The Vogue brogue brigade

From Yves Saint Laurent and Le Smoking, to Lady Gaga as Jo Calderone (on the cover of Vogue Hommes Japan) fashion always gets a kick out of a pretty girl dressed as an even prettier boy. 

Images thanks to Style.com

 The autumn/winter 2011 take on the trend saw classic men's brogues on the catwalk at Dolce & Gabbana, above, and embraced in the offices of Vogue (below).

Atillio Giusti Leombruni is a family-run shoe company (founded in 1958 in Montegranaro in Le Marche – the area that's home to 90% of the Italian shoe industry, footwear fact fans.) AGL makes beautiful flat shoes and boots for men and women, like the iridiscent metallic oxfords Anna M is wearing here.

"Being beautiful and sophisticated does not depend on a 12-cm heel," according to Vera, one of the three Giusti sisters. Elena B is another fan of AGL and their wonderful leopard-print ponyskin lace-ups.

From Le Marche to Le Marais: Elena P sports a touch of Paris beatnik cool in Pierre Hardy leather derbys (above).

 I have been searching without success for the perfect pair of desert boots for months now. These might just be it: Olga B's prisitine dove grey suedes, from Carlo Pazolini.

 I also love Natasha L's tan leather quarter-brogues. Lightly love-worn, totally timeless – and they're from Topshop. 

Image thanks to Style.com

The menswear influence was also evident at Celine (above).
Compare the silhouette and detailing on the catwalk with these shots of the Rolling Stones from the sixties (below). White polo-neck sweater, Brian Jones style? Check. High jacket lapels and neat little shirt collars like Bill and Charlie? Check. Natty ankle slit on the trousers á la Keith Richards in '66? Check.

Images thanks to mysixtieslove.blogspot.com

And we all love the Stones' Chelsea boots. 

Ekaterina M (above) in black patent that Mick would be jealous of. Another fashion hit from Atilio Giusti Leombruni.

Margarita (above) rocks these truly classic brown calf Chelsea boots from Massimo Dutti.

The side zips mean they are not truly Chelsea boots, while the wingtip detailing is what is technically known as blind brogue. Which makes then a bit of a mongrel, but I love them. Shoeblogger in the world's most comfortable black leather ankle boots, from Nero Giardini.

Ace ankles

I admit that referencing 'pre-fall' in May smacks somewhat of wishing one's life away, but hey, that's the dizzy pace of fashion for you. Grown-up-lady shoes with little-girl socks is a trend for Autumn/Winter 2011/12 (see DKNY for some of the more wearable versions). This is not a look that everyone can master: you need an unerring eye for detail, a fair dollop of chutzpah, and fabulous pins. But when done right, its as cool as footwear gets.   

  

This is why, when awaiting the lift the other morning, I was transfixed by Oksana O and her metallic and patent sky-blue-and-French-navy Pierre Hardy stack heels, paired with neat little taupe turn-down ankle socks.

Everything works with this look – the high block heels give it sexy authority, the contrast between bold strappy sandals and delicate neutral hose gives it a diffident, effortless chic. The kicker is that her Pierre Hardys are, as Oksana pointed out, from a couple of seasons back. Fashion forward with a retro twist? That's a head-turner, just like Oksana's ace ankle styling.