Black and Blue
“The Brogue is a style of low-heeled shoe or boot traditionally characterized by multiple-piece, sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations (or ‘broguing’) and serration along the pieces’ visible edges.”
Basically, it’s a dress shoe with fancy holes punched in it.
But why?
And how is it different than an Oxford or a Derby?
And why does it matter?
As with anything in Men’s Tailoring, it’s important to know what you’re talking about! If you’re wearing a dinner jacket with a satin shawl collar, you should probably know what satin is and what a shawl collar is, and if it’s even appropriate for you to wear a dinner jacket to begin with! You don’t want to be caught sporting the wrong thing.
The same thing goes for shoes.
A Derby, is a lace up shoe with visible eyelets. That means you can see the metal circle on the top of the shoe right where the laces go into the upper. You can have a Brogue Derby, and this would arguably be one of the most casual types of shoes we’re talking about in this post. Derby’s were originally hunting shoes, but nowadays, they’re just a more casual version of an Oxford.
An Oxford, is a lace up shoe with hidden eyelets, meaning the metal piece is on the inside and you only see a clean hole through the leather upper. Oxfords are the most formal, typically a dress or tuxedo shoe.
The holes in Brogues were originally functional. Men wore them while hunting (in a bog) and the holes let water drain out (like crocs?!?). They eventually became purely decoration, but the fewer the perforations, the more formal the shoe (contrary to popular thought).
I’m obsessed with the mix of black and blue with these Gordon Rush brogues. They come with black laces too,but they’re so much more interesting with the blue. I am wearing no-show socks (I never leave home sock-less). Shop them here pick up a pair of tan ones too! I’ll be rocking mine all Spring.
So back to: “why does it matter”? Because style matters, dammit!!
Wear your Brogues with a suit or with denim, just don’t wear them with a tux. That’s all I ask.
Gordon Rush brogues / TopMan leather jacket / DSTLD t-shirt and denim / Ivory + Mason sunglasses / Uri Minkoff bag
*This post was sponsored by Gordon Rush, but the content and opinions are (as always) my own.