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 Men are simple and like things to be as uncomplicated as possible – especially when it comes to our wardrobe. For example: if we’re going to the gym, we grab gym shorts and gym shoes. A trip to the beach means swim trunks and sandals. And anything that isn’t a sneaker or a sandal gets classified in the overwhelming category of “dress shoes”, right?

When it comes to the various types of men’s shoes, there’s actually a hierarchy. To put it another way: not all types of dress shoes are created equal. But don’t freak out just yet. We’re here to go over the differences between an Oxford and a Derby, lace-ups and slip-ons and the other types of men’s dress shoes. Presenting the Men’s Shoe Guide: 12 Types of Men’s Shoes.

Kicking off our men’s shoe guide is the mighty Oxford (or a Balmoral for our UK blokes), probably the best-known type of dress shoe. The Oxford is a sleek, formal lace-up shoe identified by it’s “closed” lacing style and the appeal that the shoe is made from one piece of leather. The closed style means that the eyelet flaps on top of the shoe are stitched over the vamp, or the front section of the shoe, restricting the flap’s movement. Oxfords are usually worn in more formal situations, but can also be worn casually with a business suit. You might hear someone call this shoe a “closed front”, but it’s okay, you know they mean Oxford.

Often confused with the Oxford, the Derby is a close shoe relative, but not the same type of men’s shoe. Rather than having a closed lacing system like the Oxford, the Derby sports an open lacing system with the flaps being sewn under the vamp and not connected at front of the shoe. This style of stitching makes the flaps capable of movement and when laced the shoe looks as if it’s broken up into segments (top, side, back, etc.) Originally a sporting shoe, the Derby was used in more relaxed environments like hunting. Although a Derby could be worn in formal settings, it is more casual than an Oxford and could arguably make for a more comfortable, functional fit.

In the U.S., Derby’s and Bluchers are often used interchangeably to describe the open front lace style, but they’re actually two slightly different types of men’s shoes. If you pay close enough attention, you’ll see that Derby’s have the two sides sewn under the vamp, whereas Bluchers connect the two sides onto the vamp. Very similar, but it isn’t quite tomato/tomato.

Ahh, the Chelsea Boot. The favourited boot style of rock icons The Beatles and badass galaxy soldiers in George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy (yup, stormtroopers have a thing for Chelsea Boots). That easily makes it one of our favourites types of dress shoes as well. Originated during the Victorian era, but made mainstream cool in the 60s, this snug style of ankle boot is classified by its low heel, fabric tab on its’ backside and slip-on/slip off quality thanks to its elastic side panelling. Chelsea Boots have rounded toes and are versatile enough to be worn with jeans or a suit.

Identified by its wide heel and slip-on capabilities, the Loafer was inspired by mocassins; the shoe of choice for Native Americans. Like Oxfords, Moccasins come in a variety of lace-less styles (tassel, penny loafer, monk strap, etc.). Regardless of style, when it comes to the various types of men’s shoes, Loafers are generally considered to be the most casual. You can throw on a pair of loafers for a night on the dance floor with jeans or pair it with a suit – but we wouldn’t recommend loafers to wear anywhere fancy.

Brogue shoes are a style of Oxford, Blucher or Loafer that come with a perforated design punched along the edge of the leather overlapping the vamp. In short, Brogue is the style of shoes with the holes and thereby it’s own type of men’s dress shoe. But there are also types of Brogues and that’s worth distinguishing further. Hence we’re about to go all types of dress shoes within types of dress shoes on you, Inception-style. Here are the 3 most popular Brogue shoes:

Chukkas are a Derby styled ankle boot. Typically made from calfskin or suede, chukkas are created by using two to three sets of eyelets and an open lacing system to secure the quarters over the tongue of the boot.

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Desert Boots are a type of Chukka, but Chukka Boots aren’t always Desert Boots. Confused? Ok, here’s the breakdown. Desert Boots were named after the light brown suede ankle boots the British soldiers wore during the desert campaign in WWII. Although very similar to the Chukka in style the different between Desert Boots and Chukkas is in their sole makeup. Desert Boots have a rubber sole and chukkas have a leather sole. Got it?

