Brogue Shoes

Lately I've been feeling the brogue shoe more than ever. Ever since last October when I saw a pink pair in Topshop on Oxford St., I've been dreaming of owning the perfect pair for me.

After a year of searching, I've finally narrowed it down: brown, simple, versatile.

The shoe to the left is Trouble by Dune. Originally $150 and now $75, I'm loving the price.

The shoe to the right, at $150, is Sir by Dune, and I find it absolutely lovely!

And finally I've got Topshop's Kowboy Studded Brogue (below) for $110.

While they are all leather and all beautiful, I have no idea which one to buy! I just know any of these would look stunning with a short skirt, both loose and structured. They could work at the office (if you do business casual) and transition to a great night on the town. Try a structured suit jacket and pencil skirt for work, and ad some flashy accessories when you clock out for those after work drinks! Maybe pair them with some cigarette jeans and a tunic top with some unstructured layers for a great shopping look. Or just about anything as this shoe is both fun and serious, depending on the rest of the outfit.

Oh, the looks are endless with a great brogue shoe!

Johannesburg, South Africa

I've been in South Africa since Monday, and everything has been incredibly hectic so far! Back-to-back meetings, museums, lectures, tours, and interviews. It was a lot to take in all at once, but it was a great crash-course via immersion to how South Africa really is.

There are the poor, who live in cramped, tiny tin shacks. To get an example of this, we toured Soweto, a part of Johannesburg, with a guide and visited Primrose's home.

It was evident through her demeanor that she was emotionally strong, and had dealt with a lot in life. She was serious, yet calm and appeared slightly annoyed that we visited her when she had so much work to do.

We were allowed to ask questions and interview her, and she had our tour guide, Kurt, translate to us.

Primrose told us that every day begins with washing laundry for her children, cleaning, taking care of the house, and later making sure there is food on the table for when her children return home at the end of the day.

Kurt explained that, even though the schools here are free, families must still find money for books, supplies, and uniforms.

However, local day cares exist for the children of the neighborhood, and children can attend until they are about five years old.

Later we drove past the wealthy section of town, where the houses resembled the mansions of Beverly Hills. Here, Dudley, our tour guide throughout Johannesburg, pretended to show off his house for a photo-op.

Our "prof" refers to this as schizophrenic, and I find it fascinating that such a divide exists in such close proximity to each other.