Most of us go for an Oxford shoe without even thinking about it. It’s one of fashion’s few no-brainers: they’re the reliable leather lace-ups you turn to whenever you need to look smart. Nothing else comes close. The definition of a smart shoe, the Oxford takes us from school to work, stopping off at every conceivable formal occasion along the way. It’s a style we’ve long taken for granted and now is the time to rejoin the appreciation society.
Named after a shoe that became popular at The University of Oxford in the 1800s, the style was originally a more comfortable alternative to heeled boots, which were standard-issue for men of the time. There’s also some Celtic blood in the lineage: some Oxfords are still known as Balmorals because they can be traced back to footwear worn in Scotland and Ireland.
Today, Oxford shoes are available in a number of iterations, but each one is elegant, formal and proper – the shoe of choice for everyone from suited young professionals to gentleman spies.
“Every welted shoemaker in the world has a version of this style, and although they all have the same features, they are all separated by how the shoemaker executes the making of the shoe,” explains Tony Gaziano, creative director of British shoemaker Gaziano & Girling.
What Defines An Oxford Shoe?
Three things define an Oxford. They sit under your ankle, have a low heel and, most importantly, the lacing system is stitched closed at the bottom (closest to your toes). That’s the key difference between an Oxford and a Derby shoe, which is open both at the top and the bottom of the lacing section. This construction technique makes an Oxford snugger on foot and more streamlined, giving it a more formal appearance.
Types Of Oxford Shoes
Knowing the difference between an Oxford and a brogue is another thing that separates the menswear newbs from the menswear nerds. Many people assume the two are completely different shoes, but that’s not the case.
Brogues (or rather, broguing) refer to perforations on a shoe that were originally invented to allow water to drain from them. That means you can have Oxfords that are brogues (less formal) and Oxfords that aren’t. The same is true of Derbies – it’s the lacing that defines them.
Whether you opt for brogues or not, there are plenty of other types of shoes you can choose from.
Plain-Toe Oxford Shoes
Undoubtedly the cleanest and most elegant version of the Oxford shoe, the plain-toe is therefore also the most formal. The go-to choice for black tie events when rendered in patent leather, it’s characterized by a lack of detail, giving it a sleek profile that extends the appearance of trousers.
Cap-Toe Oxford Shoes
The most widespread incarnation of the Oxford shoe, the cap-toe is to business attire what the plain-toe is to evening wear. The style, unsurprisingly, gets its name from the production technique, which sees an additional piece of leather stitched over the toe.
Wingtip Oxford Shoes
Featuring a decorative M-shaped toe cap with edges that extend along the sides of the shoe, the wingtip Oxford is a much less formal option. As well as being suitable for weddings and office-wear, styles in nubuck suede can also work well as part of a smart-casual outfit.
Balmoral Oxford Shoes
Much like the wingtip, the Balmoral design features an extended, M-shaped toe cap. However, it lacks broguing, making it better suited to a range of smart situations including job interviews and dressy evening meals.
Whole-Cut Oxford Shoes
As the name would suggest, whole-cut Oxfords are cut from a single piece of leather, resulting in a sleek appearance. As a general rule, the less detail a shoe has, the more formal it is, but a whole-cut is the exception, serving as a great all-rounder for those who don’t want to fork out for several pairs of dress footwear.
Saddle Oxford Shoes
A historically American style, though rare in almost every corner of the world today, saddle Oxfords feature an additional strip of leather in a contrasting or complementary colour, which runs around the middle and down the side to the sole of the shoe.
How To Lace Oxford Shoes
Classic Oxford shoes typically have five eyelets, but they can come with more or fewer. That matters less than how you lace them up.
This being the most formal style of footwear you can step into, let’s be fastidious about it: the laces should be horizontal, parallel and the same color as the shoe, or at least tonal. Though color pop laces are perfectly acceptable on Derbies, the same on Oxfords is enough to make Sir Hardy Amies turn in his grave.
- To lace a pair of Oxfords correctly, feed both ends of the lace through the bottom eyelets from above and pull them so that the lace is horizontal.
