Types of Shoes

[Jock Scot]

In the locked thread about polished shoes, Nighthawk made the following comment about two photos I posted:

"You make an excellent point! But to me, those look like tuxedo shoes- or semi formal at the very least. So to restate my question in a slightly different way- why wear something so formal to some so informal as the games?

And for clarity- my formal shoes are always polished and beautiful. Anything less in a formal setting is unacceptable."





Dear Nighthawk,

Those are just plain old brogues, "wingtips" as they are called in the US. Nothing very "formal" about them really. They are comfortable, leather shoes, most appropriate for Highland dress. I certainly would NEVER wear them with a tuxedo!

How one interprets "informal" depends on one's upbringing or location or some such factors. I dress quite informally when I attend games: shirt and tie, tweed jacket, kilt, etc. Usually the jacket comes off due to the heat, but the shoes stay on!

Cheers,
Sandford

I wear shoes such as the above as everyday wear too and so would many in Scotland with or without the kilt. In fact if the "going" is not to bad, I wear them on the moor shooting grouse, again, I am not unusual in doing so.

[Heming]

I wear shoes such as the above as everyday wear too and so would many in Scotland with or without the kilt. In fact if the "going" is not to bad, I wear them on the moor shooting grouse, again, I am not unusual in doing so.

Eh, I thought that's what brogues are for in the first place? Maybe there's a cultural difference beween Europe and North America here, but at least to me a brogued shoe is an informal one (and usually brown or tan), something I'd wear to work or with my tweed suit for an informal morning function, garden party etc. I'd certainly never wear brogues with an evening suit or a black tie outfit (unless they're ghillie brogues with a kilt/PC ensemble, but I don't own ghillies).

I was actually very surprised when I first saw ghillie brogues up close, as I had never before seen a brogued shoe for formal wear. But then again conventions are always different for national dress compared to regular formal dress.