Shoe fans across the globe will be gasping with horror at the thought of anyone not knowing what an Oxford is, but the fact is not everyone does know, and it matters when it comes to choosing the right shoe for you or the occasion.

Let’s have a little history first. It will not surprise you to learn that Oxfords originated at Oxford University. Students gradually cut down their boots to leave themselves with a shoe. There is an alternative school of thought that the Oxfords originated from the royal family. While Queen Victoria was gadding about in Chelsea boots, Prince Albert was padding around Balmoral Castle in a laced, light-weight shoe alternative to hunting boots. As a result, Balmoral is an alternative name for the Oxford, especially in the US. The key to Oxfords is the lacing. Laces replaced buttons in the Victoria era and although they were met with a little bit of suspicion at first for being too feminine, laced shoes are the norm these days. 

But it’s not just about the laces, otherwise all laced shoes would be Oxfords; the eyelets (the holes the laces go through in loose terms) are just as important. An Oxford’s eyelets go through the vamp. Vamp is just the traditional name for the part of the shoe that goes over the top of the foot. So, translating from geek-speak to English, an Oxford has holes for laces that go straight through the top of the shoe. This creates a classic and elegant look as there is minimal extra silhouette created from the side. With the facings (the area the eyelets are set) flat to the top of the shoe, it looks like they are a continuation of the vamp, so they look seamless and sleek, which makes them very popular as a formal shoe to wear with suits for work or at weddings, funerals, and other social gatherings. Don’t think Oxford lacing only applies to shoes though, some of the most stylish boots are Oxford laced. The slim silhouette makes a tall boot look elegant even in a formal setting.

In summary, if a shoe has a simple ‘v’ shaped slit in the top of the shoe, with holes for laces either side that pull together, then you can call it an Oxford. Importantly it can be many styles such as wholecut, semi-brogue or brogue and still be an Oxford. It has nothing to do with the toecap, as is often assumed and the source of more than a little frustration at Herring Towers when incorrectly used in a famous line from the Kingsman movie. When the line, “Oxfords not brogues” is uttered it makes me cringe as they are not opposites. The quote should be “Oxford toe-cap not brogues”, to make shoe-sense, as there are many Oxford brogues! End rant…
If you have managed to make sense of that then I hope you are looking forward to the next instalment on the Derby or Gibson shoe when the facings are stitched on top of the vamps.

In the first part of our wedding shoe guide, we covered the formal black shoes and boots you would wear with morning suits and more formal attire. Today, we are going to consider shoes that would be suitable to wear with lounge suits for a formal, yet a little more dressed down, occasion.

Most weddings would fit this bill, where the groom, the ushers and the rest of the male wedding party wear matching or complementary lounge suits. Most will buy something new for the occasion and we would urge you to consider your footwear at the same time.

As we have often alluded to in our blogs about wedding shoes, they not only need to look the part but also need to support you through a tiring day. Grooms, ushers, and guests alike will be on their feet for much of the day whether at the ceremony, posing for photos, drinking bubbles and eating canapes before the wedding breakfast, standing in the receiving line, making speeches or dancing… it’s not your average day at the office. 

You need comfort which means getting a pair of shoes that fit you properly. This is where handmade shoes will serve you well. They will mould to the shape of your feet. No slipping at the heel and no pinching at the toe will prevent blisters. I mean, who wants a blister on their wedding day? If you are unsure of your sizing when it comes to choosing a pair of handmade shoes, then our guide here may help or just call our customer services; they are skilled in advising people on the size they need!

But what style and colour to choose? I am going to steer away from black as we have already discussed these in the formal wedding shoe blog. Here are a few ideas to choose from, but there are plenty of styles and brands on the Herring website to choose from, so please feel free to browse away.

Oxford
Due in this month, the Eden Oxford is a truly stunning formal shoe in a dark leaf colour. It has a contemporary shape with a brogue punch to the toe and swan neck broguing to the sides. Handmade by the craftsmen at Cheaney in Northamptonshire, this looks like a bespoke shoe and will make any groom or usher feel like they have paid attention to their footwear.

Brogue
Brogues are popular choice for a wedding in the country, but they can suit a town affair too. Our Henry II brogues in chestnut calf ooze quality. Also made in Northamptonshire by Alfred Sargent, they have a beautiful, burnished finish. The Carnaby brogue is a great alternative brogue too.

