Brogueish

Even as I begin to type this post, I feel like shouting out "This is old news!  EVERYBODY in the whole wide world knows this...".  I've never liked pointing out the obvious when it comes to the things I blog about.  So bear with me - I do have a final valid point.

Brogues, brogues, brogues...probably about 50% of readers here own a pair ever since they came out in some shame or form form via Topshop, Jeffrey Campbell (the US equivalent of Office?), Office, vintage or indeed designer routes.  I'm not going down the path of a celeb list of who endorses brogue wearing as I'm sure the list is quite an obvious one.

Spurred on by Disneyrollergirl though, I've made it my mission to go about acquiring some real McCoy made-to-last, brogues with a proper seal of approval however from the likes of Church's (est. 1873), Tricker's (est. 1829) or Grenson (est. 1866).  Despite my fascination with brands with an extensive history, I've never gone out to seek them - probably due to the fact that I feel feeble going into said shops where I look like utter riff-raff and don't adhere to the demographic of their usual clientale.  These brands though which have had varying degrees of revamps and image changes and they're half way there in gaining a whole new generation of fans.  I'm also hearing the words of the father ringing in my head; "Just you watch out, the prices of foreign imported goods will go sky high!  Buy British!" - in my head, he has also seemingly aged twenty years and has got an oddly British patriotic tone (even though he's Chinese... ).  Buy British, eh? 

I'll gladly start with my feet and have thus started a wee brogue fund that should contribute nicely to a pair of sturdy pair of Church's/Trickers/Grensons that though might seem incredibly faddy now due to reasons stated in the first paragraph, will I think turn out to be a sound investment.

Comments

[Sal]

I've resisted this style, but will admit that Disneyrollergirl's black/silver pair gave me a pang of longing ...

[KD]

Brogues, jazz shoes, oxfords . . . I love 'em all, but I'm terribly behind the times as I haven't got a single pair!

[paige]

i have been absolutely craving a pair for a while, i just have yet to find a decent deal.

[WendyB]

Put me on the list of those unusual people without brogues :-)

[Leah]

I'm with KD on this - love the shoes, but have yet to get a pair!

[Deborah]

I have yet to purchase one of these lovely pairs of shoes. I also want to get one of those oxford-style heels that are so popular.

[jeanie annan-lewin]

I have three pairs of churches i remember when i wanted to get my first pair without doing my research i bowled into the shop thinking they were like 90 quid erm they were £395 quid i didn't get those all mine a vintage ones which means my big man feet can fit in them. also did you know that churches is owned by prada i found that fascinating for some reason not sure why.

[Ambroisine]

I don't have any brogues yet, but i'd love to have some, especially The Tricker's one !

[floraposte]

I have to get the Camper Twins pair where the lace holes are slightly off kilter!

[THE SHOE GIRL]

SUSIE!!!! Please check out what I purchased as my version of this look! I quite love them and though they aren't exactly what you're talking about... they're probably as close as I'm going to get ;)

LOVE your blog!

http://theshoegirl.blogspot.com/2008/12/greetings-earthlings.html

[Katie]

i don't have brogues, but i remember when i wated them so badly because it makes me think of British style! :D

[ediot]

is this you?
http://hanmedhatten.blogspot.com/
or
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eAgVa299jEk/SWfDvQ-xUBI/AAAAAAAADRE/5qGwwBzxPrg/s1600-h/suas.bmp

[fiercekitty]

those mahogany ones in the center remind of finished wood. that color is so rich.

amazing.

[Miss Glitzy]

Don't have brogues but two pairs of derbies by Clergerie and enjoy this masculine style from time to time.

[ediot]

but youre fierce! LOVE your style!
take care and have a GREAT weekend

[Eyeliah]

Love them, the best are mens shoes in smaller sizer, built so much better than womens shoes sad to say.

[rollergirl]

Yay, Church's brogues rock! And you also reminded me that I have a pair of Aly Cappellino man-shoes from aaages ago, when they had a shop on Wardour St (probably before you were BORN Susie!). I got them in a sale because one foot was a 37.5 and the other was a 38. They were actually made by Church's too if I'm not mistaken. I still have them and may break them out in the summer. I'm really looking forward to wearing both the silver/black brogues and the Aly Capellino's sockless with cropped skinny jeans. They're super-comfortable and we have to protect our heritage brands!

[Frankie - Swell Vintage]

Classic, yet edgy - i'm broodie for brogues! x

[The Six Six Sick Girls]

Ha. I had never even heard of those brands until I met my husband, who (along with all his friends in Sweden) has been obsessed with Church for years. He swears by the pair of black Church that he got to wear for our Wedding--the one pair of luxury shoes that he owns...

xxx,
Tiffany

[The Fashion Assistant]

*chuckles* yeah I have a pair of black patent jazz shoes by ParkLane somewhere on Portobello Market, it was sample sale and a heeled brogue shoes by Debenhams. I love them!!!!!

[Emily Rose]

Always good to get quality pieces! And didn't you say that was your new years resolution a few posts back?

Your blog is great, and I wish I had your layering abilities!!

[Elliot]

I picked up a pair of brown vintage church's brogues about two years ago and I can say without reservation that are the best shoes I own. A new heel every six or so months and you are good to go. And the finish is just unreal, broken in but not destroyed. They are true works. Dress British Act Yiddish!

[the fashion pinko]

Have you considered Gravati?

