Oxford shoe

Type of shoe

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Oxford shoe" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Men's cap-toe Oxford shoe by Crockett & Jones

An Oxford shoe is a type of shoe characterized by shoelace eyelet tabs that are attached under the vamp,[1] a feature termed "closed lacing".[2] This contrasts with Derbys, or bluchers, which have shoelace eyelets attached to the top of the vamp.[3] Originally, Oxfords were plain, formal shoes, made of leather, but they evolved into a range of styles suitable for formal, uniform, or casual wear. On the basis of function and the dictates of fashion, Oxfords are now made from a variety of materials, including calf leather, faux and genuine patent leather, suede, and canvas. They are normally black or brown, and may be plain or patterned (brogue).

## Terminology

[edit]

The meaning of "Oxford" and "balmoral" may vary geographically. In the United States and Scotland, "Balmoral" is often synonymous with "Oxford".[4] In the United States, "Oxford" is sometimes used for any more formal lace-up shoe, including the Blucher and Derby. In Britain and other countries, the Balmoral is an Oxford with no seams, apart from the toe cap seam, descending to the welt, a style common on boots. Oxford shoes are also known for their variation or style. The Cap-Toe Oxford is the most well-known, although 'Whole Cut', 'Plain Toe', and a variation of 'Brogue' Oxfords are commonly referred to styles.[5] Shoes with closed lacing (Oxfords/Balmorals) are considered more formal than those with open lacing (Bluchers/Derbys).[6] A particular type of oxford shoe is the wholecut oxford, its upper made from a single piece of leather with only a single seam at the back or in the rare exception no seams at all.[7]

## History

[edit]

The origin of the Oxford shoe is unclear. Two origins have been suggested. First that Oxford shoes originated from students at Oxford University who wore knee-high boots that were trimmed down to create medium-sized boots, given the name Oxoniana Oxfords. A second suggestion is that they were popularised by Prince Albert who resided in Balmoral Castle and so are named after his home.[8] This shoe style did not appear in North America until the 1800s.[9] In the United States, Oxfords are called "Bal-type" as opposed to "Blucher-type". In France, Oxfords are known as Richelieu,[10] or Molière in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Oxfords were derived from the Oxonian, a half-boot with side slits that gained popularity at Oxford University in 1800.[11] Unlike early shoes, Oxfords were cut smaller than the foot. The side slit evolved into a side lace that eventually moved to the instep, as students rebelled against knee-high and ankle-high boots. The toe cap can either be lined with two narrow rows of stitching, perforated holes along the end cap stitching (quarter-brogue), perforated holes along the end cap stitching and on the toe cap (semi-brogue), or a semi-brogue with the classical wingtip design (full-brogue).[12]

* Evening Oxford shoes created by Alfred J. Cammeyer in 1891

* Men's quarter brogue oxford shoes

* Men's full brogue (or wingtip) oxford

* Wholecut

## See also

[edit]

* List of shoe styles
* Blucher shoe
* Brogue shoe
* Derby shoe
* Saddle shoe
* "The Short Happy Life of the Brown Oxford"
* Spectator shoe
* Wholecut

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Oxford Shoe". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. p. 304\. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.
2. ^ "The Derby Shoe & Blucher Guide — Gentleman's Gazette". www.gentlemansgazette.com. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
3. ^ Schneider, Sven Raphael (12 June 2014). "The Derby Shoe & Blucher Guide — Gentleman's Gazette". www.gentlemansgazette.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
4. ^ "The History of the Oxford Shoe / Steptronic Footwear". steptronicfootwear.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
5. ^ "Oxford Shoe | Information Guide". Thomas George Collection. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
6. ^ "FASHION TRENDING – WHAT ARE OXFORD SHOES: FASHION/TEXTILE INDUSTRY (WHAT ARE OXFORD SHOES)". Finderz Keeperz.
7. ^ "Oxford Shoes Guide - How To Wear Oxfords, How To Buy & What To Avoid — Gentleman's Gazette". www.gentlemansgazette.com. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
8. ^ Dudley, Sarah. "The History of the Oxford Shoe". bodileys. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
9. ^ "What are oxford shoes?". Conjecture Corporation. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
10. ^ "Top Five Dress Shoes for Men & Wardrobe Collection | Best 5 Dress Shoe Styles". Old Martin. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
11. ^ "The Oxford Shoes Guide — Gentleman's Gazette". www.gentlemansgazette.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
12. ^ "Nothing like a new pair of Oxfords". J.L. Rocha Collections. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Oxford shoes at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Footwear

