Oxfords vs Brogues vs Wingtips

Oxfords and brogues and wingtips have been popular this year, but WTF are they are what is the difference?

All of these shoe styles can be worn by men or women.


Oxfords are lace-up shoes with a high vamp (the part that goes up the front of your foot). They can be fancy or casual and can have a variety of colors and detailing.

$72 Born Kaminski Men's Oxford
Oxfords that are not brogues.

$82 Timberland Earthkeeper Nevali women's heeled oxford
Oxfords that are not brogues.



Brogues are shoes that have "broguing" which means those cute little dots and seams that you find on some old-fashioned and now hip again shoes. They can be, but don't have to be, oxfords.

$64 Keds Champion Men's brogue
These are brogues and not quite oxfords, though I guess they can sort of count.

$130 Rockport Lianna Women's heeled brogue
These are brogues and not oxfords.


Wingtips are brogues with a very specific pattern, that one that looks like the curly bracket { on the toe of the shoe. Wingtips must be brogues and could be, but don't have to be, oxfords.

$83 Sears men's wingtip lace-up
Wingtips that are brogues that are also oxfords. The total package!!!

$32 LL Bean Camden women's ballet brogues
Wingtip brogues that are not oxfords.


Everyone clear?

Tune in next week when we cover what makes a saddle shoe.