Essential footwear: Brown Brogues and the Range Rover Sport

It is extremely gratifying to be plugging through mud, water, grime and dirt in a 2015 Range Rover Sport 3.0supecharged. Simply because even on normal road tyres, the Range Rover Sport makes it look extremely easy doing so. The supercharged 3.0liter V6 engine makes about 340ps and the all important 450Nm torque, enabling it to easily clamber around most terrain with relative ease. We did a circuit of obstacles on normal road tyres and if it had off-road knobbies, it would be a walk in the park for the Sport. 

Outside, things were all grimy and muddy. Inside, things were calm and cossetting. The expanse of leather and comfortable armchair-like front seats make easy work for the driver. At the rear, I could easily type out messages on the phone like as if I was on an ordinary trip to the grocers. Or to the club since it is a Range Rover Sport. You can thank the height adjustable air suspension for that. A fabulous car. Slightly pricey in Malaysia at RM857,888 in Solid White. Of course, it is even more gratifying to be plugging around in the mud in a car that costs nearly a million Ringgit. A very able one at that.

Anyway, what shoes did I wear to such an event?

A normal short sleeved button down collar shirt from Marks and Spencer, cotton chinos and my trusty Made in Italy brown derby brogues with vulcanised rubber soles that has the necessary grip required when things get slippery. I bought these about 5-6 years ago as my all-weather beaters. They've surprisingly lasted this long.

Why brogues you may ask. Let's allow Wikipedia to answer it for me:-

"Modern brogues trace their roots to a rudimentary shoe originating in Ireland that was constructed using untanned hide with perforations that allowed water to drain from the shoes when the wearer crossed wet terrain such as a bog. The word "brogue" came into English in the late sixteenth century. It comes from the Old Irish bróg "shoe", which itself stems from the Old Norse "brók" meaning "leg covering"

The word "brogue" was first used to describe a form of outdoor, country walking shoe in the early twentieth century traditionally worn by men. At that time the brogue was not considered to be appropriate for other occasions, social or business. Over time perceptions have changed and brogues are now considered appropriate in most contexts, including business. Brogues continue to be most common as leather dress and casual shoes and boots, but can also be found in many other forms including canvas and leather sneakers and high-heeled women's shoes. Although Brogues are similar to the "Oxford shoe", they are two completely different types of shoes and are not to classified into the same family."

As the brogue is described as a form of outdoor country walking shoe traditionally worn by men (and usually brown, chesnut or something not black in colour), it is an appropriate shoe to wear when one is plugging around the Malaysian countryside in an extremely nice Range Rover Sport.