Cap-Toe shoe Style Guide | Barker
The decisive guide to Barker Oxford shoes sees the current collection explored for one of the most popular Goodyear welted shoe styles, the timeless Oxford. A shoe rack staple, the Oxford shoe is a formal shoe style dating back to the 1800’s and has origins associated to students of a famous English institution, Oxford University. Originating from a half boot called the ‘Oxonian’ in 1825 which featured narrow slits on the sides making it more comfortable to wear around campus than the fashionable high boots of the time. Oxford shoes are characterised by a closed lacing system where the shoelace eyelets tabs are attached under the vamp as well as featuring a low heel and exposed ankle. Since its introduction the men’s Oxford shoe has developed over the years to offer an extensive range of different Oxford styles with the most notable being the plain, toe cap and the brogue. The Oxford Toe Cap is regarded as the ideal professional style, dependi...