Quote Originally Posted by troxel87 View Post
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.