Ways To Style Oxford Shoes: A blog about different ways to style oxfords.

A timeless classic, the men’s Oxford shoe is steeped in shoe making history and remains a shoe design with an ongoing legacy. The Oxford shoe a favoured formal shoe style dating back to the 1800’s and is associated to the famous English institution, Oxford University. Originating from a half boot called the ‘Oxonian’ in 1825 which featured narrow slits on the sides making it more comfortable for students to wear around campus than the fashionable high boots of the time.

Oxford shoes are characterized by a closed lacing system where the shoelace eyelets tabs are attached under the vamp as well as featuring a low heel and exposed ankle. The men’s Oxford shoe has developed over time and is now available in an extensive range of different styles including the plain, toe cap, brogues and wholecut. The Oxford shoe is the most popular dress shoe style whether it be for your wedding day, and formal events or to wear at work, the Oxford is a business shoe champion.

Oxford shoes feature in nearly all of the Barker collections including the Handcrafted, London, Professional and BarkerTech ranges. Made on various last shapes from a widespread range of leathers and colourways to choose from its important to take your size and sizing into account when investing in any pair of Goodyear welted style no matter the style.

The Oxford toe cap is a classic shoe design favoured by many with the most popular Barker styles being the Arnold, Bank, Malvern and Winsford styles. For those of us who prefer rubber sole Oxford toe cap shoes the Burford and Chigwell styles are made from premium calf uppers on a durable Dainite rubber sole.

The Barker Oxford brogue is a traditional shoe design that features in the Country, London and Professional collections. The Albert, Hampstead, Malton and St Ives can be discovered in the Professional collection along with the Coleman Suit Sneaker Oxford Brogue, a new development by Barker made on the 499 last from premium calf leather on a lightweight EVA sole.

For a classic outdoor Oxford brogue, the Charles and Westfield from the Country collection are highly recommended as both iconic brogue styles are made on one of the oldest last shapes used in the Barker Earls Barton factory, the number 29 last. The Barker Creative collection includes several Oxford brogues that offer imaginative styling on classic silhouettes such as the McClean, Jax and Valiant Oxford brogues which are available in eye-catching colourways.

When considering an Oxford shoe for formal occasions the only shoe style smarter than the classic toe cap Oxford would be a wholecut, made from one single piece of leather to offer a sleek silhouette. Recommended Barker Oxford wholecut shoes include the Armstrong and Nelson styles from the BarkerTech and Professional collections.

How you wear your Oxford shoes is changing especially with the COVID-19 pandemic altering the way we dress for work as the classic suiting is being exchanged for more casual attire which subsequently seen black shoes step aside for various shades of brown as these work well with denim jeans and chino trousers.

Explore the latest Barker range of men’s and women’s Oxford shoes online and in-store.