History

• The wingtip shoe was originally known as a brogue. They originated on the Isle of Skye, and were used to shield the feet from rocks and stones but had holes in them to allow water to pass through. The art of holes was called brogueing, and that is where the shoe got its name.
  
  

History

• The shoes were made with holes in them to allow water to pass through them. This was because peasants of Ireland and Scotland many times had to pass through terrain where there was a considerable amount of water, such as bogs and creeks. When the water would get in the shoe, the holes would allow it back out and make things easier for walking on dry land.
  
  

Features

• Then the art of pinking came about. Pinking was making circular shapes with tiny little holes, and these were added to the toes and eventually the wings of the shoes. As the shoe evolved, the designs on the shoe varied, between brogueing and pinking.
  
  

Function

• The wingtip dress shoe in the 1900s was advertised as an exercise shoe used for tennis and golf. They eventually became more the shoe of the crowd by the 1930s. It was realized that the wingtip went well with the suit and as that became a more formal attire, so did the shoes.
  
  

Significance

• The wingtip dress shoe is a leather shoe that comes in many colors. The most popular color is black, and although cap toed dress shoes are the most popular dress shoe, the wingtip is not far behind. It's versatility and comfort make it a very popular dress shoe for men.