This tutorial on up cycling brogues into DIY mules came about after I popped onto Pinterest and searched for tutorials and found nothing. I also searched Google, and again came up empty. But why was I looking to refashion some mighty fine brogues you’re surely asking?
Well, I have always wanted a pair of brogues, and when we moved to the Netherlands at the start of 2019, I was super chuffed to find some funky silver style brogues in my size – I’m a large 43 / UK9.5 so it’s rare that I am able to find cool / funky / stylish shoes that actually fit me.
With this in mind, I grabbed the brogues in question – they were made in Portugal and on sale at around €80 so I thought they’d work out well and be relatively ethical too.
The problem of course was that they were more that a little bit too tight. The first time I wore them, my ankles and toes were cramped, blistered and more than a little rubbed raw.
They sat in the shoe cupboard, waiting for their turn in the spotlight, but after several outings and the same painful result, I was loathe to try again.
Then came the weekend of Prince Philips funeral. We were popping uptown that Saturday to meet a friend for a ‘standing only’ lunch – kibbling and a small can of Hertog Jan by the canal – and to also get our regular fresh grocery supply from the stalls on Vismarkt.
Feeling brave, I grabbed the brogues and put them on, telling David that we would leave earlier than normal as I would need to walk more slowly to break them in.
It. Was. AWFUL.
When we arrived back home four hours later my socks had been sodden in blood and were stuck fiercely to my ankles. When I tried to remove the sock it of course ripped open the wounds and the bleeding continued.
There and then I decided the brogues were never to be worn again unless I were refashioning them into something else.
Mule Inspiration
A few weeks ago, David had ordered us both some very lovely Turkish slippers. He was tempted to get the silver ones for me but opted for the turquoise version instead.
They’re super comfy now that I have broken them in – so comfy in fact that I accidentally walked to the local shop in them a few days ago. Oops.
Having struck lucky with the mules – the fit is spot on! – I decided I would upcycle my brogues into something similar.
Version One: Laced Back Brogue
Once the shoes were on my worktable ready for cutting (on a piece of paper obviously, because shoes should not be on a worktable right?) I did have a moment of despair, and ended up cutting the first shoe less extreme and adding some ribbon to see if I could keep them as intact as possible.
I started by cutting away only the leather that cupped the ankle, punched holes through the existing ‘hole’ detailing and then laced them up with golden ribbon.
The YouTube video shows this process if you’re curious, but once I had threaded them up at the back ankle, I decided they looked a bit daft – this was reinforced by David’s laughter!
As you can see in the photo above and below, they just weren’t looking as good as I hoped.
And it wasn’t helped by the still visible dried blood from their last outing. I decided I needed to go full on with the shoe transformation!
Version Two: The Studded DIY Mule
With my decision made, I grabbed my tools and got started on creating my very own DIY studded mules. Here’s how you can do the same!
What You’ll Need For Your DIY Mules
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that I may receive a fee at no extra cost to you if you purchase a recommended product.
There’s not much needed to upcycle brogues into DIY mules:
- A pair of brogues (secondhand / charity finds work well)
- Sharp blade – I used a surgical blade but you can try using any sharp craft blade
- Small sharp scissors – these should be small and sharp as you’ll use them to cut through leather while maintaining a smoothly cut edge
- Hole punch strong enough to punch through leather – this one is very similar to mine and is used for leather or this is the exact one I use if you’re in the UK.
- Pen to mark stud placements
- Paper clips or bulldog style clips – to hold the laced sections in place
- Sam Brown studs (UK / USA)
- Small screwdriver – to tighten the studs
Once you’ve gathered the tools you need, you’ll want to place the first shoe on a piece of paper of cloth on your worktable.
Step One: Remove Laces And Prep Shoes
I started by removing all unnecessary loose parts of the brogues – specifically, the laces and the insoles. I also gave the shoes a quick wipe down.
Step Two: Cutting The Excess Material Away
This is undoubtedly the ‘tricky’ part of making the mules! I used my small sharp scissors to cut through the thinner areas of leather, which allowed me to keep a relatively smooth cutting line.
I then put my scalpel to good use, to cut the thicker leather away, along the bottom of the shoe.
I had moments of worry, thinking the scalpel might slip and cut one of my fingers – it’s a surgical scalpel so VERY sharp.
And yes, I’m still using a piece of paper between the shoe and the worktop at this point – it’s the English in me worrying about the bad luck from putting shoes on the table! 🤣
Finally, I had just the back of the shoe to do. This is the hardest part, as the leather is thick and there’s also reinforcement to keep the back of the shoe ‘solid’ and supportive.
Phew. THAT was hard work!
Step Three: Marking And Placing The Studs
We’re on the last step – marking in where our studs will go and then putting them into position!
I started by putting my feet into the shoes, and then smoothing the upper section inwards until it felt comfortable. I then secured in place with a paper clip and bull dog clip combo.
I then used my trusty bright pen to mark dots through the existing holes that were used for lacing up my brogues. There’s no going back at this point!
Once the marks are in place, I remove the clips and grab my leather hole punchers.
I have a fab hole punch that works really well on thick fabrics. You can grab them yourself here.
I punched holes through the leather using the size 3 setting.
Now it’s time to add the studs. Same Browne studs come in two parts. The base, which is threaded like a screw, and then the upper, which is shaped – these ones are rounded, but I also have spikelike studs back in the UK that I may upgrade to in the future! – and screws over the base.
Pop the stud base through from under the tongue of the shoe so that it is visible on the right side.
Next, line up the old holes that were used to lace up the brogues so that they sit over the screw bases too. Then, carefully screw on the tops of the studs to secure in place.
Once all studs are screwed into position by hand, you can grab a small screwdriver to tighten them up and prevent them from coming undone.
Once the screws are tightened, your old brogues are now fun and comfy mules – perfect for wearing around the house or out and about during the warmer (non-rainy!) months!
Final Notes When Making Your DIY Mules From Brogues
A few things I need to point out about refashioning brogues into DIY mules:
- Cutting away the back of the brogue shoe will require removing the insole. This will leave the shoe uncomfortable to walk in, so it’s a good idea to find some strong adhesive that you can use to glue the insole back in.
- The base of the studs will be on the top of your foot and may rub a little when walking – at least this is what I found when wearing them for the first time. One solution would be to cover the ‘tongue’ of the mules with a fabric that doesn’t irritate your skin – you can use fabric glue to secure or use a couple of discreet hand stitches if the leather is not too tough.
That’s all I have! Overall, it’s a refashioning project that worked out well for me, and I’ll forever be keeping an eye out when in charity shops or thift stores for other potential projects with shoes!
I’ll leave you now with a few more images.
