Everything You Need to Know about Brogue Shoes!

Everything You Need to Know about Brogue Shoes!

Brogues are the cool must-have shoes for men featuring distinct perforations on shoe uppers. These punched hole patterns give them a unique appeal and high style points. Brogues are a bit more casual than the Oxfords which gives them the versatility to wear with all kinds of outfits. These wardrobe staples can be worn in the office, outside of the office, and for all types of casual and formal occasions. For those interested in brogue shoes for men, we have created this guide for you. It covers its origins and history, different types of brogues, how to style them, and brogue care tips.  Let’s dive into the origins and interesting history of this classic style first. 

Brogue Shoes-Origin and History

Brogues are low heeled footwear with distinct punched patterns on their uppers. Brogues get their unique name from the gallic word ‘Bróg’ which means a piercing instrument. This style of shoe was used first in the early 19th century by Irish farmers and workers for their workmen and field shoes made of untanned hide. Workers and farmers then had to work in wet conditions and soggy fields all the time. The perforations had a functional purpose as they drained the water from the shoes and kept the feet relatively dry. Migration to the USA from the old country brought this style to the other side of the Atlantic. Brogues became the choice of shoe for men during the roaring twenties in America. These saw a resurgence during the swinging sixties when Elvis wore them in the movie Jailhouse Rock and have never looked back since then.

Brogue Shoes for Men- A Description

Brogues are low heeled shoes with immediately recognizable perforations that are punched on the shoe uppers including the heel, toe box, and lacing panel. The punched pattern on the toe is in a ‘medallion’ shape. From their humble origins as workmen’s shoes made of untanned hide, these have evolved into their modern version of dress shoes made of high-quality premium leather. Do note that broguing is a punching pattern, so any style of the shoe featuring these perforations are brogues, whether they be derbies, monk straps, or Chelsea boots. 

Different Types of Brogue Shoes

As we mentioned above, broguing is the punching pattern, therefore different designs of shoes having these patterns can be clubbed under brogues. Also, the density of these perforations categorizes brogues into different styles. Let’s have a look at some popular variations of brogues below. 

1.Quarter Brogues

Quarter brogues have minimal brogue detailing that firmly puts them in the formal category. These are cap-toe shoes where only the seam of the cap displays perforations. These sparsely detailed shoes are made generally with closed lacings similar to Oxfords. These are worn on highly formal occasions like black tie events. 

2.Semi-Brogues

Also known as half brogues these have an additional pattern at the top of the cap-toe along with the perforations on the seam. These semi-formal brogue shoes look good with work suits and business casuals.   

3.Full Brogues

Full brogues as the name suggests have the full range of patterns on their uppers. Along with the patterns on the toe cap and seams, these have wing-shaped patterns starting from the cap toe seam that continues to the side of the shoe and finishes at the middle of the footwear, just above the shank. Thanks to these wing-shaped patterns, these are also known as wingtips. Due to their extensive patterns, these striking shoes are an ideal fit for casual wear like jeans and chinos.  

4.Medallion Brogues

Medallion brogues only have “Medallion” detailing on the toe cap. This sparse detailing pairs them well with formal outfits. 

5.Longwing Brogues

Longwing brogues are wingtips where the broguing does not finish at mid-feet but runs parallel to the sole before joining at the back of the heel. These brogue shoes for men always feature open lacing and just like wingtips, these work well with casual wear. 

6.Derby Brogues

This style of footwear is Derbies with brogue detailing. These open-laced versatile brogue shoes pair equally well with formal and casual wear.  

7.Monk Brogues

This style of footwear combines monk strap design with brogue detailing. These are closed shoes that use straps and buckles instead of laces. Buckles can be single, double, or even triple. Single buckles look good with semi-formal wear and double buckles look cool with casual ensembles. Wear 3 buckles at your own risk as this is an extremely edgy style. 

8.Oxford Brogues

These brogue shoes are simply closed Oxford shoes with brogue detailing. Minimally detailed footwear of this type is perfect for formal wear. Higher the detailing, the higher these shoes go on the casual scale. 

9.Spectator Brogues

The spectator is the style of footwear that combines two different shades of leather in single footwear. Originally worn as cricket shoes in the early 19th century, these have evolved into highly stylish casual footwear today.

So, these are some of the trendy brogue styles that have maintained their popularity. Let’s look into some style tips for wearing brogues.

Brogue Shoes for Men- Style Tips

Brogues are classic men’s shoes that can be worn with a variety of clothing choices to create a cool style statement for you. Here are some of the tips to wear this timeless classic for dressing up and down.

