Buckles or Ghillies?

[Professor Mac X]

Pardon if this is re-hashing an older post, but a couple of things I've pondered:

Acceptability of ghillie brogues instead of buckle brogues with argyll hose and black tie outfit?
Acceptability of buckle brogues, period, if you're not a piper?

[creagdhubh]

Pardon if this is re-hashing an older post, but a couple of things I've pondered:

Acceptability of ghillie brogues instead of buckle brogues with argyll hose and black tie outfit?
Acceptability of buckle brogues, period, if you're not a piper?

YProfessor Mac X,

You may certainly wear bar and buckle brogues with Highland evening attire any time you wish. You need not be a piper to do so, I am not. This is actually my preferred choice of evening footwear. Ghillie brogues instead of bar and buckle brogues with 'Argyll' style hose for black tie is perefectly acceptable too. I have combined the best of both worlds by adding a buckle to my ghillie brogues and the addition of red laces instead of the common black, so there are several options you have and there is nothing "wrong" with what you have stated above. In regards to the actual wearing of ghillies or bar and buckle brogues with Highland evening attire, see my photos below.










Cheers,

[Tobus]

While ghillie brogues were not originally intended to be evening-wear shoes, it is done quite a bit these days. Even in bonnie Scotland. You'll likely want to wear a pair with thin leather soles, NOT the chunky rubber-soled variety.

Check out this fairly recent discussion on the topic.

As for buckle brogues, they are perfectly acceptable for anyone in Highland attire (not just pipers) with formal wear - i.e. white tie. Not sure what the rule is for buckle brogues with black tie, although a lot of people who are "in the know" seem to do it. It's a sharp look. They really aren't very appropriate for less dressy occasions, though, unless you're a piper.

[creagdhubh]

You'll likely want to wear a pair with thin leather soles, NOT the chunky rubber-soled variety.

***

This is the kind I wear (when I do decide to wear ghillies with Highland evening attire), from Loake. Notice the thin, leather soles.

[sarge]

Personally, I don't like ghillies for any occasion. I feel they convert the attire into a costume, much like the jabot blouse. I feel the buckles are fine for formal occasions.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As long as the shoes are black, and polished to a mirror shine, they are fine for black tie events. Generally speaking most gentlemen in Scotland tend to wear low cut, toe capped, black oxfords with black tie. Ghillies are seen, but are in the minority.