PRESENT DAY: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BROGUE SHOE

PRESENT DAY: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BROGUE SHOE

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BROGUE SHOE

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BROGUE SHOE 

By Joe Diamond.

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rogue is a derivation of the Gaelic word ‘Brog’, taken from the old Norse ‘Brok’ meaning leg covering. The Brogue originated in the Peat bogs of Ireland, first appearing in the late 16^th Century when men discovered that perforations in their footwear helped the shoe drain more quickly after coming out of the bog.

In early 20^th Century England the term Brogue was first used top describe an outdoor or walking shoe with decorative perforations. Through time the shoe has become more accepted as address or business shoe and in more recent times a fashion item.

The modern Brogue is characterised  by multi piece sterdy leather uppers with decorative perforations (Brogueing) and serration along the pieces visible edges. They are most commonly found on the toecap styles ( full or wingtip, semi-quarter and longwing) and four closure styles ( Oxford, derby, guile and Monk).

Brogues have also been associated with Music fashions, for example ‘Mods & Skinheads’ adopted them and became associated with this scene.

Further back, 1930s gangsters also had a great love of the shoe, wearing them with their dapper suits. In the sixties the infamous Kray Twins were lovers of the shoe too.