What to wear with flat brogues? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

What to wear with flat brogues?

Lee Hovey

I am thinking about buying these (probably in cognac):
http://zapp.me/7583472

But I need some outfit inspirations to assure myself I will wear them. I am a very visual person so I am really looking for outfit pictures, or links to outfit inspiration on the interwebs. I have trouble really imagining outfits when looking at a list of articles of clothing.

I have been thinking about buying these for months but question whether I know how to wear them, so have held off. But I just keep.coming.back!!!

Thanks Ladies!

Dressing

33 replies

Latest reply was from Sihaya

Louise

Veteran

Sorry no pictures but my brother's girlfriend bought some cognac similar ones and has worn them with pretty much anything in the last few weeks. trousers, skirts, dresses, leggings you name it x

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Ha, Kendra, I have been thinking about the exact same ones in cognac for months too!

I would probably wear them with dress pants or jeans, which is why I probably haven't gotten them yet. I'm not brave enough to try them with dresses or skirts, but if you follow My Style Pill, that is exactly the kind of look I could see her wearing with her skirts and awesome tights collection.

NatalieW

Member

Those are so cute! I'd pair them with skinny jeans or leggings and a tunic top or a graphic tee and boyfriend blazer. In the spring I think you could even wear them with a floral print dress and a belted cardigan.

shana

Veteran

I have never worn flat brogues (mostly stacked heel versions) but I like the idea of a juxtaposition of feminine details (frilly/ruffle shirts, maybe a shorter skirt & tights) with such "masculine" type of shoe. I could even see them working with some cute tweed shorts & tights (on you younger gals of course!).

Maya

Veteran

Flat wingtip oxfords on my urgent to-purchase list. I'm having a bigger problem figuring out what NOT to wear them with! I would wear them with shorter dresses and tights, skinnies, tailored menswear shorts + tights, graphic tee + waistcoat, boyfriend blazer...

I'm sure there is more where that came from!

bella

(website)

Veteran

There you go:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdfoto/4239162680/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d.....235258420/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s.....218834801/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s.....209715224/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s.....206858041/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdfoto/4200439598/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....183635217/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....156664200/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s.....149660505/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/l.....134947033/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....122497577/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdfoto/4117933828/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdfoto/4092929597/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmykaboom/4093333184/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d.....084491376/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d.....073416551/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....051072480/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/l.....048211617/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitbyabus/4031793469/

I prefer them with shorter skirts and opaque hose and also with boyfriend jeans. Also, if I were to get a pair, I would opt for one with a slight heel. The really flat ones look very good on girls with long and lean legs. I think I would need some height to balance out my hips. Just a thought!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I love these in the gray. Bella did a great job of finding you photographic inspiration. I reallly like them with boyfriend jeans, but I know Angie isn't the biggest fan of those.

Lee Hovey

OMG Bella, my hero. That is EXACTLY the stuff I need. True real life pictures of wearable outfits. Like I said I have a really hard time translating a list of items into real outfits from my existing wardrobe.

Thanks so much for the inspiration everyone! But keep em coming if you have more!

marianna

Veteran

Oooh I want a pair too. I've read that those Steve Madden ones run small and narrow. I know this because I *really* wanted a pair... but needless to say they don't even come in my size. Nordstrom tried to hunt them down to no avail.

I'd wear them like I wear ballet fats, probably. The possibilities are endless! I love Bella's ideas. I want a pair so badly too!

medusa

Veteran

Bella, you are a genius! Thanks for this.

I LOVE the argyle tights photo. I would seriously get a kick out of argyle tights...I think I'm probably too old for that look, though.

bella

(website)

Veteran

No problem! If you need more examples, go to this site:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/wardrobe_remix/
In the search box on the right upper hand corner, type in "oxford."

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I've tried these on! They are quite comfortable actually, but the quality is questionable IMO, Kendra. I don’t think these shoes are going to last very long at all. They look and feel like they’re going to fall apart. Very flimsy. I could be completely wrong, but that was my take – for what it’s worth.

marianne

I saw the SM ones IRL (didn't try them on, though) and had a similar impression. I love the look of flat oxfords but I am also not sure how to wear them. To me the looks with skirts seem a bit too young... and with skinnies it seems like they need some kind of a heel.
I've also been eyeing Fluevog Angel Michaels and Tennysons that Medusa got, but I haven't quite wrapped my head around them. I don't think either of those would work with skirts. In that aspect SM ones are sleeker.

Maya

Veteran

These look much sturdier to me. Pricier, but probably for a reason:

http://www.zappos.com/product/7608571/color/5743

Free People has some very cute oxfords and they are styled so you can see that they don't actually look as masculine as they do out of context:

http://www.freepeople.com/inde.....6932fccbea

I am ALL OVER the cognac Jeffrey Campbell ones as soon as I have some extra pocket money. The blue capone ones make my heart flutter too. I just hate it when I fall in star-crossed shoe love.

marianne

Thanks for the FP link, Maya. These seem sleeker, too, and they are cute... hmm a few of them are quite "shallow", maybe that's the key. I still think they look a little odd with skinnies, esp.with pointy toes - the foot just seems long. Maybe it's the eye adjustment issue for me. OK I am confused, because the ankle length skinnies look better for some reason
P.S. The blue Capone is my favorite too.

