Tips to Choose the Best Shoes for Kilts for Every Style

Choosing every kilt attachment accurately is essential if buying a sporran or pair of shoes. Once brogues were the most suitable options for kilt outfits. Therefore, situations are not the same now and many other shoes have become compatible. This article is about choosing the best shoes for kilts. Here, we will describe many points in detail, such as choosing shoes based on occasion, matching shoes with different variations of kilts, seasonal considerations, and more.

Types of Shoes Commonly Paired with Kilts

People usually consider only traditional Scottish shoes to be paired with kilts. They must know that traditional shoes are only pairable with conventional kilts. You can pair several shoes with different kilts for men.

Ghillie Brogues: These are the most traditional form of shoes that were first paired with the Great kilt. These footwear lack the tongue for quick drying and have small holes on them to offer breathability. Ghillie Brogues are not an everyday wear but specific to formal events only.

Oxfords and Dress Shoes: Oxford, dress, or other leather footwear are considerable choices to pair with tartan kilts. These shoes are more versatile than Ghillie Brogues and work best in formal and semi-formal settings.

Boots (Combat, Hiking, Chelsea): Let’s talk about standard boots now that best suit adventure activities such as hiking and running. Their construction usually takes place with leather and they are worn with modern kilts. People also pair these footwear with tartan kilts but in less formal events.

Sneakers / Trainers: A person can also pair sneakers with kilts but they do not suit traditional clothing. Sneakers and trainers are known for being lightweight and comfortable and pairable with utility and denim kilts.

Shoes to Wear with Kilts for Different Occasions

There are several types of occasions from formal events to cultural festivals and street events. It is understood that a single pair of shoes does not fit every event. Now when buying separate shoes for every occasion, why don’t you make a careful selection for enhanced appearance?

Formal Events

Ceremonial events are the ones that have a proper dress code. So, you must think about choosing formal shoes for such occasions. Therefore, the most appropriate one for these settings is Ghillie Brogues which are traditional Scottish footwear.

Casual Settings

Casual events mean staying comfortable during the celebration. Kilt variation impacts your decision here; if wearing a tartan kilt, choose brown day brogues. However, modern kilts have many options including chukka boots, Chelsea boots, or even smart leather sneakers.

Outdoor or Highland Games

Outdoor activities or Highland games are must-to-attend settings in Scotland. Kilts suit both of these settings because they are durable, comfortable, and provide easy mobility. Moreover, appropriate shoes are also important here. So, the best possible options available for you are dress shoes, hiking shoes, sturdy boots, and wellies since durability is a condition.

Festivals or Streetwear Looks

Many festivals have a casual nature and they are celebrated in open streets. For events or a simple streetwear look, pairing chunky sneakers, high-top sneakers, or Chelsea boots might be a considerable idea. But the color of the shoes should complement the kilt and other accessories.

Best Shoes for Different Types of Kilts

Choosing the right pair of shoes according to the event’s formality is essential, similarly, you should also not ignore the kilt type. The shoes discussed in the previous passages are not suitable for every kilt for men. Kilts also have unique footwear requirements.

Traditional Tartan Kilts: Traditional tartan kilts are ideal for formal events where the dress code applies and following it matters. So, be appropriate in this scenario and pair your kilt with Ghillie brogues.

Utility Kilts / Modern Kilts: Utility kilts are practical clothing, which means they must be strong enough shoes to be paired with them. Wearing practical work boots and combat boots might be an option. If you have to wear shoes with modern kilts, choose dress shoes, sneakers, or modern sandals.

Fashion Kilts / Shorter Kilts: You do not have many shoe options to wear with fashion kilts. Being traditional remains a nice idea and brogues or leather dress shoes must be considered.

Coordinating with Kilt Accessories

Now that you know how to choose your shoes based on the event and which one suits your kilt. There is another point which we must discuss here as a compulsory one and it is to know how the shoes coordinate with other kilt accessories. Usually, brogues or ghillie brogues are preferred footwear. So, your kilt shoes should go well with the formality and color palette of your other attachments.

Wear brown shoes for a daytime sporran and black shoes for a dress sporran. The belt and sporran leather should match the shoe’s leather. Flashes, sgian-dubh, and kilt socks (hose) are other accessories and their color and design need to be matched as well. Keep the shoes clean as they enhance the overall formal look.

Sock Pairing Tips

We just mentioned socks in our discussion, which are the closest comparisons of kilt shoes. Pairing a pair of hose is not that simple as it looks, but there are a few considerations that help you choose the most suitable one.

Kilt Hose vs. Casual Socks: People mistake wearing casual socks with traditional kilts shoes. Standard socks are worn with modern kilts where there is no proper dress code. In fact, kilt hoses are the best options that wearers must consider. Putting on irrelevant accessories impacts the overall silhouette.

When to Wear Flashes: If you wear a pair of hoses and forget to attach flashes, get prepared for some irritating moments during the event. Garter flashes are elastic stripes that are used to prevent socks from slipping.

Seasonal Shoe Considerations

Do not keep seasonal aspects aside while choosing a pair of kilt shoes. Usually, three types of seasons are common to spot in Scotland; summer, winter, and rainy. Pick shoes that work perfectly in the weather when you need to wear them.

Summer: The options for modern kilts vary but for formal looks, traditional Ghillie brogues are the best options. They are leather-made but the decorative perforations and lacking the tongue make them breathable. For extremely hot seasons buy a lightweight leather pair of shoes.

Winter: For winter, select shoes that can keep your feet warm. The most considerable options are leather boots or brogues paired with warm hoses. The shoes must be durable and made in a way that they do not slip easily. Moreover, the dark color of shoes usually matches winter.

Rainy/Muddy Conditions: The unpredictable weather of Scotland takes no time to rain, resulting in muddy conditions. For such circumstances, you can wear waterproof shoes that are strong and undamageable with thick soles. You can try Wellies or hiking boots as they also perform very well. Do not wear fabric shoes because they usually slip and can be broken. Above all, keep them dry to maintain safety and comfort.

Buy Your Traditional Kilt Shoes at The Utility Kilt

Have you decided what shoes you will buy for the next event? If you are looking for the best shoes to pair with kilts at formal events, explore the most trusted online brand, The Utility Kilt. At our store, we offer expertly crafted kilt shoes using premium-quality leather. Regarding the prices, we are pretty competitive because we believe in affordability. Moreover, we ensure on-time delivery, so our customers do not miss the event. In the same manner, you have many reasons to approach us.

FAQs About Best Shoes to Pair with Kilts