I’ve a confession. Come closer. A little closer. That’s better.
Last week, I bought an item I never thought I would. Now, now, nothing risque; this is not that kind of blog. What did I buy?
Brogues. There, I said it. I bought a pair of Brogues.
Eh?
Yes, you heard me correctly. A pair of BROGUES!
So why the confession? I mean buying a pair of brogues is hardly radical, I’ll grant you. Allow me to explain.
Prior to last week, brogues = school shoes = run to the hills. I wore a pair for school gazillion of years ago as a teen. When I left school, I just never EVER wanted to wear them again. To be fair, I felt the same about green too. My sixth form school uniform was green. Took me years before I could comfortably wear green again, but that’s another story.
I liked brogues on other people. I just had no desire to revisit them myself. But last week a shift happened; a small, internal, tectonic plate shift. I’m walking to the bus stop, having taught a lunchtime Pilates class and there’s a branch of Jones the Bootmaker pretty much slap bang next to the stop. I sometimes press my nose up against the window, sometimes I mooch inside and on that day I mooched inside, not least because BIG RED SALE SIGNS were plastered all over the window.
I saw these brogues and ting – SCHOOL – popped into my head. But the more I looked at them, the more the colour intrigued me. I saw they were a size 3, reduced from £79 to £39. I thought, nothing ventured, nothing gained, I’ll pop ’em on.
And didn’t they just fit rather well, thank you madam.
I wiggled my toes, as you do.
I walked up and down, as you do.
I posed with my feet in different positions, as you do.
I wiggled my toes a little bit more, as you do.
I started to think about what I would wear with them, as you do.
I started to think about when and where I would wear them… as you do.
‘Oh no.’ said small voice of reason. ‘Purchase alert everyone, we’re on a purchase alert.’
‘You do realise they’re brogues, don’t you?’ said small voice of reason.
‘I know’, I answered, as I wiggled my toes even more.
By now the toes were wishing I’d stop wiggling them. They were beginning to suffer wiggle fatigue.
I remembered seeing a few bloggers wearing some very cool and decidedly un-school like brogues and thought um… maybe I could be part of the beautiful brogues party. Here’s Anna, of Anna’s Island Style, very elegant in her rose coloured brogues and printed trousers.
And Samantha, of Fake Fabulous, rocking silver and white brogues.
And Catherine, of Not Dressed As Lamb, looking effortlessly laid back in a chambray shirt and coral brogues, no less.
All 3 ladies looking very stylish indeed. I was brought out of my fellow bloggers reverie by the assistant asking the eternal question they always ask; ‘how do they feel?’. Definitely time to make a decision. They feel surprisingly comfortable for new shoes; the uppers are soft leather and the insoles are padded. But the tipping point was the unusual colour. It’s light enough to wear in Spring and Summer but not so light that they’d look like I was trying too hard in Autumn and Winter. The box said Taupe – a vague colour term if ever there was one. According to that font of all wisdom, wiki-pedia:
Taupe is a word that is used to denote any of a variety of colors. The colors it denotes fall into a range from dark tan to grayish brown or brownish gray. The word derives from the French noun taupe, which in turn is from the Latin talpa, both meaning “mole” (the mammal).
So there you go. I purchased mole coloured shoes! The fact that the colour is hard to pigeon-hole is right up my street. They’re neither grayish brown or brownish gray. They’re a grayish-greenish-pewtery-I’m-too-cool-to-be-pinned-down-to-an-actual-colour, colour!
If you’ve been reticent in the past about giving brogues a whirl, why not take a leaf out of my book and dip your toe into a pair. Two major high street chains both have brogues in colours that work with so many outfits from jeans to tea dresses.
These autumnal brown ones are currently on offer, reduced from £25 to £20.
And these ones in a classic navy are a little more expensive at £59 but are leather and come in ½ sizes.
If you’re looking for more than basic colours, then these burgundy ones, colour wise, are right on the money this season.
Dolcis Burgundy Bristol Patent Brogue
Office Vendetta Cleated Mint Brogue are a great choice if you want a lighter colour. Autumn doesn’t have to mean dark colours.
And Clarks – good old Clarks have a fantastic selection if you fancy, well, something fancy. The smaller sizes of 2½-3½ are sold out in the pink but amazingly they have some in size 2! £60
Clarks Hamble Oak Dusty Pink Brogues
And their purple combi brogue is perfect for Autumn/Winter and available in all sizes at the moment. £60
Clarks Hamble Oak Purple Combi Brogue
Now I’ve confessed, I’m looking forward to styling my brogues. I’ve a feeling they’ll be seen alot on the blog over the next few months! Thanks to Anna, Samantha and Catherine for kindly letting me use their photographs for my post.
Are you a brogue gal?
Linking with / Confident Twosday / Turning Heads Tuesday / Garay Treasures / /
They are FAB!
And they were practically giving them away for free! 😉
That colour will go with (and lift) everything and anything….I am looking forward to seeing what you do with them.
XXX
Samantha
Fake Fabulous
Exactly my thoughts about going with everything. The colour makes them so versatile. It would have been a crime against fashion not to buy them!
