WHO'D have thought it? After years of increasingly extreme spikeheeled footwear being deemed au courant, there has been a backlash among the bright young things on Planet Fashion, who are adopting brogues as their footwear of choice.
Succumbing to the comfort and timeless style of this sturdy British classic, trendsetting fashionistas are donning sensible flats to go about their daily business.
London's style leaders have turned the masculine image on its head, sexing it up with knee socks, flirty skirts and boyfriend jackets.
MTV presenter, model and hip young thing Alexa Chung took her place rolex replica in the front row at the Margaret Howell catwalk show during London Fashion Week in an androgynous ensemble of black and white co-respondent shoes, mannish shirt, skinny leather treggings (a cross between trousers and leggings) and a studded Miu Miu bucket bag.
At the Burberry show, kooky model-of-the-moment Agyness Deyn teamed her classic black brogues with sheer black pop socks and a mint silk puffball dress. Harry Potter actress Emma Watson is a fan, too, as are actresses Selma Blair and Sienna Miller.
tag heuer replicaI am thrilled that brogues are back in vogue. At 5ft 2in, I can't deny the allure of heels with their leg-lengthening effect. But as a busy mum, I've never been one for tottering around precariously during the day. Those delicious satin concoctions from Jimmy Choo are for weddings and parties, while the dependable brogue has served me well as my day-to-day footwear for the best part of two decades. I've grown to be passionate about these most sensible of shoes. My father, proud of his time in the RAF, always said you could judge a person by their shoes. As a little girl, I would watch as he buffed the black leather to a beautiful finish.
As a teenager, I bought my first pair of brogues: a pair of size three-and-a-half tan leather Oxfords.
It was the beginning of an extensive and ever-increasing collection that is a cherished part of my wardrobe. Deborah Carre, who partners James Ducker running bespoke shoemaking business CarreDucker, is another fan. 'Over the past two years, we've had an increasing number of women interested in our made-to-measure shoes with brogue detailing and brogue-style boots, so we're launching a collection next month designed for the female market,' she says.
Each pair of CarreDucker brogues is handcrafted using traditional artisan techniques, and requires two or three fittings. But they also require a hefty bank balance -- they start at [pounds sterling]1,500 a pair. Christian Louboutin and Rupert Sanderson have reinterpreted brogues this season as softer jazz shoes. But for those of us whose budget do not stretch to such luxury, Topshop has a fantastic brogue section on its website, offering 19 styles for budget conscious, fashion-savvy shoppers.
So with something for all budgets, it's investment dressing at its finest.
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In brogues: Karen
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In brogues: Karen
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