The Ultimate Guide To Men's Shoes

2023-11-24

The true power of shoes rests in leather. While men’s trainers can help an outfit, nothing can transform your look like a freshly polished pair of men’s leather shoes. Our lives are almost unrecognisably different to life a century ago. That said, most of the following styles have remained unchanged during that time. That goes to show that although they may no longer fulfil their original functions, the styles are truly timeless. Have you ever wondered why we call Derby shoes Derby shoes? Never questioned the slot design on your penny loafers? Keep reading for a rundown of everything you need to know about Derby shoes, Oxford shoes, suede shoes, loafers, monk strap shoes, brogues and espadrilles.

Men’s Derby shoes
To the untrained eye, men’s lace-up leather shoes can all look very similar but it’s not the case. Each style has its time and place – though these rules are becoming less and less apparent. So let’s begin with the question: what is a Derby shoe? It’s a leather shoe for men that features quarters with shoelace eyelets sewn on top of the vamp.

When it comes to men’s leather shoes of any kind, We offer men’s suede Derby shoes as well as classic leather Derby shoes, all of which feature leather midsoles for an authentic, traditional finish. Worn as easily with a suit as a pair of chinos, the Derby shoe is the key to business-casual dressing.

Oxford men's shoes
The first question that everybody asks: what is the difference between Oxford shoes and Derby shoes? The principal difference is that men’s Oxford shoes feature a ‘closed lacing’ system. This means that instead of running parallel, the lines of eyelets meet at the vamp and part towards the top. The streamlined low-cut silhouette gained popularity at Oxford University during the 19th century as a rebellion against ankle-high boots. The quintessential dress shoe, leather and suede Oxfords should be your footwear when wearing a suit or tailored trousers.

Men’s suede shoes
Suede, originally used in Sweden, is the flip side of leather and has some slightly different characteristics. Suede is more pliable than leather which makes men's suede shoes more comfortable than leather in general but the delicate makeup of suede comes with a few obstacles as well. A central consideration is how to protect suede shoes. Along with your shoes, be sure to grab a suede shoe brush and some suede shoe cleaner. After a month or so you’ll be an expert when it comes to suede shoe care. Suede is a good alternative to leather as it gives you the best of both worlds. A sharp silhouette works well with tailoring but the matte suede isn't as formal as polished leather.

Monk strap shoes
Little happened in the life of a 15th century European monk. When they weren’t worshipping, they were labouring in the fields or the hills – tending to their crops to sustain their villages. Plowing fields was not such a problem in terms of footwear, monks could wear their classic two-buckle sandals, but the terrain higher in the hills and mountains called for something more substantial. Monks began to wear a closed-toe shoe that still featured the buckle fastening of the sandals. Since then, men’s monk strap shoes have climbed the style ladder and are now considered a formal leather shoe. It’s very easy to style monk strap shoes with a suit, just make sure they’re freshly polished. Alternatively, opt for suede monk strap shoes for a more casual look.

Men’s brogues
The brogue was originally invented for outdoor use and was commonly worn when hunting. Men’s brogues are characterised by small perforations – called broguing – along the edges of the shoe’s panels which traditionally would allow water to drain from the shoe when walking in the countryside. Brogues are now seen as everyday footwear and the best men’s brogues can be worn in formal outfits. The leather upper construction is well suited to wear with suits as well as casually with chinos.