An Oxford is a style of laced shoe characterized by shoelace eyelet tabs that are stitched underneath the vamp, a construction method that is also sometimes referred to as “closed lacing“. Oxfords first appeared in Scotland and Ireland, where they are occasionally called Balmorals after the Queen’s castle in Scotland, Balmoral. However, the shoe took up the name Oxfords after Oxford University. This shoe style wouldn’t appear in the U.S. until the 19th century.[1] Most shoe stores in the U.S. will refer to Oxfords as “Bal-type” as opposed to “Blucher-type”. In France, Oxfords are better known by the name Richelieu.
Oxfords are traditionally constructed of leather and were historically plain, formal shoes but are now available in a range of styles and materials that complement both casual and formal forms of dress. It is derived from the Oxonian, a half-boot with side slits that gained popularity at Oxford University in 1800. Unlike early shoes, oxfords were cut smaller than the foot in order to give men a mincing step. 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).
Oxfords contrast with Derbys, or blücher design, characterized by shoelace eyelet tabs that are sewn on top of the vamp.
The meanings of the terms Oxford and Balmoral vary geographically; in the U.S., “Balmoral” is synonymous with “Oxford”. In U.K. usage (as described in this article), “Oxford” is often used to refer to any “dressy” style of lace-up shoe, including the Blücher (Derby)[citation needed]; elsewhere, especially in Britain, the Balmoral is a particular type of Oxford where there are no seams (apart from the toe cap) descending to the welt, a style particularly common on boots. The bal-type shoe (Oxford) is considered more formal than the blücher-type (Derby/Gibson) design.
Oxfords can be made from a variety of materials including calf leather, patent leather, suede, and canvas based on considerations of function or fashion. These are commonly black or brown, and may be plain or ornately styled Brogues.
Women’s oxford shoes are, at present, trending in the world of fashion; however, this trend dates back to the early nineteenth century. Borrowed from men’s footwear style, women’s oxfords have received immense popularity since the 1920′s including much attention in the 1940′s-1950. The body of the oxford shoe is created to appear as a flawless portion of leather, with a second leather piece forming the toe-cap. The differences in styles are generally due to the ornamentation: taller heels and designer colours. Since the current women’s oxfords draw ideas not only from the men’s shoe, but also from almost any conceivable source, the women’s variety has more freedom in terms of design, choice, and less adherence to tradition. This implies that Oxford shoes can fit almost every woman’s preferred style.
source: Wikipedia
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