If you’ve ever worn a kilt outfit, you’ll know the shoes—ghillie brogues—are unlike any others. They don’t have tongues, and their long laces wrap around the ankle instead of just fastening across the top. That leaves a lot of first-timers wondering: how do you actually tie kilt shoelaces properly?
The short answer: wrap the laces around your ankles and tie them in a secure knot on the outside of each leg. Here’s the full process.
Tying ghillie brogues, step by step
Start by lacing the shoes as normal through the eyelets, pulling them tight but still comfortable. Take the long ends of the laces and cross them in front of your ankle, then wrap them once or twice around your leg, just above the ankle. Bring the lace ends around to the outside of your leg and tie a firm knot or bow there, so it sits neatly on the outer side of your calf rather than at the back. The extra lace ends, often finished with tassels, should hang down slightly for the traditional decorative touch — adjust both sides for symmetry and comfort before you’re done.
A few tips worth knowing
Don’t tie the wraps too high—keep them just above the ankle rather than climbing up the calf. Avoid tying behind the leg entirely, since it’s both uncomfortable and looks untidy from the front. Make sure both shoes are tied at the same height for visual balance, and if it’s your first time, practice once or twice before a formal event rather than figuring it out under pressure.
Browse our ghillie brogues collection to complete the outfit this technique is built for.
Why are ghillie brogues laced this way?
The open-lace design originally helped the shoes dry quickly when worn across boggy Highland terrain — practical necessity long before it became tradition. The wrapped laces kept the shoes secure without needing buckles, and over time, the tassels became a stylish detail in their own right, folded into the broader Highland dress tradition rather than staying purely functional.
Bottom line
So, how do you tie kilt shoe laces? Cross them at the ankle, wrap once or twice, and tie neatly on the outside with the tassels hanging free. It’s simple once you know the technique, and it’s the finishing touch on a properly worn Highland outfit.
Our kilt accessories collection covers ghillie brogues, sporrans, belts, and everything else needed to round out the look.