Jacqueline you're a star for featuring me and my coral brogues – my all-time favourite pair (of my 13-and-counting)!!
I LOVE the fact that you've turned to the brogue side… You will get loads of wear out of them, I promise. One little tip (if I may be so bold): Roll up the bottoms of jeans to show them off more – your legs always look longer when you show off a bit of ankle. Makes them more feminine too I find!
Thanks again my lovely 🙂
Catherine x
I had to feature those coral ones. They are so gorgeous so I'm glad to learn they're your favourite pair! Tip away, Catherine – all tips welcome. I shall roll the jeans next time.
I think TallBrownFox would be aghast at the thought of me owing 13 pairs! He already thinks I own too many pairs of shoes!!!
Well said Catherine…even a slither of skin (or a colourful sock) make legs look longer and the whole look more modern. Even on a petite leg! I don't know the science behind it BUT it works 🙂
XXX
Super cool shoes!
Made in Mauve ☆ Bloglovin
Thanks. I can't wait to wear them out.
I've always been keen on brogues because they remind me of both Katherine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich. For years, I'd go into shoe stores and say, "I want shoes like Marlene and Katherine would wear," and the sales-people would be utterly confused and blank. Now they're in style, I'm snapping them up. I'm disabled though, so none of the ones you show here would work for me: the wooden, raised heel hurts my back terribly. It's hard but I do find footwear that works for me.
http://www.sublimemercies.com/
I would've totally known what you meant if I worked in a shoe shop. In fact, we'd probably have a great conversation about about those two fascinating ladies and more! As long as you can ferret ones out that work for you, that's great. I loved reading your post about brogues and Hepburn.
You are a convert! I don't have proper brogues at them moment and now you make we wish I did! I have granny shoes with broguish tendencies and cute small heels. I didn't realize they're being made is so many magnificent colours, including mole, haha! I hope you tromp all over the place in these stylish wonders. It's funny that while one might think they feel mannish, in many respects they push us into the wild-side. Have fun!!
Go get some Melanie and work your 'tude on them! I'm definitely gonna tromp, tromp, tromp and I agree I didn't feel mannish in them at all. I'll be looking forward to going to the wild-side!
Congratulation on this new purchase! They really look cute and comfy! I too have a pair by the way but in classy black colour.
Thanks Olga, I've already worn them out to dinner with two of my sisters-in-laws. Both spotted them immediately and gave them the thumbs up!
It is funny how certain items take us back to such specific times and places in our lives — like how these shoes remind you so much about school! They are darling and look great, I think you will wear them a ton! 🙂
xo, Sarah
http://www.thekissingboothblog.com
True and how we avoid wearing certain colours to because of their association. But these brogues will definitely become a staple.
I had to wear a uniform that was red while working growing up and to this day I'm still not a huge fan of red because of it, so I know where you're coming from.
I own…what 8 or 10 pairs of brogues? I love them. Sadly since I got platter fasciitis my feet no longer care for them as much. Such a shame because I think they are darn sassy and go with just about everything as I'm sure you're finding out with these lovelies.
bisous
Suzanne
Another brogue lover and multiple owner, like Catherine! That's a shame your feet don't care for them now. PF really is a bugger for that. They are sassy so I shall wear them with extra sassiness just for you!
I'm glad you finally broke down and bought a pair of brogues! I love them! Plus, the style inspiration from other bloggers is really helpful. I have a confession too, as I bought a silver pair of these over a year ago and have not worn them yet! Your post is just the inspiration I need to get them out!
-Katie
http://hellokatiegirl.blogspot.com/
Get wearing your silver ones, Katie! I'm glad this post will nudge you to wear them. Isn't it great how we can all be inspired by other bloggers – one of the lovely pay offs of blogging I'm discovering.
You will love your brogues and I am sure they are the first of many pairs to come, as they are so comfortable , look good and oh so versatile.
Well, we're definitely in the honeymoon period at the moment, Jill and long may that last!
They are a lovely neutral colour that will go with everything! Glad you decided to give them a try after being against them at first, and that you are so excited to wear them. Sounds like they will be a great purchase for you 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
The colour is so versatile. Going to get alot of shoe leather out of them this coming Autumn.
Hurrah! You're a brogue convert. Well done. What's not to love? The problem is now, what colour to buy next? Thanks for the mention xxxx
You're welcome, Anna. I loved the colour of yours. Yes, it's taken a while but I'm a convert! Indeed, so many colours to choose from…
These look quite cute! I think I adore the color more though. YAY for finding a new love again.
Rachel xo
It's always fun finding a new love again after such a long time.
They are absolute perfection. That color is so incredibly yummy; it will work with just about everything. That has happened to me before…something I was utterly not into suddenly becomes something I must have. For example clutch handbags. I've recently picked up a few and as I write this there may or may not be a gorgeous fringe clutch in my shopping cart in a second open browser window…
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
Ooooh, can't wait to see if a fringe clutch appears on your blog soon then…. Isn't it strange how something switches and you find a reason for liking something?