Timelessly trendy, the brogue is a must-have addition to any stylish man’s wardrobe. Whether you’re dressing for a smart-casual gathering at the office or an occasion that requires a higher level of formality, this versatile men’s shoe style guarantees to effortlessly elevate your ensemble and add interest, charm and excitement to your attire.
However, with many variations of this popular shoe design available on today’s market, navigating the what, why and when rules of styling this shoe can be challenging.
With this in mind, here at Rieker, we’ve put together the ultimate guide on how to wear brogues. Covering everything from colours to when, where and what to wear with brogues, read on for everything you’ll need to know about making the most out of this popular men’s dress shoe.
Table of contents
- What are brogue shoes?
- The different styles of brogue shoes
- How to wear brown brogues
- How to wear black brogues
- How to wear brogues with jeans and suits
What are brogue shoes?
In a sea of contemporary and classic shoe styles, the brogue is perhaps one of the first to stand out – for great reason. Stylishly decorated with intricate and unique patterns and perforations, the low-heeled brogue provides a lively alternative to the traditional Oxford or Derby shoe and allows the wearer to express their personal style and character uniquely.
Though the brogue’s perforations were initially created with Irish workers in mind to filter water through the wearer’s shoe on wet terrains, they are now their trademark feature. They arguably solidified this style in fashion history books and contemporary wardrobes alike. Once you start looking, you will find various broguing patterns. However, perforations along the toe cap, sides or upper length of the shoe are the most common.
The different styles of brogue shoes
Brogues have come a long way from their Irish worker heritage and the signature perforations of the brogue are now what makes it a popular selection for smart-casual and office-style looks.
When browsing brogues, consider the intensity of the broguing, as this can indicate the level of formality it is suited to. Before we delve into what to wear with brogues, we’ve covered the three main styles to help you get started.
Quarter brogue
Quarter brogues sport a signature cap toe with fine perforations along the cap's edge. This shoe style's subtle yet stylish broguing makes it ideal for more formal occasions and is a great way to add subtle class to an outfit without taking attention away from your main ensemble.
Half brogue
A step up from quarter brogues, the half brogue allows for a more playful design that showcases style, class and character. Half brogues boast a perforated toe cap, perfect for adding the finishing touch to your office attire. A stylish middle ground, this level of brogue can easily be dressed up or down for various levels of formality.
Full brogue
The full brogue showcases intense patterns and perforations in a style that begins at the toe cap and extends along both sides of the shoe. From a birds-eye view, this signature style of broguing is identifiable by the ‘W’ shape adorning the toe cap. As quite a busy design, we’d recommend saving this style for events that demand a more relaxed level of formality.
How to wear brown brogues
Like brown formal shoes, brown brogues are a versatile addition to any gentleman’s wardrobe. Ideal for an array of special occasions and events, they can be brought out repeatedly to complement your look effortlessly.
For formal office events or drinks with friends, pair Rieker’s brown brogues with tailor-cut grey trousers for a contemporary appearance that boasts class, or complement a formal blue suit with tan leather brogues to add instant charm and elegance.
We’d recommend marrying brown brogues with light-coloured chinos and a button-up shirt for more casual attire. However, be careful not to match the colour of your chinos and brogues too closely, as this can have you standing out for all the wrong reasons.
At Rieker, we stock a chic collection of men’s brown brogues, which will suit various styles and outfits. Whether you’re shopping to dress up or down your attire, our range has a brogue for you.
How to wear black brogues
Though black shoes are traditionally the go-to for formal events, we’d recommend leaving black brogues at home for cocktail and black-tie occasions, as the busy impression of broguing can take away from your overall look.
However, that’s not to say that you can’t wear black brogues with a suit. For events that require a smart-casual look, pair Rieker’s black brogues with dark grey or black business suit trousers and enjoy a refined, masculine look.
If you’re heading out for drinks with friends or it’s a dress-down day in the office, collaborate black brogues with navy slim-fitting jeans and a t-shirt and blazer. Though more relaxed than a suit and tie pairing, this modern combination still offers a distinguished look that will elevate an everyday ensemble and make a standout statement of sophistication.
How to wear brogues with jeans and suits
Now, we have gone through occasions and what brogues suit certain events best, let’s explore how to style your brogues with two staples of menswear in jeans and suits. You can pull off a lot when pairing brogues with jeans or suits, and we have listed the best options for you.
Jeans
When considering what to wear with brogues, you may find yourself stuck on whether or not jeans are a suitable choice. Here at Rieker, we fully applaud this stylish combination.
By pairing your brogues with skinny or straight-leg jeans, your brogues will stand out and add unique character and style to your overall look. Baggy jeans or anything that falls below the ankle will take away from this, so we’d recommend avoiding this combination at all costs.
Of course, the shade of denim you choose is important when styling your brogues. For lighter shades of denim, stick to brown and tan coloured brogues. You can experiment with brown and black brogues for blue and darker denim pieces. However, be careful not to pair brogues with blue accents too closely to your shade of denim.
Suits
Pairing your brogues with a suit is a fashionable move and one that, here at Rieker, we’d thoroughly recommend.
Stick to quarter or half-broguing patterns for more formal events, as full brogues communicate a less formal look. As suits naturally inspire a more conventional ensemble, we’d also advise sticking to traditional colours like brown or black. Black brogues never fail to deliver on the style front and will add effortless class and elegance to your get-up. Brown shoes add warmth and character without taking away from the level of formality required.
View our complete guide for matching suits and formal shoes.
Shop men’s brogues at Rieker
After reading through our guide, we’re confident that you’ll be an expert on what to wear with brogues, so be sure to check out our range of men’s brogues at Rieker. For more men’s shoe styles, explore our full range of men’s shoes, which includes loafers and various other formal shoe styles suitable for events of all kinds.