- If your shoe has five eyelets, pull the lace so that the end on the outside of the shoe is a couple of centimeters longer than the inside. If you have four or six eyelets, keep both ends an even length.
- Take the lace on the outside of the shoe, and feed it through the second eyelet on the same side (from the bottom), then loop it over the top to the second eyelet on the other side (through the top).
- Now, take the lace on the inside of the shoe and feed it through the third eyelet (from the bottom) on the same side, and loop it to the third eyelet on the opposite side (again, through the top).
- Continue in the same way until you get to the top. On any shoe with an uneven number of eyelets, you’ll need to cross one side of the lace over, which is why it should be longer on the outside of the shoe. If you have an even number of eyelets, each side should be even.
- Pull on both ends to tighten the laces and close your shoes. You can expect a slight V-shape when you first buy them, but as you break your shoes in, the laces should pull tight, bringing each side of the side of the shoe’s upper (these are called the quarters) together.
When to Wear Oxford Shoes
These are smart shoes – proper shoes – particularly in polished leather, so tailoring and formal trousers are a natural pairing. “The Oxford is without a doubt a suit shoe, perfect for all formal occasions, black suits, navy suits, grey suits, always with a tie and white shirt. [The Oxford is] never a shoe to wear casually or with jeans,” says Gaziano.
Which style of Oxford you go for will depend on what you wear them for. For black tie events (or court appearances), stick with plain or wholecut designs – the lack of ornamentation keeps things elegant.
There’s greater flexibility when it comes to your work wardrobe. You won’t put a foot wrong in cap-toe Oxfords, but wingtips and styles with brogue detailing make them a degree less formal without falling foul of the strictest staff handbooks.
The default shades of black, brown and tan are classic go-to colors, but there are many more colored Oxfords to choose from today. For example, navy and dark green can add a fashionable point of difference to a dressed-up look. But draw the line at anything flashier than that. Most importantly, don’t forget when picking out new Oxford shoes, the value of a good pair of dress socks – they can make or break an outfit even if you have the nicest shoes.
The Best Men’s Oxford Shoes
Crockett & Jones
Founded in 1879 and awarded a Royal Warrant in 2017, this is a well-heeled footwear brand in every sense. It makes shoes slowly and properly, with each pair taking around eight weeks using the finest materials. Crockett & Jones may be a traditional British shoemaker but that’s not to say it doesn’t evolve with customer demand. As an example, you can pick up a pair of its classic Oxfords with a commuter-friendly rubber sole.
Marks & Spencer
Ever reliable M&S offer classic brogued leather Oxfords, in a variety of colors, with the additional option of half-sizes and extra wide fits for comfort at a value price. It also has a couple of casual options in colored suede with cup soles for those non-work days. Choice and robustness are what keep the brand a high-street mainstay and classic styles like the Oxford are what it does best.
Church’s
If they’re good enough for 007, they’re good enough for us. James Bond’s shoemaker of choice can trace its heritage all the way back to the 1600s. Nobody was wearing Oxfords back then, of course, but they have since the 1800s, when this firm came up with the bright idea of wearing different shaped shoes on our left and right feet. Today, a pair from the firm’s Northamptonshire factory will last you decades if you look after them properly and the brand does traditional styles as well as anyone in the world.
Dr. Martens
For something with more attitude, you can always rely on the stomping rebel spirit of Dr. Martens. The punk favorite may not be the first brand that comes to mind for such a formal shoe, but it does them well. The Fawkes Oxford brings the signature Dr. Martens aesthetic to the style. Part of the refined Henley collection, these are built on the brand’s slimmest last to date, making them perfect for work and play. Although the sole is thinner, it’s still air cushioned and comes in lots of different finishes.
John Lobb
An undisputed giant of British shoemaking, John Lobb is a traditional family firm with a truly global reach. It’s owned by Hermès these days, but five generations of the Lobb family have been crafting high-quality footwear since it first set up shop in London in 1863. Expect nothing but the hardiest leathers that nevertheless feel slipper-soft on your feet in these men’s Oxfords. An in-house repair service also means these shoes could conceivably last you a lifetime.
