I'm trading in my uniform for a suit. My suit problem is squared away but now I'm stuck on shoes. Should I go with Wingtips or Oxfords? Wingtips seem to be in right now but the Oxford strikes me as classic. What do you guys think?
Need help with shoes
- Thread starter CharlieFoxtrot
- Start date
How about both?! I'm not a fan of wingtips; my recommendation is for the oxfords but it's all a matter of personal preference. Either one would look fine.
I'm with AADCDS. Choose whatever you think looks good when you look down at your feet. I'm a fan of cap-toe oxfords, myself. Never was a fan of wing-tips. Reminds me of my late wife's father. Nice guy, but very stiff. Wing tips were his shoe of choice. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/member.php/42181-AABCDS
Cap toe Oxfords are the safest most versatile choice for sure. Will give you the most flexibility. That being said, I'm a wingtip man myself.
Either are fine - but cap toe is more conservative.
Shoe type info ...
The black, cap-toe oxford/balmoral (terminology is mostly UK vs. US, but not everyone follows that) is the 'ne plus ultra' of formal suit-wearing shoes:
I could suggest two shoes ... one a darker brown or oxblood for wearing with your navy suit and other darker pants/outfits, and one a lighter tan shoe for wearing with lighter-coloured outfits.
Colour-wise, you shoe collection would look like this:
Depending on the amount of formality you want in your other shoes, you can look at all sorts of interesting features (brogueing, monk strap, &c). Maybe a brogued (holes punched in for decoration) balmoral or wholecut (no seams ... one solid piece of leather) oxblood, and a tan monkstrap?
That was some info I posted in another thread just the other day ... still very relevant. Hopefully that helps.
Wingtips and oxfords are both classic, neither is trendy.
Wingtips are actually getting trendy. I see hipsters wearing them all the time and it makes me sad inside.
I bought a pair of black Florsheim wingtips on retiring, along with other shoes, and found the wingtips the least versatile and the most clunky. If you decide on wingtips, try to find something less like gunboats. Just my opinion.
- Thread starter
- #10
I might be institutionalized because I can't seem to get passed the visual of wingtips on my feet. I simply have to many years in a class A uniform. For the record, I don't seem to mind the brown wingtips. In classic B&B style, I'll be indulging in one of each.
Most of the hipsters I see like to dress in workwear as if they are employed in a turn of the century American Factory. Lots of flannel, red wing boots, etc.
5 years ago, and 5 years from now wingtips were and are a classic american footwear staple. there is no trend here.
I understand exactly where you are coming from. I would think cap toe; they do not look like uniform shoes. And all wingtips are not gunboats; just be careful and find some sleek looking ones.
I used to be averse to the idea of wingtips, but after wearing dress shoes as part of my daily work wear, I've warmed up to the idea. Maybe just for the change of pace, I don't know, but last time I was in an AE store I was ready to buy a pair of Strands if I could have. Apparently they don't make them in my true size.
I bought Johnston and Murphy for my first work dress shoes and they did the job just fine. If I could do it again and could afford it, I'd probably just go for a pair of Park Aves right off the bat.
I bought Johnston and Murphy for my first work dress shoes and they did the job just fine. If I could do it again and could afford it, I'd probably just go for a pair of Park Aves right off the bat.
Depends on the intended wear environment.
Keeping in mind, the perforations on wingtips were originally to allow water to drain from the shoes traversing a peat bog... they were not exactly a "formal" shoe.
Modern wear, for "business" use, anything from Wingtip to cap-toe to plain goes. Rule of thumb is the less "decorated" the shoe, the more formal it is.
One would not wear wingtips or cap-toe with a tux to a black-tie affair. Highly polished plain uppers may be a bit pretentious in a casual business environment.
As far as Oxford vs Derby? I prefer Oxford.
My #1 pair is a pair of AE "Strand" in Bourbon Calf. Cap-toe Oxford, but with a perforated design on the cap and perimeter of the vamp.
My #2 pair is a pair of black Florsheim wingtips.
My next pair will likely be either AE or Alden, black cap-toe, no perforations.
Keeping in mind, the perforations on wingtips were originally to allow water to drain from the shoes traversing a peat bog... they were not exactly a "formal" shoe.
Modern wear, for "business" use, anything from Wingtip to cap-toe to plain goes. Rule of thumb is the less "decorated" the shoe, the more formal it is.
One would not wear wingtips or cap-toe with a tux to a black-tie affair. Highly polished plain uppers may be a bit pretentious in a casual business environment.
As far as Oxford vs Derby? I prefer Oxford.
My #1 pair is a pair of AE "Strand" in Bourbon Calf. Cap-toe Oxford, but with a perforated design on the cap and perimeter of the vamp.
My #2 pair is a pair of black Florsheim wingtips.
My next pair will likely be either AE or Alden, black cap-toe, no perforations.
