The brogue, referring to the decorative perforations and serrations along pieces of visible shoe uppers, is derived from the Gaeilge/Gaelic word ‘brog’ meaning shoe. Originating in Ireland and Scottland as outdoor or country footwear, with perforations originally intended to assist with drying quicker from the traditionally wet climates of the areas.
With origins in casual footwear, the versatile brogue style has since become acceptable to wear in business and formal occasions, commonly found in a variety of shoe styles and one of four toe styles; wing tip, semi, quarter and longwing.
Key features of a Brogue shoe:
- Full Brogue – Identifiable by a pointed toe cap with extensions (wings) that run along both sides of the toe. The toe cap is both perforated and serrated along the edges, including additional decorative perforations in the centre of the toe cap.
- Semi-Brogue/Half Brogue - A straight-edged toe cap with decorative perforations and serrations along the cap's edge, including varied additional decorative perforations in the centre of the toe cap.
- Quarter Brogue - A toe cap with decorative perforations and serrations only along the cap's edge. Will not have any additional decorative marks in the centre of the toe.
- Longwing Brogue - Feature wings that extend the full length of a shoe, meeting at a centre seam at the heel.
Newman and Regent offer a variety of brogue designs across our popular Oxford and Derby collection, in a range of contemporary leather colours and sole options.
Our brogue shoes are 100% made in the UK from our factory in Kettering Northampton, by our team of talented clickers, stitches and cordwainers.
View our range of Brogue shoes: Brogues – Newman and Regent
