Kilt Shoes & Ghillie Brogues

Highland Dress shoes were originally sandals or brogues made from hide often elaborately tooled. In their modern form these have now become our standard black or brown brogues and are worn for daywear. Chiefs and Chieftains adapted buckled shoes of the 17th and 18th century and from these have evolved the graceful buckle brogues now worn with Highland Dress for evening and dance wear.
With a formal dress outfit Ghillie Brogues are traditionally worn. Although now worn for dancing, social events and by Pipe Bands, ghillies originated as a shoe that would drain water and dry quickly due to the lack of a tongue and would not get stuck in the mud because of their laces above the ankle.
They have laces that tie across and thereafter should be twisted first four times at the front at ankle level then taken behind with a single twist before tying at the front. The laces remain just above the ankle and are not taken up the leg.