Oxford shoes are arguably the most popular formal shoes for men. You will see them being worn by businessmen in suits. You will see them at weddings, funerals, and other social gatherings featuring formal wear. Oxfords are even worn in casual business settings due to their versatility in style, colour, and material choices.

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If you only have one pair of shoes to wear with a suit or other smart or formal wear, the Oxford is the perfect choice. These shoes never go out of style, and a good quality pair will last for many years.

So where did the Oxford come from? More importantly, what makes an Oxford shoe unique? Suffice to say that there is a lot more to Oxfords than many people realise.

What Is An Oxford Shoe?

A lot of people mistakenly believe that the Oxford shoe is defined by a toe cap. This is understandable given the fact that the term 'Oxford' is used interchangeably to describe a variety of different shoes. Nonetheless, the reality is that Oxford shoes are so designated by their lacing.

An Oxford shoe is one in which the eyelets are fastened on the underside of the vamp instead of on top. This gives the appearance that there really are no eyelets at all. What you see from the top of the shoe are the holes through which the laces pass. This creates a classic and elegant look uninterrupted by small, metal rings. If a shoe has a simple slit in the top of the shoe, with eyelets either side that pull together with laces, then you can call it an Oxford.

Due to the fact that the facings are flat to the top of the shoe, as if they are a continuation of the vamp (in the case of whole-cut shoe it is the same piece of leather) the shoe appears to be almost seamless. This allows the design of the shoe to be very sleek, so you will find most of the longer lasts and pointed shoe designs will be Oxfords.