Bring on the brogue

Once upon a time, brogues were the reserve of the bourgeois type who liked to get their shoes from Jermyn Street and then polished a brisk walk to the other side of the road in the Burlington Arcade. But with their adoption by the in-crowd, brogue shoes became a little more mainstream, and are now a go-to for all, whether male or female. Making a change from buckle court shoes, these flat wonders have the ability to make any outfit that little bit smarter, yet add a little bit of cheeky on the side.

Who wears brogues?

Although brogues are normally worn by the smarter and elder gentleman, you’ll now be able to find even girly tweens wearing them nowadays. As a result of their “coolificiation”, brogue shoes are going through a bit of a moment, and are a great alternative to Chelsea boots in the warmer months.

How to style brogues

As a simple shoe, brogues are pretty easy to wear. For girls, we’d recommend styling them with a cute lace-trim ankle sock to take the masculine edge off. When you’re a guy, they obviously look amazing with a sharp suit jacket, but if you want to dress them down with a polo top.

When to wear brogue shoes

Brogue shoes fall into that slightly tricky category where they’re neither summer nor winter appropriate. Instead, wear them with a trench coat in Spring and Autumn, or, if you really want to wear them at another time, assess the sock situation to see what you can get away with!

Regardless of your own personal style, brogues are always a good option when you’re looking for a smarter shoe. Whether this is to add to your work wear collection or you just fancy smartening it up at other times, brogue shoes are the perfect way to make sure that you’ve got the perfect show to bridge the line between smart and casual.

Brogues – the perfect shoes for every season and 5 ways to wear them

Aren’t brogues shoes for men? They are, but thanks to Prada they’ve also also played a major role in the world of female fashion since 2011. The characteristic features of these versatile shoes are their narrow lacing and the perforated holes on the tip and the edges of the shoe. Brogues can be worn on many different occasions – both in and out of the office.

BROGUES – PERFECT FOR EVERY SEASON

  • Brogues instead of sandals: There are three types of brogues – semi, full and longwing. The basic model of all shoes is the same, they just differ in the looks of their toe caps with decorative perforated holes. They provide more physical flexibility than boots and guarantee a high wearing comfort.
  • Brogues help balance out very feminine styles, e.g. floral dresses. From a men’s perspective, the more feminine details can also create a fashionable contrast to masculine outfits.
  • Attractive lace-up shoes are an excellent alternative to high heels. Brogues in metallic colors or with glitter look simply brilliant. Animal print or studded shoes can be worn by men to make a formal suit look trendier.
  • Brogues and skinny jeans: A great combination, just make sure that your jeans are the right length and match the color of the shoes. As well as leather, the shoes can be worn in tweed or flannel, creating a winning casual business look.
  • Classic brogues in black or light brown leather are a must for special occasions like weddings or evening events. An elegant look is created by the decorative perforated holes and fine leather. The shoes add the finishing touch to any formal wear.

BROGUES: WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO WEAR THEM?

  • For him: Brogues are a classic for the business outfit. In brown, they are also a good choice for casual and leisure wear. They look great worn together with pleated pants and rolled up jeans, and also come with a double leather sole or base which is ideal for walking and other daily activities.
  • For her: Brogues look best in the summer when they show your ankles. Avoid tights on warmer days as they make your legs look shorter.

Brogues are comfortable and can be combined with many different looks – a unique choice for every day. They also add a touch of elegance to their high quality material and form which gives an instant “wow” effect to any outfit.

... Contine reading