[Make Do Style]

I just look dreadful in brogues although I think they look fab. My half way house is loafers which I can pull off. Mind you I can't pull anuthing off at the moment - I'm in a style washing machine - my creative socks have been messd up and gone missing. I need to reclaim them from the washing machine in the sky.
Plus I do think, as one who needs to smarten up her act, that riff raff are welcome anywhere and the posher the shop the more welcoming they are.

[Mrs Gorman]

I have a white pair of slip-on brogues (yes really) from Pokit in Lamb's Conduit Street. So comfortable. They never go out of style...

[sopchan]

i have always loved brogues. I could never understand why anyone, when having to buy black or brown shoes for school, would have a plain pair over a pair with the beautiful punched hole design that makes other shoes seem unfinished somehow. I'm just saving for the £65 office pair, as the church's are somewhat out-of-reach. I like the fact that though they're a flat shoe, they have a bit more of a heel (I find really flat flats like ballet pumps sooooo uncomfortable).

[Style Eyes]

I loved those pastel colour ones on Disney Roller Girl too

[BeeHiveGirl]

I SOOOOOOO want the pink ones!!!!!

[gala]

Hi Susie!
i'm very envy of those Tim Ryan pieces! gosh they are very you!
it's true...since topshop smashed those shoes..for me.the've lost that "vintage cool thing" about them
xo

[Drusilla]

I have a gorgeous cream leather pair that are the loveliest when worn with dark tights, but I've been wanting to look into Church's for a while- there's a shop in Bangalore that has them, but I'm shuddering at the thought of the price when converted to Indian rupees :(

[katherine]

without sounding like a bitchy fashionista - i think brogues will never really go out of style, especially such as you pictured, not the teenytiny patent topshop ones.

[Couture Carrie]

Hey Susie!
I love brogues, especially bicolor ones!

xoxox,
CC

P.S. Trade links?

[Row]

I'm with you there on the heritage brands...

[carole]

Hi, susie. My name is carole i am french so i beg your pardon for the mistakes i might make. I like your blog, your sense of style. Actually i'm fonf of fashion and design, i would like to become a stylist or designer. But for now i am a high school student who lives her passions throughout books, drawing, reviews and blogs. As I was saying i like your blog it's very inspiring and very creative and I wish i could get in touch with you. The point is that there is a scholarship intended to french students called "bourse charles de gaule". The scholarship would select 5 french students based on a topic they're free to choose. I'm applying for this and i'm choosing fashion and design in london for subject. But to have the possiblity to apply for the scholarship i have to have contacts, which i don't. So i was wondering if you were interisting in getting in touch with me? I have somhow the impression of being too daring, but nothing ventured nothing gained i guess.
If however you were interested contact me please.
carole

ps : i could show you my drawings and tell you what inspires me too?

[Emerald Dandy]

I love Church's and am yearning to get the perfect pair myself. I recently saw a women's version in a charcoal grey metallic patent... it was amazing - if only it had come in men's sizing :-(

[susie_bubble]

Yeah, I do know Church's is owned by Prada... I do wish the prices were a little lower but I get the feeling they're not hiked up for the sake of being high and that it does take a lot to make a pair up to scratch...so yes, as per my New Year's Resolution, I'll be scrimping and pinching for a pair....

Must look into Clergerie and Gravati - cheers!

Make Do Style: You'll get those socks back I'm sure...

Gala: That's why I want a pair of the genuine articles...

Couture Carrie: Did it yonks ago!

Carole: Please email me at twinkle260@hotmail.com and we can discuss this...

Emerald Dandy: I saw those too! I think they thought the colouring was too jazzy for guys... a shame...

[SugarCube]

I put a link of your blog in my blog.I hope you don't mind.

[THE SHOE GIRL]

Thanks for commenting- you made my day :)

[reeraw]

true story: barcelona, last year. my bf and i step into vintage haven le swing. i see a pair of brogues - two-tone, v. brooks brothers - but not my size. i ask in fraught spanglish: "any in 41?" the assistant comes back with these beau-ti-ful ox blood pair. try them on - i'm in love. my favourite pair ever since.

[Pastry Footwear]

The pink one's pretty! But all the black shiny ones look like they're made for tap dancing :)

[Elle]

My boyfriend works at Church's and doesn't stop banging on about the history and quality of the brand. Really though, he has five pairs now thanks to a generous uniform allowance and they are so sturdy and timeless. I think you should go with a Churchs pair!

[Meredith]

ah! so lovely. How do you feel about these spectator pumps?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0013PNV2K/ref=dp_image?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&img=MAIN&color_name=x

[kim]

I can't get into them. I like the overall style on certain people, but on their own I just don't like them... I seem to be the only one though :)

[William in California]

I love brogues from Church's. I'm currently in California, USA. Do you have a pair for sale? I'll f*ck you for a pair. ;)

[SwanDiamondRose]

i'm a brogue-a-holic. i would for sure get them if i were you or me. those are beautiful. any/all of them. i have 5 pairs of brogues but none with that much "establishment" poshness. one day!

[evie]

these might be old news to some, but i still haven't found a suitable pair for myself either! the search continues...

[Zoe]

"I've never gone out to seek them - probably due to the fact that I feel feeble going into said shops where I look like utter riff-raff and don't adhere to the demographic of their usual clientale."

Oh I empathise whole heartedly. Horrid isn't it?
I am guilty as charged of buying mine from Office and River Island... someday I will buy the genuine McCoy.