

I do okay with a very simple pair of oxfords. They have versatility and range. I don't think they look out of place, even among ghille brogues. They are so understated that nobody ever notices them in a good or bad way, and they work with a suit for those rare times I decide to not go kilted. I like not needing another pair of shoes just because I put on p@nt$.

I bought a pair of Ghillators from Sport Kilt(by accident I swear...I was in a hurry to get to work and clicked the wrong pic and didn't catch it until they showed up on my doorstep). All I can say is if you like like Crocs...you'll still hate the stupid things! The only good thing is that they are dishwasher safe, but I won't wear them so they never get dirty. I only still have them because I kept forgetting to send them back until it was too late.

[artificer]

Aye,
if it's semi-formal to black tie you're looking for, you'd be well served to read the thread HERE I started about a month ago.

There is some sage advice from those more learned than I on Highland dress.

[troxel87]

Hmm... the more I think about it (after doing some looking around), I might go with the SportKilt Cali Brogue shoes... http://www.sportkilt.com/product/461...ogues.html#tab

Inexpensive, look like they'd tank around for quite a while... and they'r steel toes, so I won't dent them

[Whidbey78]

Hmm... the more I think about it (after doing some looking around), I might go with the SportKilt Cali Brogue shoes... http://www.sportkilt.com/product/461...ogues.html#tab

Inexpensive, look like they'd tank around for quite a while... and they'r steel toes, so I won't dent them

Make sure you click on the right one!!!

[troxel87]

Haha, I did, I made dang sure I did after reading about your misadventure with them! Thanks for the heads up though!

[JerseyLawyer]

Well, here goes the show of my ignorance: I didn't know there were "full" brogues that were different from ghillies.

A brogue is a shoe that has decorative punching around either the toe, or the entire shoe. A full brogue is what we call a wingtip, generally. A half- or semi-brogue is a captoe with punching around the seam.

The Florsheim Imperial Kenmoor is a nice, dressy shoe that would be appropriate for what you seem to be looking for.



In the pebbled calf - either black or brown - it would be a classic "country" shoe. Note the heavy sole, the pebbled texture, etc. Although I've still worn a pair just like that for everyday business attire with a suit, the smoother leather is dressier.

Generally, in shoes, the thinner the sole, and the less decorated the shoe, the more formal the shoe is. So, a pair of highly polished, plain black leather shoes is suitable with a tuxedo, while something like this is dressy, but less formal. A leather sole, like this, is generally more dressy than anything with a rubber sole.

That's longer than I intended to go on about this, and there is still more I could say, but there you go.

[Tobus]

Hmm... the more I think about it (after doing some looking around), I might go with the SportKilt Cali Brogue shoes... http://www.sportkilt.com/product/461...ogues.html#tab

Inexpensive, look like they'd tank around for quite a while... and they'r steel toes, so I won't dent them

That's a pretty good looking shoe, and the price is pretty low. Can anyone verify that they are real leather uppers as stated? I usually find that shoes at that price end up being something other than leather, and it cracks through after about a year.

Those shoes would be great for wearing at a Highland Games or other casual event, but since you stated that you're trying to build up a "more dressy ensemble", I'm not sure they would quite fit the bill for dress shoes. The heavy tread on the soles would be a little much for that. Others may disagree.

Florsheim makes a decent pair for around $100, and you can get an ASTOUNDING pair from Allen Edmonds for ~$275 which will likely last you 20+ yrs.

If we're talking about shoes into that range, I have to give a thumbs up to the Sanders Braemar. I bought a pair of these a while back, and even with the Dollar being down to the Pound, plus shipping from England, they still cost me less than $250. And I love the pebble-grain look; it's dressy but not formal. I wear these to work about once a week (with trousers), even though I bought them for dressy occasions in my kilt.