There are many benefits to wearing a pair of genuine leather shoes. They’re durable, breathable, water resistant, easy to clean, and best of all they are incredibly stylish.
Leather shoes are often associated with formal wear. However, not all leather shoes necessarily fit for a formal function. What if, for example, you wanted to dress up for an occasion that isn’t exactly formal or casual either?
This is where loafers, brogues and wingtips come in. Not too dressy, but not too casual either, in order to determine whether your leather shoes are for formal functions or not it’s good to take a short look at their history.
What is a Wingtip Shoe?
It was back in 16th century Scotland that men’s wingtip shoes were first worn. They were first considered to be an outdoor shoe, known for having perforations punched into the leather to allow for water to more easily pass in and out of the shoe.
They were given the name wingtip because they looked very much like the wings of a bird, extending from the front of the shoe to both sides of it.
Men’s Wingtip Shoes VS Brogues
Brogues and wingtips are so similar in design that they’re sometimes either mistaken for one or the other, or considered to be the same thing. Both have perforations to allow water to pass through, and were created for the countryside, where the Irish and Scottish would have to wade through boggy terrain during their travels.
The perforated details themselves are known as brogueing. There are different types of brogueing styles, most of which are just on the toe, but sometimes they cover the entire shoe. Not all brogue shoes, however, incorporate the winged shape.
That said, it makes sense to call any shoe with the wing shape a wingtip. Some men’s wingtip shoes have long wingtips that run from the toe to the heel, whereas others have short wingtips that end somewhere along the side of the shoe.
So Are Wingtips Formal Wear?
Considering the origins of brogues and wingtips, including their outdoorsy function, they would normally be considered as casual wear. Add to that the fact that when compared to Oxfords, the perforations on the brogues and wingtips do make them seem more fitting for casual affairs.
But just because it’s not considered formal wear doesn’t mean that wingtips and brogues aren’t classy.
Several environments and functions where the brogue and wingtip would shine include:
? A romantic dinner date
? As a guest to a wedding
? Business dinners & lunches
? Cocktail events
? Job interviews
? Regular office wear
If you’re looking to purchase a good pair of leather shoes, we recommend checking out Idrese. Handmade in Spain using tog-grain Italian leather, Idrese has an excellent selection of Oxfords, loafers, monks, and men’s wingtip shoes. Their models are amazingly crafted following European shoemaker traditions.
Visit their website to browse through their selection of luxury leather dress shoes, or customize a pair that is uniquely your own.