* List of shoe styles
* List of boots
* Shoe
* Shoemaking
* Shoe size

Dress shoes|

* Blucher
* Brogues
* Brothel creepers
* Derby
* Monks
* Oxfords
* Spectator shoes (Co-respondent shoes)
* Winklepickers
* Wholecuts

| Slip-on shoes|

* Court shoes
* Prince Albert slippers
* Loafers
* Venetian-style shoes

|

Women's|

* Ballet flats
* High-heeled footwear
* Mary Janes
* Mojari
* Mules
* Peep-toe shoes
* Saddle shoes
* Slingbacks
* T-bar sandals

Other shoes|

* Driving moccasins
* Flip-flops
* Galoshes
* Platform shoes
* Sandals
* Self-tying shoes
* Slides
* Slippers (Uwabaki)
* Tiger-head shoes
* Veldskoens
* Zōri

Wooden footwear|

* Bakya
* British clogs
* Cantabrian albarcas
* Clogs
* Geta
* Klompen
* Namaksin
* Okobo
* Padukas
* Pattens
* Sabot
* Träskor

Boots|

| Military|

* Ammunition
* Bunny
* Combat
* Jack
* Jump
* Jungle
* Patauga
* Tanker
* Trench

|

Work|

* Australian work
* Cowboy
* Engineer
* Hip
* Jika-tabi
* Rigger
* Steel-toe
* Waders

Fashion boots|

* Chelsea (Beatle)
* Chukka
* Go-go
* Knee-high
* Over-the-knee
* Platform
* Thigh-high
* Ugg

Other|

* Jodhpur
* Wellington
* Ballet
* Bean

Sport-related footwear|

* Ballet shoes
* Boat shoes
* Climbing shoes
* Cross country running shoes
* Cycling shoes
* Football boots
* Ghillies
* Hiking boots
* Ice skates
* Inline skates
* Kung fu shoes
* Minimalist shoes
* Motorcycle boots
* Mountaineering boots
* Plimsolls
* Pointe shoes
* Racing flats
* Racing shoes
* Riding boots
* Roller shoes
* Roller skates
* Sabatons
* Safari boots
* Skate shoes
* Ski boots
* Sneakers
* Swimfins
* Water shoes
* Wrestling shoes

Folk footwear|

* Abacas
* Abarkas
* Alpargatas
* Avarcas
* Balghas
* Bast shoes
* Ciocie
* Clogs
* Espadrilles
* Furlane
* Galesh
* Geta
* Giveh
* Haferlschuh
* Hnyat-phanats
* Huarache
* Hwa
* Jipsin
* Jorabs
* Kamiks
* Kolhapuri chappals
* Moccasins
* Mojaris
* Mukluks
* Nalins
* Okobo
* Opanci
* Peshawari chappals
* Snowshoes
* Tsarouchi
* Takunya
* Upanah
* Valenkis
* Waraji
* Zōri

Historical footwear|

* Areni-1 shoes
* Buskins
* Calcei
* Caligae
* Carbatina
* Cavalier boots
* Chinese styles
* Chopines
* Duckbill shoes
* Flowerpot shoes
* Hessians
* Lotus shoes
* Pampooties
* Pigaches
* Poulaines
* Socci
* Turnshoes

Shoe construction|

* Bespoke shoes
* Blake construction
* Goodyear welt
* Shoe buckle
* Shoelaces
* Toe box

| High heels|

* Clear heels
* Kitten heels
* Spool heels
* Stiletto heels
* Wedges

|

Hosiery|

* Anklets
* Bobby socks
* Dress socks
* Footwraps
* Knee highs
* Pantyhose
* Sock
* Stocking
* Tights
* Toe socks
* Tabi

Related|

* Abandoned footwear
* Spats

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template