Oxfords are classic men's (and today also women's) lace-up shoes with a closed lacing system: the eyelet facings are stitched UNDER the vamp, so when tightened the edges meet snugly and the lacing line stays strict and neat. It is precisely this 'closed lacing' construction that distinguishes oxfords from derbies and makes them the most formal type of shoe. Probably descended from the Oxonian, a half-boot popular at Oxford University around 1800 (their exact origin is uncertain), they have a clean, elegant, elongated silhouette. Oxfords are an obligatory element of business and evening dress codes, the ideal pair for a suit or tuxedo. Classically they are made of smooth black or dark-brown leather. It is the benchmark of restrained, noble footwear elegance.
