Ghillie brogues, yes or no?

[bowser]

I don't like them...if someone else does, 'sok with me.

But as a shoemaker, I am not convinced that they really have any place in traditional Sottish dress, except maybe for piping. You would not have seen anything like a ghillie brogue at Culloden or anywhere through the 18th, 19th or even early 20th century.

Ancienne Alliance started a thread about old photos in the "Show us your pics" area and I've yet to see a pair of ghillie brogues being worn in those photos...maybe I missed something. But show me evidence of ghillie brogues being worn pre-1930, say, and I'll change my mind.

being new to the board don't like to be a pain but a quick search and I found this which is a picture from 1869 quite clearly shows the figure on the right wearing gillie's

[DWFII]

ghillies ud be ok tho I dont have any, kind of part of the full look, I guess I prefer my lace up ropers for dancing and light hiking boots for round town (and off road)...sandals when its hot...

Actually, something very similar to a lace up ankle boot (roper, but a touch lower on the leg) shows up in a surprising number of 19th and early 20th century photos of highlanders. There's a photo of an old boy, in the "Show us your Pic's" thread on old photos, wearing a natty pair of black ankle boots.

I've been toying with idea of making a pair for myself.

[Hamish]

I have never made a secret of the fact that I loathe Ghillie Brogues! To me they are just about acceptable as pipe band footwear, but nothing else. Ghillie Brogues very often detract from the beauty of the kilt itself by their very fussiness, and one sees some terrible disasters in assorted attempts at tying them. If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing correctly - but, in this case, I often wonder if there can be a correct method (from the appearance point of view!).

Ordinary, everyday brogue shoes serve me perfectly for semi and fully formal occasions, as long as they are clean and well polished and, if I am really dressed up, my Glenfinnan buckle shoes are just the answer.

I am afraid I see Ghillie Brogues, or rather their extravagant lacing, as another opportunity for the wearer to over dress. The shoes themselves are fine - just take away those ghastly laces, replace them with ordinary length ones and enjoy the uncluttered look that results.

Take care,
Ham.

[MacDhunadh]

Yes, that's correct, at Culloden many would probably have been barefoot and the buckle shoe was the man's shoe most of the 18th century. I like them and maybe next time i will have a pair

[DWFII]

being new to the board don't like to be a pain but a quick search and I found this which is a picture from 1869 quite clearly shows the figure on the right wearing gillie's

That's great! I stand corrected. And, lo and behold, the two on the left are wearing Mary Janes...although the date is 1869--somewhat late for the buckle shoes I was talking about but no matter.

Thanks for posting that picture.

PS. What's the source for that painting/picture?

[george7]

This thread is starting to border between ignorant and obnoxious. Ghillie Brogues are Scottish shoes. They are as Scottish as a tartan knife pleated, three buckled kilt. They do not represent some 17th century battle nor are they meant to. Like it or not, they're in style and part of the wardrobe of many kilt wearers.

[bowser]

http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/Univ...ocus/victoria/

Maclachlan, Graham, Macfarlane & Calquhoun

(Loch Lomond, Ben Lomand from Luss, 1869)

I just did a search on John Brown (Queen Victoria)

[Scotus]

This thread is starting to border between ignorant and obnoxious. Ghillie Brogues are Scottish shoes. They are as Scottish as a tartan knife pleated, three buckled kilt. They do not represent some 17th century battle nor are they meant to. Like it or not, they're in style and part of the wardrobe of many kilt wearers.

I have to admit that I'm a bit shocked by some of the hostility displayed here against a traditional Scottish shoe. I know there are a lot of less-than-traditional folks in this forum, but to take such strong stance against something as traditional (and in style) as ghillie brogues seems to go beyond the point of proper decorum.

[DWFII]

This thread is starting to border between ignorant and obnoxious. Ghillie Brogues are Scottish shoes. They are as Scottish as a tartan knife pleated, three buckled kilt. They do not represent some 17th century battle nor are they meant to. Like it or not, they're in style and part of the wardrobe of many kilt wearers.

Please excuse my ignorance (or further ignorance) but what "17th century battle" are you referring to? What "17th century battle" has been mentioned in this thread?

If it is Culloden that you are referring to, I have for some time laboured under the assumption that it occurred in 1746...which would make it 18th century. Have I been misinformed?

I referenced Culloden in my previous post because it kind of represents both an end and a beginning of the history of the kilt. After Culloden, the wearing of highland clothing was proscribed in the highlands. So to some extent, highland dress might be said to have been frozen in time until the British upper classes became enamored of the romantic figures of the Highlander and the battles for independence, and revived it.

What happened after Culloden in terms of Scottish style is perhaps even more important than what went before.

As to whether ghillie brogues are rightfully part of a Scottish wardrobe...I think almost to a man the people who have posted here have acknowledged that they are. But many have preferences that slide over into dislike for them...and for (to hear them tell it) very good reasons.

In my, now well established, ignorance I was under that impression that everyone was entitled to their own opinion.

I might add that, from the perspective of this professional shoemaker, ghillie brogues as they are made today, are pretty far removed from brogues, ghillies and/or the shoes depicted in the 1869 painting.

[Blinki]

I'm personally not a big fan of them. In my opinion they seem to make you look more like your wearing a costume in my eyes. Pipers/Bandsman are the exception why it looks 'normal' in that context I have no idea. But to each his own if you like them great I'm not gonna say you cant wear them.