Swap Your Sneaker for This Hot Trend

You all know I am a sneaker addict. Comfortable kicks are my jam! I can justify wearing sneakers just about anywhere and with todays selection there are kicks to match any outfit. But, sometimes a girl needs to mix it up. I wouldn’t say, I am fickle because I am loyal to a fault (that is my Scorpio nature), but I would say I get bored easily and I want to try something new. When I say  new, I don’t mean anything uncomfortable. I never sacrifice comfort. So lately, I have been feeling all the feels for brogues.

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What are Brogues?

What are brogues, you ask? A brogue is a menswear inspired outdoor shoe with a perforated ornamental pattern usually in leather. I am particularly drawn to the lug sole or platform version of this shoe. As often happens, I decide I want something before most mid range retailers have gotten on board. Sure, I can find brogues from all the designers but I really want an affordable pair. I found a few pairs but not exactly what I wanted. I was hoping for a good Oxblood color which is a perfect substitute for black.

For a while, the shoe brand The Office of Angela Scott has been popping up on my radar. They make many great brogue style shoes. I purchased the Mr. York Smooth Loafers thinking they were the perfect shoe. Unfortunately, the shoe is not oxblood but really a brown. Having my heart set on oxblood and unable to justify the price when the shoe wasn’t 100% what I was looking for, I returned them disappointed and continued my search.

Then I found the perfect shoe, at a reasonable price at Free People. The Rider Monk Shoe is the perfect lug sole, brogue in oxblood I have been wanting. Now that is a funny sentence to say. They have a retro creeper feel that appeals to my 80’s girl spirit. At $128, full price I thought I was getting a deal but they are now on sale for $69 online. Now, that really is a steal.

Why You Need  Them

You may be thinking, who really wants brogues. Actually they are currently on trend for fall and work well with the suiting trend that is so hot this year. My goal in purchasing brogues was to have another flat, comfortable shoe option. I am not a high heels girl and traditional flats just give me blisters. So I am always up for trying new flat shoe styles.

Brogues instantly add a “cool” factor to any outfit. It remains to be seen how comfortable these shoes will be. All brogues by nature are pretty stiff. Being a luxe leather, I hope these will break in to an easy to wear all day pair of shoes. Here are some other options for you to consider.

 How To Wear Brogues

Brogues can be substituted for any shoe in almost any situation. They are perfect for work and pair easily with your favorite trousers and blazers but they look equally great with dresses. Here are five easy ways to add brogues to your existing outfits.

Brogues + Fall Maxi Dress

Fall weather is perfect for brogues. Add this classic shoe to your favorite summer maxi dress then slip on a leather jacket and you are ready for fall’s cooler temps. This picture actually makes me laugh. I am trying to look all cool and avant-garde (brogues do that to you) and my doggy gate is visible in the background. I love the juxtaposition of it. My life in a nutshell.

Brogues + Suit Pants + Sweater Blazer

As I mentioned, brogues are made for suiting. You can go all in on the menswear inspired look or skip the suit blazer for a softer sweater blazer. Either way the look is effortless and chic. I added a tee as my lifestyle is strictly casual but you could easily add a collared shirt for a fab work look.

Brogues + Blouse + Denim 

Some version of this outfit, is my go to almost everyday. I usually wear this outfit with sneakers but adding brogues just gives it a style boost. No additional effort required! And you know, I am all about being lazy. My jeans are Levi’s 501 Tapered from Free People. My shirt is Everlane washable silk from last season.

Brogues + Classic Shirt + Grey Jeans

One of my favorite styling tricks is to pair unexpected items together like this classic pinstripe shirt + a leather jacket. You could definitely wear this outfit with booties for fall or sneakers (always sneakers) but the brogues give this outfit a 80’s British street style appeal I really love. The jeans are rag & bone Dre’s in grey.  The leather jacket is from Madewell.

Brogues + Statement Sweater + Black Pants

This season statement sweaters will be everywhere. A statement sweater is exactly that, a sweater whose pattern or styling makes the outfit.  My sweater below is from Anthropologie – home of the statement piece. It is a warm sweater so unless it is snowing, I wouldn’t wear this sweater with boots. Brogues are the perfect alternative. They are a perfect fall shoe for when it is still too warm to wear booties or boots. I love that the oxblood color quietly compliments the red in the sweater. It really is the perfect substitute for black and as you can see works great with blacks, red and grey. It will also works with tans and rusts where black would be too harsh.

Brogues are the perfect fall substitute for sneakers. The leather leather upper makes it better option for rainy days and the rugged sole will keep you from slipping. Brogues also come is a dress shoe inspired, thin leather sole which I feel is better for spring. If you want to add a little style to your everyday look, give these shoes a try. They are a fun alternative to your favorite flats.

I would love it if you followed me on Instagram for my everyday outfits or on Pinterest for my fashion inspiration. StyleDahlia is for fashion-minded women in the prime of their life. We delight in the beauty of everyday and we hope you will join us on our journey. Happy Shopping Dahlias.