When looking to invest in a pair of comfortable Goodyear welted shoes you’ll often find yourself browsing Derby shoes as their open lacing system fits many foot shapes. The construction of a Derby shoe includes the closing panels being sewn on top of the vamp to give the shoe a solid appearance and more room for a higher instep when compared to an Oxford shoe, the Derby’s main counterpart.
Exploring the Barker collection there is several Goodyear welted shoe styles that make up each Barker range including the Handcrafted, Country, Creative and Professional collections. The most recurrent shoe styles by Barker are two timeless classics, the Oxford and Derby shoes. The Oxford shoe for men dates back centuries and originated from a half boot called the ‘Oxonian’ which was favoured by students of the famous English institution Oxford University.
Work shoes are unquestionably every gentleman’s wardrobe workhorses. Once they are laced up or slipped on they keep your feet protected from the commute, the working day to after office business meetings and dinners. Choosing a pair of leather work shoes isn’t a decision to take slightly as several factors must be considered including durability, versatility and comfort.