Educate yourself
BROGUES
often known as wingtips in the United States, are low-heeled shoes made of heavy leather, originating in Scotland and Ireland as a coarse, usually untanned leather shoe. The term wingtip derives from the toe cap pattern, which forms a W and resembles the profile of spreading bird wings.
clockwise from top
- KG By Kurt Geiger, £125. kurtgeiger.com
- Hermès, £575. hermes.com
- George Cleverley, £395. gjcleverley.com
- Pied A Terre, £115. piedaterre.com
- Loake, £140. loake.co.uk
- Oliver Sweeney, £225. oliversweeney.com
- Levi's, £90. levi.com
- Paul Smith, £330. paulsmith.co.uk
- Grenson For Albam, £225. albamclothing.com
- Dunhill, £335. dunhill.com
- Nicole Farhi, £220. nicolefarhi.com
OXFORDS
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. Most shoe stores will refer to Oxfords as bal-type opposed to blucher-type. In France, Oxfords are better known under the name of Richelieu.
across from right
- Boss By Hugo Boss, £199. hugoboss.com
- Berluti, £900. berluti.com
- Salvatore Ferragamo, £349. ferragamo.com
- Dior, £1,150. dior.com
- Kurt Geiger, £160. kurtgeiger.com
- Tom Ford, £920. tomford.com
- Lodger, £475. lodgerfootwear.com
- Church's, £225. church-footwear.com
- Tod's, £265. tods.com
BRIGHT SOLES
You know you want to add this excitement to your life. You can do it, you know you want to.
clockwise from top
- Salvatore Ferragamo, £309. ferragamo.com
- Jil Sander, £530. jilsander.com
- Dunhill, £295. dunhill.com
- KG By Kurt Geiger, £110. kurtgeiger.com
- Grenson, £170. grenson.co.uk
- KG By Kurt Geiger, £105. kurtgeiger.com
WEDGE SOLES
Featuring crepe, rubber or Vibram* soles, these shoes will provide you with extra depth - and stack the sartorial odds firmly in your favour.
clockwise from top right
- Red Wing Shoes, £179. classicredwingshoes.co.uk
- Superga, £90. At Ran. ranshop.co.uk
- Beau Coops, £237. beaucoops.com
- Prada, £510. prada.com
- Grenson, £195. grenson.co.uk
- Cesare Paciotti, from £320. cesare-paciotti.com
- Oliver Spencer, £260. oliverspencer.co.uk
- French Connection, £70. frenchconnection.com
* Vibram is a dense rubber manufactured by the Italian company of the same name. Its founder, Vitale Bramani, is credited with inventing the first rubber soles for footwear, primarily using them for mountaineering boots.
WHITE TRAINERS
from top
- Hugo Boss, £199. hugoboss.com
- Dolce & Gabbana, £210. dolcegabbana.com
- Geox, £95. geox.com
- D&G, £200. dandgstore.com
- Louis Vuitton, £485. louisvuitton.com
- UGG, £110. uggaustralia.com
- Pierre Hardy, £252. At Dover Street Market. doverstreetmarket.com
- Hogan, £195. hoganworld.com
- Giorgio Armani, from £395. giorgioarmani.com
ESPADRILLES
The term espadrille is French and derives from the Catalan name for the shoes, espardenya, which derives from espart, the Catalan name for esparto, a tough, wiry Mediterranean grass used in making rope. Espadrilles have been made in Catalonia since the 14th century at least, and there are Catalan shops still in existence that have been making espadrilles for over a century. Traditional espadrilles have a canvas upper with the toe and vamp cut in one piece, and seamed to the rope sole at the sides.
clockwise from top
- Soludos, £17. soludos.com.
- KG By Kurt Geiger, £95. kurtgeiger.com
- Ralph Lauren, £175. ralphlauren.com
- Russell & Bromley, £165. russellandbromley.co.uk
- D&G, £145. dolcegabbana.com
- Kurt Geiger, £30. kurtgeiger.com
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All images are from GQ.com