I think I've completed my Smart Daywear outfit.

[FossilHunter]

And here I thought I was quite knowledgable for finally understanding the difference between oxfords and brogues!

Thank you Tobus, I appreciate your compliment and your setting me straight. I assumed they counted as oxfords because the company calls them "Oxford-style," and because they kind of look like the Rockport Oxfords (which I think were also really Derbies) my Dad wore when I was young. I hadn't thought to actually look up the definition!

I've got to make some compromises on account of my wide foot, and some on account of budget. These are probably as nice as I'll go for now, but eventually I'd like to pick up something like these Carets for a dressier option. Perhaps then I'll try again for the "Smart" qualifier. :-)

The problem in the US is that many shoe manufacturers use the term Oxford indiscriminately.

It’s really just means this style of lacing:



As opposed to this (which ironically, the maker calls an Oxford ):



Brogues are any shoe with the decorative holes (brouging) with either lace style. Most brogues that I’ve seen are also wingtips but toe cap shoes can also be brogued.

If you want a shoe that works for fancier dress up to formal, I recommend a pair of black Oxfords, either wingtip brogues or plain captoe. Captoe are nice because they will do double duty with a suit or tux (brogues are considered less formal in Saxon dress). However, black brogues are a classic kilt shoe.

Of course you can own as many shoes as you like. I own and wear both kinds.