Gone Brogue

How's the Christmas shopping going? Mine hasn't quite gone to plan. It was going really well - I'd made a list, earmarked what I wanted and needed to buy and was blindsided by the naughty Christmas elves throwing nice clothes and shoes at me left, right and centre. However, now that the Christmas fairy dust has settled, I'm taking it all back with the exception of these (I think).

Brogues. Yes really! The ever elusive brogues. The brogues which never seem to suit me or should that be -  never suit me  and are within my budget.

I was in Waitrose the other day and I stopped in my tracks when I saw someone in the most fabulous navy peacoat, almost skinny dark jeans and some tan brogues. The epitome of cool. The epitome of cool is someone who is very confident in their own look and is not stomping up and down in the latest fads but somehow looks impeccable and extremely comfortable and stylish in their own skin. She also had a short pixie crop, librarian glasses on and a fashionable male companion to boot. They looked like they had walked out of an A.P.C. lookbook. This sort of look gets me in a way that so many other OTT looks can't. 

I stalked her up and down the aisles and huffed when I couldn't get a sneaky picture of her (to show you guys) whilst the Grumps merrily threw in all the naughty food stuffs in to the trolley which we don't normally buy at any other time of year (Heston - you have a lot to answer for!).

So I was very happy when I stumbled on these brogues because (1) I wasn't looking for them as I was resigned to the fact that I can't do brogues (2) they were affordable as in not wallet crunching expensive (3) they didn't crucify my legs when I put them on and (4) they were just there waiting for me.

I have ummed and aahed over whether these are keepers as I was thinking I wanted a lighter coloured pair of brogues but I also thought that these might be a good test the waters type pair and more suited to the winter months.  What do you think?

Gap cashmere jumper, H&M coat, H&M scarf (old), H&M jeans (old),

That's my take on what I saw the lady in Waitrose was wearing. But she was taller, skinnier and younger :o( and she had no gold buttons on her peacoat - which reminds me - I did mention previously that I was thinking of changing the buttons on this jacket and this has helped that decision along.

Or what about the addition of a scarf and a change of coat?

Topshop coat (old)

Are the brogues working? This is the closest I've got to a pair since the Russell & Bromley pair I had in my twenties and that was twenty years ago. Infact, taking a peek at Russell & Bromley, I spotted their Jeeves pair which are remarkably similar to the pair I just picked up but considerably dearer.

I must mention that these have a soft crepey sole and heel so you can bounce along in these. Good and bad. Good that you can bounce along like Tigger. Bad because they don' have that satisfying "knock knock" sound which you get with a solid wood heel when it makes contact with the pavement. They do not pinch my toes but they are stiffish leather which is what I imagine a pair of mens brogues to be like anyway, waiting to be gently broken in. And why do I think this particular pair of brogues are possibly working for me than the other twenty pairs I have tried on prior to these? They are a more substantial shoe i.e. not too lightweight. They are tan - I can't seem to do black brogues - a little too heavy looking in my eyes for me. I also can't do the jazz shoe style ones which are just a little too refined for my legs and I need the slight heaviness of this style to balance out my legs. And at £20 approx, I think they are pretty good. Much nicer than the usual cheap brogue offerings I've seen out there like these which are somewhat lacking.

Can you guess where they are from?

They are from Marks and Spencers. Boys section. Currently discounted between £19.60 - £21 on line. Full price at £28-30 which is not really robbing for a pair of solid leather shoes is it? Note - they come up big, I'm wearing a size 3 instead of my usual 4. And they go all the way up to size 7 which actually means a size 8 in this instance. I've got to keep them haven't I? £19.60 for a pair of tan leather brogues? Yeah!

Marks & Spencer Boys Brogues

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Last Note :

• I like the odd shoe bargain from the kiddies section. The trick to buying shoes from the kids section is to make sure it doesn't look like it came from the kids section though. The toe area for kids shoes tends to be a little rounder and wider to ensure young tootsies have ample wiggle room so some of the girls ballet pumps for instance are a little bit dud looking and if you can bring yourself to cut off the usually naff bows - do. However, the brogues I've picked out translate quite well for adults as they do not look "childish in their design. Well done me :o)  #smug