​Types of Men's Dress Shoes: Find Your Dress Shoe Style

At one point or another in your adulthood, you will find yourself in an occasion that calls for dress shoes. Even if being formal is not your usual style, you will find yourself wearing a nice suit. It could be at your best friend’s wedding, your company ball, or at a business meeting with the CEO’s. And on all these occasions, you will definitely need a nice pair of dress shoes to match.

Types of Men's Dress Shoes

Before we go down to the types of men's dress shoes, let us first discuss what dress shoes actually are and what makes them different from other kinds of formal shoes.

Each pair of dress shoes have the following parts: vamp, facing, toe, and quarter. The way these components are placed, determine the individuality of each shoe type.

Dress shoes for men also come in a wide range of colors and styles. After reading this men's dress shoes guide, finding the right shoe that fits your style and personality is going to be a breeze!

Here are the different types of men’s dress shoes:

Oxford (Simple Cap Oxford)

Oxford is the most basic type of men’s dress shoes which became very popular in the 1800s, particularly at Oxford University, thus, the name. It is characterized by a “closed lacing” which means the facing is attached to the vamp. Oxford is perhaps the most popular type of dress shoes because it can be paired to almost all kinds of outfits.

One-piece Oxford (Wholecut)

This is the modern variation of the traditional Oxford. It features a single leather-piece construction and a single seam. The limited stitching of this shoe adds to its simple yet sophisticated look.

Semi-Brogue Oxford

Originally designed to allow people to walk on marshy fields, the Semi-Brogue Oxford shoes are characterized by lots of holes and decorations (which allow water and mud to drain out easily). Today, this type of dress shoes is one of the fanciest, having stunning perforations, layered leathers, and serrated edges.

Wingtip Oxford

This looks like the Semi-Brogue Oxford but with the “M” wing sweep at the toe.

Derby

Also called Gibson shoes, these were originally used as sporting and hunting boots. Unlike the Oxford, Derby shoes have open lacing quarters with eyelets sewn on top of the vamp. These shoes are also called ‘blucher’.

Loafer

These moccasin-inspired shoes are known for their easy slip-on design. First worn by King George VI of England, the loafer became popular in the 1930s. They became a go-to shoes by professionals in the 1960s, particularly lawyers and businessmen.

Dress Boot

These shoes have the same construction as the Oxford only that they have a longer shaft, just like men's boots.

Chelsea Boot

Chelsea boots are lace-less, slip-on style dress shoes that have low heels, along with elastic gussets on the sides. They have minimal stitching as the vamp and the quarters are made from a single piece of leather.

Chukka Boot

These shoes have open-lacing and two to three eyelets on each side which all create a more casual look. They resemble the shoes used by polo players. It is said that Chukka boots are an after-game footwear for the said sports. As they're high-quality casual boots, they can also be worn while camping or hunting. Just don't forget to prepare for hunting right! Check a useful guide from Shrewd Hunter for hunting.

Opera Pump

Opera pumps were very popular during the Victorian era. Men wear these shoes with knee-high stockings and breeches. These shoes are most suitable for formal events, such as dances and operas.

Men's Shoe Styles

Now that you know the different types of men's shoes, it’s time to take a closer look at men's shoe styles. There are six of them: the plain toe, cap toe, wingtip, medallion, apron toe, and split toe.

Plain Toe

Plain toes have simple, clean and unadorned vamp.

Cap Toe

These shoes have horizontal stitching across the vamp that extends to the welt on either side.

Medallion

Medallion shoes are characterized by a stunning design on top, which is either stitched or punched. They are a little too casual for formalwear but nevertheless can be used for formal events.

Wingtip

These are the full brogue shoes have a pointed cap with extensions, referred to as the wings that along both sides of the toes. When viewed from the top, they have a "W" shape which looks like a bird with extended wings. There are decorative perforations along the edges of the shoes and in the center of the toe cap.

Apron Toe

Shoes with apron toes feature a seam on the middle of the toe extending around the shoes up to the middle of the heel. This style is suitable for more casual events.

Split Toe

Split toes are among the men dress shoe styles that can be worn at most levels of formality. They feature a vertical seam or a ‘split’ that runs down from the toe top, extending on the sides like a more restrained wingtip.

Shoes for Suit

What are the types of shoes to wear with suits?

A nice suit requires a nice pair of shoes. The best dress shoes for men’s suits are those that feature sophistication and style, without overdoing on design or adornments.

Among the best shoes for suits are:

Semi Formals Shoes

The finest men’s dress shoes are made of leather. Leather dress shoes tend to run on the pricier side. However, these shoes are the best in terms of style, design, look, and of course – durability. There are different types of leather shoes for formal and semi-formal occasions, such as:

Shiny Black Shoes

Black men’s shiny dress shoes are very popular because they can be paired with almost all colors or styles of suits. You could skip all other colors, but definitely not black. Here are the best shiny black shoe types available in the market today:

Black Leather Oxford

The sophistication, simplicity, and classiness of  two tone brogue dress shoes makes them perfect footwear for formal occasions, and are best worn with business suits and professional attire.

Slip on Black Shoes

These shoes feature a versatile and elegant design that makes a good option for everyday wear.

Brogue Shoes

These shoes are traditionally used for formal occasions but are now commonly used for casual and semi-casual events.

Types of Leather Shoes

The finest men’s dress shoes are made of leather. They are no doubt the priciest. However, these shoes are the best in terms of style, design, look, and of course – durability. There are different types of leather shoes for formal and semi-formal occasions, such as:

Men’s dress shoe styles that are usually made with leather include plain toes and cap toes.

Men Dress Shoe Styles: Choosing the Right Pair for You

Now that you know the types of men's dress shoes, the next important step is to choose the right pair for you. There are many things to consider when looking for the right dress shoes style.

Dress shoes made of leather are always the ideal choice. They are classic and sturdy, and have offer many styles to choose from. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable wearing your dress shoes. Your lifestyle is also a big consideration. You want to choose the pair of shoes that you can use for different occasions, ranging from casual to semi-formal ones. However, it also pays to have a pair of dress shoes that are meant only for formal occasions.

When choosing the best shoe style, the rule of thumb is that the toes of shoes should be rounded, and never squared or pointy. This shape of the toe will fit more outfits and you will certainly look better overall.

Hopefully, with this men's dress shoes guide, you will be able to find the right pair of shoes that will increase your confidence anywhere you go.

Mariam Simmons

Mariam Simmons is a fashion enthusiast and Content Manager at Alpine Swiss. She loves traveling to the world’s top stylish destinations and gets inspired to create helpful fashion and lifestyle guides. With over a decade of writing experience, her main goal in creating content is to ensure readers learn something useful and provide value instead of noise.