Brogue Shoes – Everything You Need to Know

 

Definition of Brogue Shoe

Though the term 'brogue' also refers to an Irish accent and other regional accents from the United Kingdom, a brogue for the fashionable man is a dress shoe that features the decorative element known as broguing. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes broguing (brogue: ing - noun) as ornamentation of shoes employing heavy perforations and pinking. Therefore, it stands to reason that any shoe with perforations, whether it be an Oxford, Derby, whole cut, or a Budapester, is a brogue.

The original brogues were rudimentary shoes made with untanned animal hide; their distinctive feature was a series of perforations and serrations (broguing) of each piece of leather that was used in their construction. The purpose of these perforations was to allow water to drain from the shoes.

The brogue shoe is a style of low-heeled shoe or boot traditionally characterized by multiple-piece, sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations and serration along the pieces' visible edges.

A timeless handmade shoe, the English mens brogues is a classic style worn throughout the years since originating in Ireland and Scotland. The brogue was made as an outdoor walking shoe from untanned hide and the hole punching allowed for water to drain from the shoes when worn in wet terrains such as a bog. Over its time the brogue has been seen as a Country shoe staple and the brogue punching became decorative perforation but modern interpretations have meant the classic brogue is worn less in the boglands and more in the office or at a wedding.

Common Misconceptions

Many people confuse the term Oxford or Derby with a brogue. The term oxford is characterized by its lacing system or to be specific, by the shoelace eyelets that are attached under the vamp. This is called 'closed lacing.' On the other hand, a derby has 'open lacing' where the eyelets are attached to the top of the vamp.

Types Of Brogues -

1. Wingtip

Wingtip brogue style is a modification of oxford shoes with brogue design. Oxford shoes are given a little sharp look by making the toe cap pointed and rest is quite similar. Perforations are usually on the toe area.

2. Semi

Semi brogue is not different from Wingtip when it comes to the overall structure but the design is different. Those men, who have deep knowledge and interest in footwear, will find it different from Wingtip. For those, who just want to wear a nice pair of shoes with brogue design, semi and wingtip are the same. Semi Brogue shoes have perforations only on the seams of the toe cap, heel and the vamp.

3.Quarter

Again, just like the semi brogue shoe, the quarter brogue is also of the same shoe structure but comes with very fewer perforations. Unlike, semi brogues, there are no perforations in the centre of toe caped. A cap toe with decorative perforations and serrations along the cap's edge and nothing more. Sometimes, there are perforations on heels as well.

4.Long-wing

Longwing brogues are just like the wingtip brogue, they had wings too but these wings didn't end in the centre of the shoes and go at the end of the shoes. They were known in the United States as "English Brogues" and in the United Kingdom as "US brogues".