How to wear brogues without looking like your dad
Brogues are the perfect option for those wanting to inject a bit of smart vintage style into their look. If worn correctly, these shoes can bring an ideal balance of British eccentricity and timeless sophistication to your everyday outfit. Get it wrong, however, and you can end up looking like a kid dressed up in his dad’s shoes. George Walker is here to direct you kings of vintage to some fantastic brogue bargains and style inspirations.
Brogues originate from Scotland and Ireland and were traditionally worn in the country, not in the city where a more formal shoe was required. The holes in the shoes, you see, were to let water in and out of the shoe as workers traipsed through bog land. This distinction is important for getting the brogue style look of today: Brogues shouldn’t be too serious or formal- it’s all about having a cheeky take on smart dress.
Loake shoemakers have made their brogues at a factory in Kettering, Northamptonshire, since 1894 and the company is still run by the same family. We asked a spokesperson at Loake to shed light on why it was that the brogue design continues to sell throughout the decades. She said: “Its longevity has something to do with the difference between fashion and style.”
“ The quality and craftsmanship associated with a traditional construction, combined with the strong sense of history inherent in a ‘heritage’ product, gives it value and meaning that is rare in our modern, throwaway culture.” Loake shoemakers even create the brogue designs by hand. It can still take up to eight weeks to make a pair (see right).
The recent brogue renaissance is all about slim, casual designs with a touch of individuality. Any self-respecting vintage shop will have a good line-up of brogue shoes for guys, just make sure you avoid the wide and bulky pairs that lack that edge of unconventional charm.
If that all sounds a bit confusing, have a look at our vintage gent of the week and follow my (perhaps a little too alliterative!) style tips and shopping links to get the best out of brogues.
For some instant inspiration check out Thirties Hollywood film star Warren Williams in a natty pair of two-tone brogues- the perfect choice for a dapper onscreen villain (above left).
image: Loake
Category: 1930s, Join us, Vintage Kings, Vintage news
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