Buy Now
Kingsman x George Cleverly
“Oxfords, not brogues,” says Colin Firth’s character in the first Kingsman movie. He’s making a common mistake (see above) but it’s still a roundabout rule to live by if you need to look formal and tailored. So it’s no wonder that smart Oxford shoes have turned up in the innovative Kingsman clothing collection. Much more than a cheap movie tie-in, these were made in collaboration with George Cleverly, one of London’s finest shoemakers and cobbler-in-chief to none other than Winston Churchill.
Buy Now
Base London
Always affordable and offering plenty of options, Base London is the brand to prioritize if budget and choice are your main criteria. Its Raeburn Oxford shoe has a sleek grain finish on the uppers while a reinforced heel adds longevity at an unbeatable price. Brogue details along the tip and heel rim of the shoe add individuality to a sea of standard work uniforms, too.
Dune London
Dune London’s men’s collection of shoes first appeared in 1999. At the high street end of the spectrum, the brand has a knack of doing trend-led interpretations tastefully. With some of their newer styles of Oxfords, the classic silhouette gets a modern update with two-tone lacing and an upper detailed with a toe-cap design and punched holes.
Kenneth Cole
Founding his eponymous label in 1982, American designer Kenneth Cole is known for his clean and dark minimalism. His leather punched toe-cap Oxford shoes, in tan and grey, feature rubber soles and are ideal work shoes at a reasonable price.
Aldo
Canadian footwear expert Aldo offers an elegant collection of Oxfords in a variety of leathers and colors. Aldo’s clean take on the Oxford style is a perfect choice for the man about town, particularly one who likes to experiment with color and texture. The range comes in a wide palette that includes Bordeaux and navy suedes.
Manolo Blahnik
A man with exquisite taste, and a world-renowned expertise at shoemaking, these are the shoes designer Manolo Blahnik wears himself. Italian made, with the very finest leathers, the rainbow of colors and perfectly matched laces make these something you’ll want in every shade. You’ll stand out, and that’s the intention: “[The] Oxford comes from my desire for a clever weekend shoe for the discerning gentleman,” says the man himself.
Gaziano & Girling
A relative newcomer to the British shoe industry, Gaziano & Girling was founded in 2006 by Tony Gaziano & Dean Girling, who cut their teeth at the likes of Edward Green and George Cleverley. The company’s Oxfords are handcrafted from burnished leather featuring elegant stitching on the uppers and smart squared-off toes. They’re set on oak bark-tanned soles cut from leather that has been through a gentle 14-month process, ensuring the natural fibers of the hide are fully protected.
Undandy
How do you stand out in a shoe that’s designed to be sober and traditional? You design them yourself. Undandy is an online brand that lets you take timeless silhouettes like the Oxford (but also Derbies, loafers, boots and sneakers) and customize them. You can choose the color of the leather, the laces, opt for a brogue or cap toe and decide on finishing touches like a personalized engraving. Once you’re happy with your design, it will be made by third-generation Portuguese craftsmen and shipped direct to your door.
FAQs About Oxford Shoes
How should Oxford shoes fit?
“When buying Oxfords, you have to get the sizing right because [high-quality] shoes last,” says James Fox, brand director of Crockett & Jones. “Oxfords have a close fit with the quarters [the strip of leather that comes round from the heel up to the laces] sitting underneath the vamp [the ‘front’ of the shoe].
“This means that although you have a margin of adjustment, they can be uncomfortable if too tight, but equally can slip if not tight enough. When fitting in store, you should have about 1/8th of an inch between the two facing tabs at the top eyelet.”
It’s important to try the shoes on before deciding which style is for you. The proportions of the lines will differ according to the size of your feet. Gaziano also recommends looking at the shape of the last, or profile, as well as the tidiness of the sole and heel.
Which brand makes the best Oxford shoes?
Crockett & Jones, Church’s, Kinsgman and Gaziano & Girling make some of the best Oxford shoes for men. Consider investing in a pair because well-made Oxfords, while expensive, can last you a lifetime if you care for them.