Spectator
These are still brogues essentially, but the two-tone element pops them into the spectator category. Again made by Cheaney, the Henley is a lightweight shoe with dark leaf calf bearing the broguing detail with the rest of the main body of the shoe made out of beige canvas. We have a Henley II as well, which has less broguing on the toe. Both of these shoes shout “summer wedding”! 

For a navy suit alternative, the Farnham combines chestnut calf and navy suede. If you want to lose the brogue look, the Farnborough is a striking option with the navy suede across the vamp this time. Again, super-smart shoes that your mother and mother-in-law, oh, and your wife-to-be, will approve of!

Derby
These differ from Oxfords because the closing panels that host the eyelets and laces are sewn on top of the vamp. This gives the wearer a little bit of extra room if they have larger feet or a higher instep. That does not mean they are any less elegant. Take the Golding, as an example, or the Epping. I like the Burlington too for a lighter shade of brown.

Monk
Lastly, for shoes, I would suggest the single, double or, even triple, monks. The double buckle Shakespeare is uber classy and elegant, and come up a treat when you polish them. The Dahl has three buckles, which is very unusual so makes them extra special. For a single, try the Byron.

Boots
My husband wore boots to our wedding, and I assume many other do too. Elegance is key for a wedding. I love the Thatcher brogue Chelsea boots in burgundy or the Laverton II two-tone boots. You could also try the Orwell, which is a monk boot, or the limited edition and rather exquisite, Jordan.

The above is a romp through the more refined styles of the Herring collection that I think would work well with a lounge suit for a wedding. If you spot a style that you think would work well too, why don’t you comment below or post a photo on our social media channels in all your finery? We would love to see you!

Next up, we will discuss shoe styles for a casual wedding.

Summer holiday shoes to celebrate the warmer weather

It looks like summer is finally here and we are celebrating it! It has been a tough 15 months, so we want to seek out the positives in life and summer must be one of them. We may not be able to travel far and wide but the traffic around Kingsbridge, where Herring Shoes’ headquarters is based, would suggest that people are finding fun in the UK this year.

So, what will you be wearing on your feet? We’re not all made for flip-flops, so we are happy to offer you a few alternatives.

For the beach
Deck shoes are a perennial winner. Referred to as boat shoes by GQ magazine, they are sturdy enough to walk in comfortably, but easy to kick off when you want to feel the sand between your toes. I also think they look a bit better when they are weather-beaten and dusty.

This year, we can offer you deck shoes from Sperry. A certain Paul S Sperry was inspired to cut small grooves into a rubber sole to increase grip when he was on deck. These shoes used to be made in canvas, but leather has become the go-to. To really float your boat, I would suggest the white leather and navy trim of the Bahama IIs or the faded ombre blue twill of the Striper II. They shout ‘summer’! 

Meanwhile, Herring has their usual array of fine deck shoes on offer too. The Rock looks like it sounds with a sturdy cleated rubber sole. The Padstow is more genteel but still has a smart leather finish, while the Fowey looks like it was made for mucking about in boats with a 360˚ tie to ensure they do not fall off in the high seas! They even have a white sole too. 

We also stock deck shoes from Sebago, Loake and Barker to give you a full array of options.

For relaxing
I think the Murlo II tops the bill here. Billed as luxurious driving moccasins, these rubber, dimple-soled loafers would work equally well as slippers or an alternative to sandals when relaxing in the sun wearing shorts, chinos or jeans.

And as a shoe for relaxing with your family and friends, would you take the opportunity to be bold with your colour choice? Herring has included a turquoise version amid the usual navy, chocolate and cognac. I mean…why not? This has to be the summer to be bolder than ever!

For dining
We all love the Cannes loafer this year. They are made in the UK, so they are perfect for a UK summer holiday…but are named after a glamorous French location! They combine the crepe sole of desert boots with a gorgeous suede upper in sand, tobacco and navy. These are seriously nice.

The leather-soled Ibstock and Finsbury, with a rubber sole, are also good smart options. Or have a look at the new Tonel. They are unlined and made from high-quality suede, so they are super supple and very comfortable to wear without socks.

Barkers’ William loafers and Loake’s Nicholson loafers are also good choices. 

You will hear more from me on shoes for summer, but I wanted to get you started with the suggestions above. Until next time…just enjoy the warmer weather.