Dress Shoes – Making a style statement.
Smooth and supple leather uppers, leather soles and a narrow sleek shape characterizes a dress shoe. Men’s dress shoes come in different colors such as brown, burgundy, chestnut, oxblood, white, cordovan and black. Men usually prefer wearing black dress shoes as they suggest sophistication. There are two types of shoes that can be classified as dress shoes for men. One is the Oxford shoes and the other is the Men’s Loafers. Known as Oxfords or Balmorals in Scotland and Ireland, these shoes originated as leather with enclosed lacing. Traditionally, Balmorals were created on heavy leather materials. However, modern-day designs of Oxford shoes maybe constructed of suede or tanned leather, or even synthetic materials. Most Oxfords maybe considered as dress or casual shoes. Toecap Oxfords or Oxford caps have a piece of leather stitched over the toe section.
Loafers, also called Penny Loafers have broad flat heels, low, have neither laces nor buckles and are step-in shoes usually made with moccasin. During 1933 in New Hampshire, the Spaulding Family started manufacturing shoes based on pictures from Esquire magazine, farmers in Norway wearing slip-on shoes around the cattle loafing area, thus, the name Loafers. During the 1980’s, loafers were worn without socks for men and are considered men's dress shoes. In Wilton, Maine during 1934, John R. Bass started making loafers and called them Weejuns. The latter had straps at the top of the vamp shaped like a pair of lips and this became the trend in establishing loafer’s style through the years.
Varieties of women dress shoes are considered fashionable. One style of women’s dress shoe is called Pumps, known as skimmers or ballerinas. These have very low heel and a relatively short vamp, exposing much of the instep. They are worn in special formal and solemn occasions. Pumps are considered more comfortable than shoes with higher heels.
High-heeled shoes are also worn during formal occasions and they come in a variety of styles and shapes like the stiletto, Sabrina and wedge heels. The reason for wearing shoes with heels is because they change the angle of the foot with respect to the lower leg, which accentuates the appearance of calves. Shoes with heels change the wearer's posture, requiring a more upright carriage and altering the walk, accentuating a sashay of the hips and make the person appear taller because her legs appear longer that usual.