What Defines a Brogue?
The brogue has long held its position as one of the most popular men’s dress shoes. With a world of styles and detailing variations out there, it can be unclear exactly what defines a brogue. But just a little knowledge of shoe closures and seam detailing can help identify which shoe is right for you, and make buying brogues online a breeze. Humble Beginnings First used in Ireland and Scotland in the 1800s, the brogue’s distinctive perforations and visible serrated seams were once a feature of utility rather than aesthetics. The original brogues (from the Gaelic bróg meaning shoe) were worn by farm workers and shepherds as hardy outdoor work shoes. The perforations on their low-heeled leather shoes allowed for better drainage when trudging through wet and boggy marshland, so the untanned leather uppers could dry faster. By the 1920s the jazz age was in full swing in America, and the brogue’s decorative details helped secure it a place as a fashion dress shoe in the dance halls and sp...