Among the oldest shoemakers in England, Loake 1880 is still run today—five generations after its birth—by the Loake family. Like the founders did in the 19th century, the company’s craftsmen still construct each pair of shoes in their 1880 line using a Goodyear welt, a painstaking process that ensures the shoes are recraftable for years to come. And the Aldwych captoe oxfords are no different. They’re built on the company’s Capital last, which features a medium width with a slight chisel shape to the toe. The upper is made of burnished calfskin, and the interior features a leather lining and insole.
Note: At checkout, choose the black shoes with leather soles, the dark brown shoes with leather soles, or the burgundy shoes with leather soles. Available sizes range from UK 6 through 13. Please refer to the sizing information below.
Like most mainstays of style, oxford shoes are the product of youthful rebellion. That may be hard to believe, as they’re now considered formal. But in the late 1800s, students at—surprise!—Oxford University popularized the shoes as a defiant alternative to the high, tight, button-up boots that accompanied formal attire. Not to be confused with derbys, which are characterized by an open-lacing design, oxfords are constructed so that the eyelet tabs are sewn under the vamp, lending them a streamlined aesthetic that pairs well with a suit.
Loake shoes are sized in UK sizing, meaning that most US customers will size down one full size (so a US9 = UK8). The Capital last is generally described as a slightly roomy true to UK size. From the Loake website:
"We find that the majority of customers find that their regular UK size is quite adequate in the Capital last and is thought of as quite true to size for those with what is considered to be an average width foot. Some may find that there is just a tiny bit of extra width and length but this is minimal and not worthy of adjusting your size for unless you have particularly narrow feet."
Estimated ship date is Sep 26, 2019 PT.
Payment will be collected at checkout. After this product run ends, orders will be submitted to the vendor up front, making all orders final.