It's not really a secret: Women love to see men in a well-crafted pair of shoes. Many ladies actually make judgements about a man based on their footwear. Bad shoes equal no play, and definitely, no phone number! But, when a man wears wingtip shoes, it usually separates their style from the average. It suggests, swagger, and elevates their status to "Classic" and "Risk-taker" all at the same time. Wingtips are.....Sexy.
Even men who rock these shoes with elegance may not really know very much about them and what makes them standout. Yes, they are visually appealing, but why are they even called
wingtips?
Wingtips actually originate in Scotland and Ireland and are called "Brogues" because of the perforations or
brogueing on the outer part of the all leather shoe that creates a W (supposedly reminding you of a bird flying...hence,
Wingtip). The perforations were designed more for practicality, than fashion. In the wet climate and terrains of the Scottish and Irish countrysides, perforations allowed water to drain from the shoe. In fact, in the early 20th Century, wingtips only came in black or brown and were not for formal wear! By the middle of the century, two-tone shoes wingtips became popular usually combining white, black, and brown leather. Today, they are fit for boardrooms and formal affairs. (
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Styles of wingtips:
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| Full Brogue (Wingtip) |
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| Two-tone full wingtips |
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| Black and brown |
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| Patten leather black and white |
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| Solid Color with white stitching |
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Half Brogues (with brogueing on the toe caps)
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| Brougeing on the toe caps |
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| 9 eyelet wingtip boot |
Today, the myriad of wingtip shoes and colors are dizzying, but just know that the retro feel of these shoes are always a winning choice! Click here for a link to
Esquire.com for a guide on purchasing wingtips of any price and style.
by
Locfancy
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