A classic English shoe style for ladies is the womens brogue shoe, a perforated shoe design that has humble Irish beginnings at the turn of the 19th century. Traditionally seen as a outdoor country walking shoe the brogue has evolved immensely over the years to become a office staple but is often seen on the fashion runway around the world.
The brogue name comes from the Gaelic bróg (Irish), bròg (Scottish) "shoe", from the Old Norse "brók" meaning "leg covering". Originally designed to allow bog water to drain while working the modern brogue features decorative perforations to stand out in the crowd.
The Barker collection features several handmade brogues in mainly women's oxford shoe styles which includes Freya, a classic full brogue with refined wing tip and punched detail throughout. Freya is made on 5023 last from premium calf leather and suede with decorative features including tweed and studded inserts.
Another popular womens brogue style is Fearne, like its Barker mens brogue equivalent Valiant, Fearne is made from high quality unfinished crust leather and is hand painted with natural dyes in the Barker Earls Barton Factory, Northampton. The skill and time taken to hand paint a pair of Fearne is not only impressive but means no pair can be the same therefore offering a unique pair at a same. Like Valiant, a popular Fearne colourway is the Multi-colour but there is also Red and Purple Hand Painted available. A Barker womens brogue made from calf leather and canvas inserts, Ali has been a staple in the Barker Womens collection and is made on 5023 last using the Goodyear-welted construction.
The Barker Grace women's handmade shoe style is a full brogue boot made on the 5024 last from premium calf leather on a elegant Cuban heel with contrasting suede and tweed inserts. Also made on the 5024 last is Sloane, stylish full brogue with a Cuban heel and elegant wing tip punched detail.
A lightweight development of the traditional women's brogues comes in the form of Josie, a wingtip brogue made on the 5023 last from premium calf leather on a lightweight EVA sole for supreme comfort. Josie is a fantastic Summer womens brogue option that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
Currently several of the Barker women's brogues are included in the final reductions in the Spring / Summer 2020 Sale available online and in selected Barker London flagship stores. Explore the full women's oxford brogues range online alongside other ladies styles including the Amber tassel loafer and the Julie hiking boot.