1.With Denim Wear 

Wear brogue shoes with jeans for a sleek and smart-casual vibe. For a rugged outdoorsy look, pair men’s brogues boots with jeans and a lumberjack shirt. Brogues with higher detailing as semi-brogues and wingtips pair well with all types of denim wear. Wear them with all styles of jeans like skinny, bootcut, straight, ripped, or distressed. The only condition is that the color of the denim should complement the footwear. For example, black, olive, brown, or blue leather brogues complement jeans in gray, black, charcoal, and blue shades. Ensure that the brogue detailing is visible by wearing ankle-cut jeans or rolling the cuff an inch. Wear a simple tee or a checked cotton shirt on top to complete the ensemble. For winter, wear a blazer on top matching the jeans and shoes. 

Check out the splendid Saint Frederico Brogue Chelsea Boots for your next hike from the Saint G India collection. 

Saint Frederico Navy Leather Brogue Detail Chelsea Boots

For a casual party or a friend’s get-together, we recommend the Saint Vincenzo Olive brogues featuring gorgeous detailing from Saint G. These are the shoes you were meant to have.

Saint Vincenzo Olive Leather Square Toe Lace Up Décor Slip On

2.With Trousers and Office Wear 

Brogues shoes for men are perfect for office wear too. For office and business attire, pair grayish black or brown leather brogues with well-fitted trousers and suit pants. Do not forget to match the color of the footwear with the trousers. Wear single-toned or checked formal shirts that project professionalism and sophistication. 

Check out the Saint Vincenzo Gray Leather Brogues from Saint G which are an ideal pair for your office attire.

3.With Chinos

Chinos are relaxed and elegant business casuals that you can wear in so many different shades that are impossible to try with formal trousers and strict office wear. Pair your tan monk strap brogue shoes with chinos in bright shades like white, blue, and purple for a languid weekend outing with a chambray shirt on top. Dark brown monk strap wingtips also look great with khaki chinos and a full-sleeved designer shirt. For business lunches, throw on a sports jacket or a light blazer. 

We recommend the Saint Salvador Tan Leather Monk Brogues from Saint G as an answer to all your chino combinations.

Saint Salvador Tan Leather Monk Brogue

4.Shorts

Shorts and brogues are perfect for summer and beach vacations. Pair your spectator or wingtip brogues with fitted knee-length shorts. Wear polos, summer knitwear, and collared tees on top to balance the look. With shorts, it is better to go sockless or at the least wear no-show socks. We adore the Saint Bernard Tan Leather spectator brogues from the Saint G collection that look amazing with shorts as well as jeans and chinos. 

Saint Bernard Tan Leather Lace Up Brogue

Brogue Shoes for Men- Style Tips for Suits

Sparsely detailed brogues pair well with formal wear like suits. Do follow some sartorial rules like matching and complementing the footwear with the clothing. For example, light-colored suits look good with light shades like tan shoes and dark suits with darker shades like black and dark brown shoes. 

1.With Work Suits

You can wear quarter, half, and even wingtips with your work suits. Get minimal detailing brogues like quarters in lighter shades and extensively patterned brogues in darker colors like black and dark brown. Check out the Saint Vincenzo Brown Leather Lace Up brogues from Saint G that are the ideal pairings for your work clothes.  

Saint Vincenzo Brown Leather Square Toe Lace

2.With Formal Suits

Brogue shoes with minimal detailing and sober shades go well with formal suits. Black or dark brown leather brogues look good with black and gray suits. Lighter-colored brogues match with brogues in tan and burgundy shades. And oxblood-shade brogues are perfect for a navy blue suit. Check out the sleek Saint Lucas Tan Leather Lace Up shoes and Saint Parthian Cuoio Leather brogues from Saint G that elevate your formal wear and make you look dapper and sophisticated.

3.With Casual Suits

Brogues shoes pair amazingly well with casual suits. Monk straps and derbies in semi and wingtips patterns are a killer combination with your casual suits. Check out the splendid Saint Faustin spectator brogues with a beautiful navy shade that achieves the perfect balance of casual and formal. 

 Brogue Shoes for Men- Tips for Shoe Care 

Brogues from reputed retailers like Saint G are made of premium leather. Premium leather construction means this footwear is extremely durable and will last you for decades. Like all things beautiful and precious, they do require care and proper handling for their longevity. These are just simple tips that you can follow easily.

  1. Clean them of dirt, grime, and mud with a soft cloth every day.
  2. Once a week, apply a thin coat of high-quality wax polish. Wait for a couple of minutes, then polish them gently with a smooth bristled brush made of natural fibers. 
  3. Use separate brushes and polish for separate colored brogues. For black-colored shoes, apply black polish and likewise for other shades like tan and dark brown. 
  4. Use a water-proof leather spray to protect your brogue shoes during rains and bad weather conditions. 
  5. Get a shoe tree and insert it inside your brogues so they maintain their shape.
  6. When not in use, keep your footwear in a shoe closet to shield them from dust, and direct sunlight.  

These are the simple shoe care tips that you should follow to care for your favorite pair of brogue shoes

Conclusion

So, this is our comprehensive guide on brogue shoes for men. If you liked it, then check out our other interesting blogs on footwear and browse through the curated collection of handcrafted pure leather perfections from the house of Saint G. 

Back to blog