Advice needed- bespoke monks- with or without broguing?

[macaroni]

I’m going to have a pair of bespoke monks made. They will be black and I want a little broguing on the toe.

What do you gentlemen think about it?

[ykurtz]

Really a pure question of preference more than anything else. If you already have monks with the broguing you are referring to, then why not change it up? Get a unique pair of monks with broguing and maybe even a medallion on the toe. Totally your call. I'd look around the web and see if there are some particular 'looks' you like and perhaps that may inspire you either way.

[StephenRG]

You might consider just a floating medallion.

[Flanderian]

Originally Posted by macaroni

I’m going to have a pair of bespoke monks made. They will be black and I want a little broguing on the toe.

What do you gentlemen think about it?

I view it as only a matter of preference. Broguing reduces the formality of a shoe. The more broguing, the less formal. Dial in just as much formality as you wish. Aesthetically, it can look good both ways.

[Orsini]

Surely. You can as much brogueing as you like wherever you like -- except maybe, opera pumps...

[the420skipper]

Originally Posted by ykurtz

Really a pure question of preference more than anything else. If you already have monks with the broguing you are referring to, then why not change it up? Get a unique pair of monks with broguing and maybe even a medallion on the toe. Totally your call. I'd look around the web and see if there are some particular 'looks' you like and perhaps that may inspire you either way.

I agree with this. I would be inclined, though, if I had no monkstraps, to get my first pair sans broguing. It's sort of like why your first suit should be navy or grey, not tan or white. Plain monkstraps are more versatile and more fundamental, in a way.

[macaroni]

No broguing- I will keep it simple for my first pair of monks than.

Today I have visited the cobbler /Jan Wieladek/. I saw some fantastic samples of his work and learned about the details of making process. Everything looks promising. His prices are the biggest surprise- less than 300 $ for a pair. That's about 1/3 of Kielman's average price. /Kielman is another Warsaw cobbler. The most famous apparently./

I will describe the process in a separate thread "Warsaw bespoke report part 2- Shoes".

[Will]

Originally Posted by macaroni

No broguing- I will keep it simple for my first pair of monks than.

Good choice. Monks can take a little brogueing but I think they look better with none.

[Tonyp]

Originally Posted by Will

Good choice. Monks can take a little brogueing but I think they look better with none.

I agree. Especially if you plan on wearng them with suits. They will look more formal and you can also dress them down with jacket/trousers/tie as well.

[the420skipper]

Originally Posted by macaroni

No broguing- I will keep it simple for my first pair of monks than.

Today I have visited the cobbler /Jan Wieladek/. I saw some fantastic samples of his work and learned about the details of making process. Everything looks promising. His prices are the biggest surprise- less than 300 $ for a pair. That's about 1/3 of Kielman's average price. /Kielman is another Warsaw cobbler. The most famous apparently./

I will describe the process in a separate thread "Warsaw bespoke report part 2- Shoes".

Gotta love PPP.

[Matt S]

Originally Posted by Will

Good choice. Monks can take a little brogueing but I think they look better with none.

I also agree with Will. I have a pair of plain black monks, and they're one of my favourite pairs of shoes. Plain monks in brown or chestnut can be quite versatile. I agree with some of the earlier posters that a toe medallion can be really nice, but your safe with a plain toe.

[GreenPlastic]

Definitely agree with no broguing on the monks. It's doable, but it's not my first choice.

I think the beauty of a monkstrap comes from its sleekness. Some of that sleekness is lost to overcomplication if brogued.