The Monk Strap style is defined as any shoe that uses a strap and a buckle instead of rather than laces to secure the foot in the shoe. When there’s a broader strap with two buckles, that’s called a Double Monk. Seems easy enough…

And capping off our men’s shoe guide is the boat shoe, which should be worn…well, on a boat. Before you start having Jay-Z fantasies about galavanting around on your 100-foot yacht, realize that boat shoes aren’t just a fashionable style of shoe, but they actually have a functional purpose. These shoes come equipped with an anti-slip rubber to accommodate walking (or partying) on wet decks. Usually, Boat Shoes (or Deck Shoes) come as Derbies or Bluchers in the Loafer style with the leather shoelaces tying over the tongue of the shoe. The typical Boat Shoe has a leather lace woven through the collar of the shoe and tying over the tongue of the shoe, to secure the shoe more tightly. Pair Boat Shoes with your most fitting yacht wear or pool clothes for a fashionable no-slip grip shoe option.

The average shoe size in the world has changed a lot over the decades. Here’s how the evolution of the average woman’s shoe size looked: at the beginning of the 20th century, the average size was 35, in 1950, it was 36, in 1970, it was 37, and today, the average size of a woman’s shoe is 39. Men’s shoe sizes have also changed a lot. Years ago, the most common sizes among men were 39-40 but today, the average shoe size of a man is 43. So what do you think will happen in 50 or 100 years? According to experts, human height is growing due to healthy nutrition rich in vitamins and minerals. Along with our height, we are also gaining weight which means that our feet have to withstand more weight, so naturally, our feet are growing in size along with our height and weight.

With the growing popularity of online stores, consumers are increasingly choosing to conveniently shop online. You can dress up from head to toe without even stepping foot outside. You may have thought that you can only buy a beautiful dress or an elegant handbag online but now, you can also buy shoes without worrying about choosing the wrong size. If you spot some single, most beautiful shoes online, don’t let the fear of choosing the wrong size stop you from buying them! Instead, just measure the length of your foot and hurry to enjoy that new pair of shoes! So how do you reduce the risk of choosing the wrong size and instead get a perfect size? We would like to share our experience with you and give you some of the most important tips which will surely help you choose the correct shoe size when shopping online.

Did you know that, according to the American Orthopaedic Association, women often get the wrong shoe size? What does this mean? You must be wondering how someone could wear the wrong shoe size as it’s very painful and uncomfortable. Even light pressure in the foot can prevent normal blood flow and cause foot deformity. Sometimes, when you first put on a pair of shoes, they seem comfortable and you feel no pressure. But after wearing them for a longer period of time, you start to feel an unpleasant tension in the foot. This proves that your shoes are too small. In order to avoid this, measure your foot first. Also, after purchasing a pair of shoes, wear them at home for a bit and make sure that they’re suitable for you and that they really are comfortable.

At Dolita, each footwear model is closely inspected. We pay attention to the essential differences in size and attributes. We look at the shape and details as one footwear model may be more suitable for those with a more narrow foot and another model, for example, high-top boots without a zipper, may be more suitable for those with narrow shins and low insteps. At the www.dolitashoes.com website, check the product information to find out if the shoes fit small to size or large to size:  ”Fits large to size, take a size smaller than normal“ or “Fits small to size, take a size larger than normal“.

Foot length. It is especially important to measure the length of your foot. Knowing how long your foot is in centimetres, you can easily find the manufacturer’s size chart which will make it much easier for you to order your shoes in the right size. The shape of the shoe and your foot. It’s extremely important to pay attention to the footwear model you choose. Shoes with a pointed nose should be chosen a size larger because the model itself is a bit smaller. If your instep is high, choose shoes with the zipper on the side, the front, or on part of the heel. If your foot is especially wide, we recommend avoiding pointed shoes or shoes with a seam at the widest part of your foot.

Seasonality. Pay attention to the seasonality. During the summer, the feet are often swollen and sometimes larger. So, we recommend that you always measure your foot before purchasing footwear online. If you’re looking for warm winter footwear with fur, choose a larger size because a squeezed foot gets cold much faster.