It’s one of the most underrepresented boots out there. Chances are you’ve never owned a pair. In fact, you might not even know the style exists. It’s a shame, though, because in spite of its relative obscurity the Oxford boot remains one of the most stylish, characterful and unapologetically British footwear styles a man can own.

This is the type of boot you might have worn to stride around the streets of Victorian-era London; cane swinging beside you, handlebar moustache curled to perfection. Or to march around an early 20th-century country estate in; an open shotgun resting in the crook of your arm, as a team of gamekeepers frantically scramble around collecting the trail of dead poultry in your wake.

Today, however, you don’t need to be a Victorian city slicker or a member of the landed gentry in order to pull this style off. The merging and melding of dress codes has granted this throwback silhouette a fresh lease of life, making it a valuable addition to any stylish man’s footwear rotation.

Here we take a look at the fundamentals of menswear’s most underrated boot, including what to buy and how to wear it.

Berluti

What Are Oxford Boots?

Unsurprisingly, the Oxford boot is a high-ankle variation of the Oxford shoe. Like it’s less lofty counterpart, its main identifier is the fact that it has what is known as a closed lacing system. This means simply that the eyelets are stitched together at the bottom, giving the boot a more streamlined, formal look.

You may also hear this style referred to as a Balmoral boot, so called because it was designed for Prince Albert to use on his country estate of the same name. However, a Balmoral boot often features two different materials for the main body of the shoe and the upper part. Most commonly leather and suede, respectively. Oxford boots in general, however, can be made from one or many materials. Most commonly leather.