How Much Do You Know About Men’s Formal Shoes?

We know that formal dress culture originated from Europe, which was strict in the old days. For example, three-joint leather shoes were worn during the day; men’s musical shoes and patent leather two-joint Oxford shoes were worn at night to match large and small dresses; casual sports shoes were represented by brogues. Nowadays, etiquette habits are gradually loosening, two-joint leather shoes can also be worn during the day, and even carved patterns are gradually entering the category of formal shoes. Then how much do you know about men’s formal shoes? Here we will talk about it if you have an interest to know more.

 

Shoe upper style

 

Usually, the upper style is not limited to a certain kind of shoe, and all shoe styles such as Oxford, Derby, Monk, Love, etc. can choose these styles. Generally speaking, three-joint leather shoes are the most traditional daytime dress shoes. In the past, patent leather two-joint style evening dress shoes. Nowadays, due to the relaxation of etiquette, non-patent leather style two-joint shoes can also be worn during the day, which can be equivalent to three-joint leather shoes.

 

1. Plain Toes: Formal, day wear and evening wear

 

For plain surface, that is to say, there is no decoration on the upper. It is two-joint leather shoes what we often call. It is originally used for evening wear, but now it can be worn during the day.

 

 

2. Cap Toes: Formal and most traditional daytime models

 

 

The cross ornament is the division of the straight stitching on the toe part, which is the three-joint leather shoes that we call. It is the most traditional daytime formal wear style.

 

3. Carved brogues: semi-formal or casual

 

There are four styles of brogue carvings, which are full brogues, semi brogues, quarter brogues and longwing brogues. Not only Oxford shoes of men and Derby shoes of men can be carved with brogues, but also other shoes such as loafers and monk shoes can be as well. Now let us introduce them separately.

 

a. Full Brogues is also called swallowtail carved with brogues. There is a "W" pattern on the toe, and wings spread out from both sides of the shoe, and extend to the arch of the foot, which is called Wingtips in English.

 

b. The difference between semi brogues and full brogues is that the "W" wing pattern on the toe cap of semi brogues has become a straight line pattern.

 

c. Quarter brogues are very similar to half brogues, except that the toe cap has no flowers or decorations.

 

d. Longwing brogues mean that W shaped wing tails continue to the heel.

 

Usually, many people only notice the type of leather shoes such as Oxford, Derby, Monk, Love, etc., and they often overlook the very important point, that is the style of the upper. The formality of a pair of shoes and the occasion what they are adapted are actually more determined by the style of the upper. So, we talk about the upper style of shoes and let you know more about men’s formal shoes.