Marlene1

I'm glad to see the links for the Jeffrey Campbell brogues. I got the Steve Madden "Melin" (Maya's first link) and had to send them back. They looked great, but they were really, really small - couldn't-get-my-foot-in-them small. The leather was also stiff.

Vani

Veteran

Ooh, thanks for starting this thread Kendra. I've been thinking about flat oxfords for a long time but am still not convinced I will be able to pull it off. I love the look with BF jeans, but that's just something I will not be able to pull off.

Maya, LOVE the blue capone brogues. Untill I can wrap my head around these, I will live vicariously through you when you get the cognac JC brogues

shiny

Veteran

I tried these in the size 6, and they were much too small. So I ordered in 6-1/2, and they were much too big, even with thick socks and inserts. Frustrating! I really want a pair too.

I would wear them just as I wear my heeled spectators. Skinny jeans, ponte knit pants. I was thinking these could be an alternative to Cons for me, since I just can't get over the feeling I look too juvenile in those.

I liked the SM's flimsiness! They seemed lightweight and highly bendable, which I consider a good thing. This kind of shoe can be awfully stiff ...

Lee Hovey

Hmmm, Angie and Marianne, thanks for your first hand opinions! Incredibly valuable!

Though I agree with Shiny, I think it was the delicate flimsy nature that appeal to me as opposed to the thick chunky sole of the pair like the Melin's that Maya linked too. I guess I am much more drawn to the sleeker, more feminine styled oxfords. I adore almost all of the ones on the Free People link, for sure!!

Lee Hovey

I have been poking around for other similar pairs and I found these.
http://www.charlotterusse.com/.....Id=3941575

My thought process is they are cheap enough so that if I can't make them work in my wardrobe I won't feel too bad. If I love them I can reinvest in a real leather pair later.

What do you think?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Hah! Maya and I are on the same wavelength. The Melin's just went into the YLF store. You can read my take on this shoe there :

http://youlookfab.com/store/20.....ve-madden/

I guess the flimsy SM's remind me of a gymnastics shoe (or jazz shoe), and I prefer more of an androgynous looking brogue that’s super sturdy.

Maya

Veteran

Kendra, you seem to have reasonable feet (unlike me), so I would give the CR ones a try. For only $25, why not?

I think I'm after something that's between the Tuxxedos and the Melins, though I won't be getting it from Steve Madden. I never owned a pair of SM's that didn't hurt and I don't even bother with four hour shoes. There is never an occasion when I'm only out and about for four hours.

The Melins only look masculine because they are being seen out of context. As soon as you put them on a woman in a feminine ensemble (even if androgynous), they become feminine.

Lena

Yikes, I found yet another pair of masculine detailed shoes to drool over. The Melins look adorable.

I'm with Angie on thin-soled brogues - they remind me of jazz shoes.

Lee Hovey

Interesting perspectives.
I think maybe I am drawn to the softer, lighter version because I see myself as bottom heavy. I am an hourglass, trending toward pear, so my legs are larger than my top half (due to 14 years of soccer, softball, and XC while growing up). I worry that the heavier soled version would exacerbate this visual illusion.

Also, with larger legs I feel less feminine on the botton, so the for feminine version would help me balence that.

Of course I could be completely wrong! LOL but the more and more I look through the Flickr (thanks for the link Maya!) I am more and more sold on trying them out.

marianne

The Melins are lovely, but it doesn't really make sense for me to buy less-than-8-hr shoes. Too bad. Hopefully, there will be other options. Thanks for your take on the ensemble, Angie! Would any style of jeans be appropriate?

Kendra, what is XC?

Lee Hovey

XC is shorthand for cross country running

marianne

Thanks, makes sense! I thought it was something eXtreme

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*spanner*

Quick question: Do you *actually* walk around for 8 hours like I do? I don’t meet many people who do that in America unless you commute on foot. Remember that when I refer to an 8-hour shoe, I mean that you can WALK AROUND in them for 8 hours – not wear them on your feet for 8 hours without the walking. So a 4-hour shoe for me, might be an 8-hour shoe for you – because you don’t walk as much in a day. I bet most of you have more need for 4-hour shoes than 8-hour shoes if you really think about it. How much walking around do you really do? I went through this with my clients last year and it all started to make sense. Just putting this thought out there!

Maya, I realize that you commute on foot, so I get your 8-hour requirement.

Kendra, a person with a shapely bottom half actually looks better in a chunkier shoe in my opinion :0)

marianne

Hmm fair enough, I do commute on foot, but I sit most of the day. Do 4-hour shoes mean that you can't walk in them all day, but you can still keep them on your feet all day without the evening commute being painful?

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