Fashion

Get the look with style editor Charlie Dawson.

One new trend in 60 seconds…
THE BROGUE
Who'd have thought it? The footwear of ex-public school boys turned city bankers ending up on people like that bandy-legged Alexa Chung and in that sexy, noisy place where all trends go forth and multiply – Topshop. Welcome to our wardrobe (drum roll), the brogue.

Brogues are so called because of the process in which holes are punched in the leather known as "brogueing”. Not to be confused with the early 1990s dance movement, “vogueing”. In the US they are called "wingtips” (which sounds way too much like a feminine hygiene product) because of the toecap W pattern. Church’s (www.church-footwear.com), established in 1873, are the UK originals, made by hand and costing upwards of about €310.

So who’s to blame for this new trend? Everyone from Miu Miu to Marc Jacobs – who had us salivating over his leather and metallic lace-ups. Then Selma Blair only went and rocked a white pair with a sheer blue dress, while Agyness Deyn hopped on her bike in them.

How to wear them? Brogues are just the natty, bebop numbers to “Chung up” a pair of turned-up jeans and a boy shirt for some maxi-sass, unisex action. Otherwise, wear with a sweet tea dress or A-line mini and make Skins viewers and tweeners cower in the wake of your fashion forwardness.

As www.fashionpreserve.blogspot.com puts it: “In their most flattering incarnation they’re worn with slightly rumpled linen trousers with a fairly wide leg, and possibly a turn-up/cuff. With this as an Annie Halle-style bottom, you can go quite a bit more feminine on top to counter the sensibility at ground level.” Jazz hands at the ready everyone.

WILL IT TRAVEL?

YES
MARIE FULLER, 28, LONDON, MIMOSA CLOTHING
“They work well with 1920’s, Bugsy Malone-style tea dresses or edgier 80s style ensembles. This season’s answer to the plimsoll.” WWW.MIMOSA.COM.AU

NO
SOPHIE HODGES, 27, MADRID
“Not a chance, Spanish men love a leather shoe with a lift – God knows they need it – but they wouldn’t be caught dead in brogues. Likewise the women.”

WE LOVE

WWW.FAITH.CO.UK, €61
These red, heeled Cadden brogues from Faith are for putting a naughty colour on a natty style.

WWW.NEWLOOK.CO.UK, €33
New Look’s Smart Brogue Shoe is two-tone tan and cream, with a square heel and round toe.

WWW.TOPSHOP.CO.UK, €50
The classic, low Kisco brogue in tan, by Topshop.

BEAUTY & THE PIECE
To complete the look, put some edge into your make-up with some glitter liner – try Urban Decay’s new Heavy Metal collection, with shades like Spandex and Distortion. Paint thin lines with the tip, or sweeping colour with the side for dramatic, jewel-encrusted eyes. For extra drama, apply over the top of a dark purple or black eyeliner.
7.5ml, €13