Everyone knows that fashion trends repeat themselves. We're all familiar with that euphoric feeling when we find an on-trend piece of 'vintage' clothing in our mother's or even grandmother's wardrobe. However, have you ever stopped to think about where your favourite fashion pieces originated in the first place?

You might think yourself fashion savvy but are you still a clever clogs when it comes to shoes? Here’s a brief introduction to the history of our favourite footwear - their origins might just surprise you!

Brogues have been considered to be the height of class and sophistication for decades. They're elegant, comfortable and can easily be dressed up or down. However, these simple, smart shoes don't have such a preppy past.

Believe it or not brogues were traditionally country footwear worn primarily by Scots and Irishmen. Linguistically, the term "brogue" is an anglicisation of the Irish word bróg (meaning shoe). Classic broguing details such as the perforated upper were in fact designed so that water could seep out of the shoe whilst walking across water logged bogs. How times have changed!

A beautiful pair of Louboutin heels should be on everyone's wish list. Who doesn't dream of owning a set of these designer beauties with their signature red- lacquered soles? Although the world-famous designer launched his first line of shoes in the early 1990s, the history of the red sole actually dates back to 17th century France.

Yes, the monarch Louis XIV and Louboutin have a lot more in common than the first three letters of their names. In the early 1670s King Louis XIV issued an edict claiming that red soles were strictly reserved for members of his court. As red dye was expensive, the colour represented wealth and prosperity and was therefore a status symbol of those in power. Things may not have actually changed that much, as (unfortunately) we can’t all afford a pair of Louboutins nowadays.

Whether you’re young or old, male or female, rich or poor, chances are thong sandals are your summer shoes of choice. They’re comfortable, versatile and have been adorning feet since the beginning of civilisation.

Known by countless different names across the globe today (such as flip-flops (UK), thongs (Australia),  jandals (New Zealand)  and plakkies (South Africa) - the list is endless. The original thong sandal dates back to about 4000 BC when a papyrus version was the dominant footwear of the Ancient Egyptians.

The trend then caught on in Ancient Greece and Rome (with slight differences between the position of the toe post) and has been a hit ever since. The style and materials may have changed drastically over the years but the general idea remains the same. Thong sandals really are a classic, so why not invest in several pairs? It looks like they won’t be going out of fashion anytime soon!

Who said history lessons were dull? If we’ve sparked your curiosity and you’d like to swat up on this season’s styles, why not become top of the class and sign up to our online shopping club?