First brogues

[chasem]

I have two pairs of Clarks in 13 US

Brian

Yeah, when I worked at Macy's I was trying some of their shoes on. The 12s were too small, 13s were too big, and they don't make a 12.5. (they do half sizes from 8-12, then 13, unless it's changed since then)

[skauwt]

Skauwt, I have just bought a pair from this eBay seller:
mhgeoffreyandco

He is a Pakistani seller, but this is the best price I have ever seen - £29.99 plus £9.00 P&P. You will have to search the whole of the eBay shop to find them. They look a bit scruffy at first, but respond to a good brushing and polishing. Even if I only wear them once a year I think they are worth the price. I am more than pleased with mine.

Regards

Chas

funnily enough Chas Ive been watching that seller for sometime now ...id actually found him searching for the old style leather football`s
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ORIGINAL-LEATH...item20aa69acb5
i was going to get one of those footballs for my dad but i wasn't sure of he`d see it as a insult or not as i think those style are more my grandfathers era
i was unsure of the quality of those buckle shoes but for the price i think thats my next set of shoes sorted for Christmas

[Paul]

Pretty nice!
I've got a couple of pairs of brogues now. Got one pair on ebay for £4.50 and they're great! I also just won a wool kilt in great condition on ebay for £4.80!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

OK, I'm going to ask a real dumb question. And keep in mind this is coming from a country boy who doesn't have much experience in nice, classy men's attire.

What is the difference between brogues like he just bought and Oxfords?

I have a pair of Wingtip Oxfords like this:



I intend to wear them with my kilt. First, are these appropriate? Second, what makes them Oxfords and the ones in the original post brogues? I see some minor differences between them, of course, but when does one cease to be an Oxford and become a brogue and vice-versa?

In other words, if I saw a pair of shoes in the store, how would I differentiate between an Oxford and a brogue?

The brogues in the photo are perfectly acceptable to wear with your kilt.

The easiest way to tell Oxfords and Brogues apart is by the holes, also known as brogue-ing (Sp?). As I understand it men's lace-up shoes come in three basic styles: Bluchers, Oxfords, and Brogues. (The basic difference between Bluchers and Oxfords has to do with the lacing.) Most "classic" Oxfords will have a toe cap, while Bluchers will have a plain toe (but not always-- it's a fashion thing). Some Oxfords will have very elaborate toe caps, and if these are pierced (ie: have holes punched in them) then they are Brogues. Americans also refer to these as Wing Tip Oxfords-- although the classic "wing tip" lacks the holes found in Brogues. Confused? Don't be. But if you are, go into any shoe store (Johnson & Murphy are a good bet in the USA) and ask the salesman to show you samples of each style.

[Bugbear]

Be forewarned, the American stores often lable and sell Bluchers as Oxfords.

[English Bloke]

Good find skauwt. My wife gave me a very nice pair of brown Oxfords for my birthday, but I am still looking for a pair of brown brogues. I have noticed that 'brogues' have come back into fashion, but they are all sharp pointed 'winkle-pickers'. Ugly as sin.

Regards

Chas

Chas - ASDA George now. £25 in black or brown and not pointy at all.

Nice find Skawt. Great quality.

[Tobus]

The brogues in the photo are perfectly acceptable to wear with your kilt.

The easiest way to tell Oxfords and Brogues apart is by the holes, also known as brogue-ing (Sp?). As I understand it men's lace-up shoes come in three basic styles: Bluchers, Oxfords, and Brogues. (The basic difference between Bluchers and Oxfords has to do with the lacing.) Most "classic" Oxfords will have a toe cap, while Bluchers will have a plain toe (but not always-- it's a fashion thing). Some Oxfords will have very elaborate toe caps, and if these are pierced (ie: have holes punched in them) then they are Brogues. Americans also refer to these as Wing Tip Oxfords-- although the classic "wing tip" lacks the holes found in Brogues. Confused? Don't be. But if you are, go into any shoe store (Johnson & Murphy are a good bet in the USA) and ask the salesman to show you samples of each style.

That was an excellent explanation. Thank you. I specifically bought these brogues (the maker calls them Wingtip Oxfords) for wearing not only with my normal office attire but with my kilt as well.

[Bugbear]

... they are all sharp pointed 'winkle-pickers'. Ugly as sin...

That's one I haven't heard before.

[Chas]

John - I am in Norwich tomorrow, so will pop into ASDA and check them out. I just had a look on-line and the price is reduced to £20.

Ted, just looked up a quote.

Winklepickers (also known as Winkle Pickers) are a style of shoe or boot worn from the 1950s onward by male and female British rock and roll fans. The feature which gives both the boot and shoe their name is the very sharp and quite long pointed toe, reminiscent of medieval footwear and approximately the same as the long pointed toes on some women's fashion shoes and boots today. This pointed toe was called the winkle picker toe because, in England, periwinkle snails are eaten with a pin or pointed object to get the winkle out of the shell (hence the term "to winkle something out").

Luckily, I missed this style - supposedly it did terrible things to a persons feet. But they have revived it and added brogueing, which makes them 'ugly as sin'.

Regards

Chas

[Bugbear]

I don't like wearing shoes with pointed toes. Tall boots, like "cowboy boots" are a different matter.

Medieval shoes are a whole different world...

I don't want to tie the toes of my shoes to my knees...

And I have read that some of the armor footware had toes so long and pointed that they were made removeable for when the knight was off of the horse...