Brogues

John Lobbs's Full Brogue Derby

Although brogues seem like a formal shoe, the holes in brogues were created for the practical use of draining away excess water from Scottish and Irish bogs. The name brogue is gallic for shoe. 

In the 1940's the thick soled brogue was adopted by The Zoot suit wearers in the US, then in Europe, the Zazous of France (left) and The Swing Kids of Germany took hold of the style as a form of rebellion because of the excessive use of leather during a time of rationing, and its American jazz associations. They were later taken up by the Teddy Boys before Brothel Creeper were adopted as 
their signature shoe.

Three men on The Empire Windrush

in 1948, all sporting brogues.

From One Hundred Years of Menswear.

                                                                     

My Brogues

Traditionally, in Britain, the brogue was worn by the country gent, ideally with a tweed suit; whilst the oxford shoe was more of a shoe for the man about town.