An Oxford shoe is characterized by shoelace eyelets tabs that are attached under the vamp, a feature termed "closed lacing". This contrasts with Derby shoes, or Blucher shoes, which have shoelace eyelets attached to the top of the vamp.Most of us go for an Oxford shoe without even thinking about it. It’s one of fashion’s few no-brainers: they’re the reliable leather lace-ups you turn to whenever you need to look smart. Nothing else comes close. The definition of a smart shoe, the Oxford takes us from school to work, stopping off at every conceivable formal occasion along the way. It’s a style we’ve long taken for granted and now is the time to rejoin the appreciation society.