The Fashionable Oxford Shoes

Executive Summaries from many articles by Helson Su

Mens Oxford Shoes

The oxford shoe is a traditional leather shoe that originated in Scotland and Ireland. This style of footwear is made from very heavy leather with lacing that is enclosed. The original oxford shoes were constructed of leather that was not tanned and were not very ornate at all. Today, oxford shoes are designed in a diverse array of styles and materials including leather, suede, and even synthetics

There are five main categories of oxford shoes: Bluchers, Balmorals, Saddle Shoes, Kilties and Wingtips. Bluchers oxfords are open-laced leather shoes which have the sides of the shoe sewn onto the front. They appear to have four distinct segments. Shoes in this style with leather soles are often used for jazz dancing. Balmorals are close-laced shoes meaning the laces are not seen as they are under the smooth tongue flap. They appear very streamlined and almost seamless.

Saddle Shoes are oxfords with a piece of leather sewed on them in the shape of a horse’s saddle, the saddle being either a different type or color of leather than the base of the shoe. The most popular and well-known variety are black and white. Another variety of men’s oxfords are the Kilties. They are more detailed in their design and have a fringed leather tongue that covers both the laces and the eyelets. One of the most popular types of oxford is the Wingtip. This type of fashionable men’s oxford derives its name from the toe brogueing (leather embroidery) which resembles the spread wings of a bird. The most formal of the oxford family are the black leather close-laced oxford known as Balmorals. They look smashing with a suit and tie for any occasion. Black is more formal and brown oxfords can be paired with a sportier tweed jacket and slacks.

For women, oxfords have never been more fun or fashionable than they are today. Women can choose from a multitude of styles and colors, from casual saddle shoes to comfort oxfords, fashion oxfords, hiking oxfords and professional types of oxfords. Casual saddle shoes for women feature a traditional split-suede buck, a cushion crepe sole and a comfortable heel. These days they move beyond the traditional black and white to pretty combinations of pastel and other fashion forward colors. Comfort oxfords are sporty shoes with a leather lining, a removable cushion insole and a slip resistant sole. Fashion oxfords come in are either platform sneakers or athletic-inspired sports shoes and have a cushioned insole, suede uppers and a lightweight flexible rubber sole. Hiking oxfords are rugged and versatile sometimes with reinforced steel toes, water-resistant uppers and slip-resistant soles.

There is an oxford for every man, woman, child and occasion. You probably have some in your closet right now. The oxford has been around for centuries and there is no sign of their popularity declining any time soon.

Cable & Co by Bacco Bucci Men’s Moscato Oxford

Product Features (continue reading…)

Rockport Shoes – Walking Shoes

Executive summaries from many articles by Helson Su

Men's Rockport Shoes

Rockport, founded in 1971, is the first company to use advanced athletic technologies in casual shoes to achieve lightweight comfort, and the first company to engineer walking comfort in dress and casual shoes. Rockport pioneered the relationship between performance and style that today’s consumers have come to expect. We’ve run the New York City Marathon, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and sailed around the world to show our consumers our enduring commitment to continued innovation.

Shoes can look good on the outside but what about the inside? With Rockport shoes, the difference is inside because they have been constantly improving on their footwear to come up with the perfect shoe that they believe was never invented. Rockport was the first company to create lightweight comfort by using the most advanced athletic technologies in casual shoes and the first to engineer walking comfort in dress and casual shoes.

Rockport’s innovations in technology include DMX, Walk Dry, XCS and the Vibram Sole. DMX technology are seen as the slight bulges that are massage-like in quality featuring cushions of moving air in the sole of the shoe, while the Walk Dry technology provides water-resistant surfaces and are easy to wipe clean of any dirt and assorted stains.

The Vibram Sole, on the other hand, is considered to be the most durable in all shoe markets and nearly inflexible which does not affect the comfort that Rockport brings, providing maximum shock absorption and cushioning, while the XCS or Extreme Conditions System provides the anti-scratch and waterproofing on the outside of the shoe thereby delivering high performance in outdoor conditions. (continue reading…)

How To Choose The Men’s Dress Shoes

Executives summaries from many articles by Helson Su

Mens Dress Shoes

Which men’s dress shoes you pick may at first seem like a simple choice. You might shop around, see something that looks nice, and then pick your favorite color. While this might work, there are many things to consider that might not even cross your mind.

The first concern that you should have is for how the shoes are going to be used. Shoes that are worn infrequently don’t necessarily need to be held to the same standards as those that are worn on a daily basis. For example, if you are wearing shoes that are only for seasonal formal occasions they don’t need to be as comfortable or durable as if you were wearing them every day walking on asphalt. If this is the case, you must have a pair of shoes with exceptional padding and a supportive insole. The biggest consideration in shoes that are worn daily should be support to give you comfort and prevent injury.

If you are buying shoes that will be worn on a regular basis the next thing we will want to consider is durability. Be sure that you choose a shoe with a thick sole which will help absorb the impact of the many foot strikes you make in a day. Inspect the stitching and make sure it is of sufficient quality that it will hold up to the daily abuse.

Now that we have the basics of function and durability out of the way the next thing you will want to look at will be style and fashion of course. Aside from choosing a current looking style, color is crucial as well. The basics that every man needs are the standard black and brown and you should have at a minimum, one pair of each of these. (continue reading…)

Birkenstock Shoes- Comfort Sandals

Executive summaries from many articles by Helson Su

Birkenstock Shoe

Do you know where the term “footbed” comes from? Most people have no idea that the term originated with the revolutionary sandal maker Konrad Birkenstock a 19th century shoemaker from Germany. Before Birkenstock shoes were all made with completely flat soles and had no arch support. They developed a revolution in shoe making by designing footwear that matched the actual shape of a person’s foot.

People quickly found that not only were they comfortable, but they also helped greatly with many foot and back problems by providing the arch support and proper fit that had been missing in shoes and sandals to that point. Today Birkenstock shoes and other footwear are frequently ‘prescribed’ by podiatrists as part of normal care for people with foot, lower leg, and back problems. In particular the ‘heel-less sandals‘ are known to greatly strengthen and tone calf muscles.

From their humble beginnings as simple shoemakers, Birkenstocks have become producers of some of the most recognized shoes and sandals in the world. They are available in hundreds of styles, materials and colours that will suit just about anyone’s needs and personality. And they have done it by sticking to their basic philosophy: make them comfortable and make them last.

Birkenstock Sandals: A Timeless Classic

Do you love to wear sandals? If you do, then you will like Birkenstock sandals that are synonymous with comfort. These sandals have a long history that dates back up to two centuries ago. This footwear brand also provides excellent quality and time-tested endurance. These products have maintained a strong following for many years, even if sandals have evolved over time. (continue reading…)