Shoes

General Types and Styles of Shoes

Oxfords and Derbies

The two most common styles of men's dress shoes, the Oxford and Derby are distinguished by their "lacing type," or how the eyelet tabs are stitched in relation to the vamp.  Oxfords (also called Balmorals) feature a "closed lacing" style in which the eyelet tabs are stitched underneath the vamp.  Derbies (also called Bucks, Gibsons, or Bluchers) feature an "open lacing" style in which the tabs are stitched on top of the vamp (see picture for details).  In general, derbies are considered more casual and oxfords more formal.

Other Styles

A loafer with a moc toe construction

Loafers and Boat Shoes

Low cut shoes with no or largely nonfunctional laces and typically a moc toe construction.  Generally considered more casual than a laced shoe.

Chukka

An ankle length boot with two or three pairs of eyelets.  Worn casually, desert boots are a popular style of chukka.

Monk Strap

A style of laceless shoe closed with one or two straps and buckles.  A monk shoe with two straps may be refered to as a "double monk."

Embellishments

Brogues

An example of oxford shoes with full broguing (aka wingtips).

Any shoe or boot with broguing--small decorative perforations, often along with serrations along the visible edges (e.g. along the throat line, toe cap, and tongue).  A shoe can simultaneously be an oxford (or derby) and a pair of "brogues".  Due to the functional purpose of broguing, brogues were originally considered a casual shoe, but this is no longer true.  Brogueing can be found on both casual and formal shoes.

Additionally, there are different terms for the extent and style of broguing:  the popular full brogue (or wingtip), semi-brogue, quarter brogue, as well as the longwing style.

A shoe with a capped toe.

Cap Toe

A shoe with an extra layer of material covering the toe of the shoe.  There are different styles of toe caps, but generally when a shoe is refered to as "cap toed" it will be a simple cap like the one shown to the left.  A toe cap can be found on any type of shoe from dress shoes, to boots, and even sneakers.

Moc Toe

Short for moccasin toe, a construction wherein visible seams run along the toe box of a shoe.

Sneakers

Canvas Sneakers

Converse, Jack Purcell, Pro Keds, Keds, Vans, Sperry, Tretorn, Superga, PF Flyers, Seavees.

Leather and Suede Sneakers

New Balance, Nike, Adidas, Puma, Vans Vault, Common Projects, Seavees, 

Leather Shoes and Boots

Dress Shoes and Boots

Under $200

• Bass
• Chippewa Classics (boots)
• Clarks (boots)
• Florsheim
• Johnston & Murphy
• Sebago boat shoes
• Sperry boat shoes
• Thorogood (boots)

$200 & UP

• Allen Edmonds
• Eastland Made In Maine
• Florsheim Imperial 
• Grenson
• Loake  (UK)
• Meermin
• Oak Street Bootmakers (boots, boat shoes, and loafers)
• Quoddy (boots, boat shoes, loafers)
• Rancourt
• Red Wing Heritage
• Wolverine 1000 Mile
• YMC

$400 & UP

• Alden (shoes and boots)
• Church's
• Carmina
• Crockett and Jones
• Danner 
• Dayton (esp. Service Boots )
• Harry's of London
• Mark McNairy
• Paul Smith
• Paul Stuart
• Salvatore Ferragamo
• Sebago Made In Maine
• Yuketen

$700 & UP

• Botega Veneta
• Corthay
• Dolce and Gabbana
• Edward Green
• Gaziano and Girling
• George Esquivel
• Lanvin
• Lohn Lobb
• Maison Martin Margiela
• Prada
• Saint Crispin
• Scarpe Di Bianco
• Thom Browne
• Visvim

Options for Vegans and Ethical Vegetarians

• Brave Gentleman

• Good Guys

• No Harm