The 5 Best Oxford Shoes for Every Gentleman
Oxford shoes exude timeless elegance. They embody authenticity, eschewing hybrid designs and half-hearted attempts to tackle uncertain terrains. Instead, they confidently declare their purpose: to enhance your polished appearance and ensure impeccable attire for any occasion that demands decorum, even a touch of glamour. Oxfords elevate your dressy-to-formal ensemble while gracefully blending into the background, allowing your dignified self to shine through. Despite their unassuming nature, oxfords possess a remarkable ability to make a statement.
What are Oxford Shoes?
To establish a solid foundation, let’s start with a quick overview of shoe anatomy. In the vast world of lace-ups, oxfords proudly claim the title of the most formal option. (Though some might argue that opera pumps take the crown, we won’t delve into that realm here.) Technically speaking, oxfords are defined by their closed lacing system, where the shoe’s quarters (the side panels with the eyelets) are sewn beneath the vamp (the front portion that covers your foot). On the other hand, the more casual derby features an open lacing system, with the quarters sewn on top of the vamp. Oxfords typically have a low heel and ankle cut, and from there, the taxonomy expands to include various styles like cap-toe, wingtip, whole cut, and more.
A History of the Oxford Shoe
As you might imagine, the shoe became popular at Oxford University. In the 1800s the male student body started wearing a half-boot with side slits—the Oxonian—as a more comfortable alternative to tight, high boots with heels. The slit evolved with laces and moved to the instep. Ankles and heels became lower and the oxford shoe was born. Other histories speculate that oxford shoes emerged in Balmoral Castle in Scotland, invented by Prince Albert as an indoor laced alternative to his Balmoral boots that made hunting easier; sometimes “Balmoral” will be thrown around as a synonym for “oxford”. Either way, young people jumped on the trend. Although some sources say that men were initially hesitant to adopt the laces, considering them too feminine . . . said the dudes who wore (total slay!) boots with a four-inch heel.
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John Lobb City II Leather Oxford Shoes
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Church’s Masai Leather Oxford Brogue Shoes
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The Belmont Ave. Oxford No. 8056 | Genuine Ostrich
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Santoni Carter Wholecut Oxford Shoes
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