How to Wear Oxford Shoes

Co-authored by Hannah Park

Last Updated: March 7, 2021 References

Oxford shoes are usually made out of leather with closed lacing and a pointed toe. They were traditionally a fairly formal shoe that was designed for men, but now they are much more versatile. Oxfords can be worn with the most feminine dresses or the most casual jeans. The style is up to you. To wear Oxfords, choose your shoes and then decide on a casual or dressier look.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Your Oxfords

1
Choose a pair in a neutral color. The most common and traditional Oxfords usually come in a neutral color—like black, brown, or beige. A neutral color is a great choice if you want to wear your shoes with a variety of outfits. You can dress a neutral color up or down.^{[1]
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- You can wear neutral-colored Oxfords with a suit or a casual outfit—like a sweater and jeans.
- Get a pair of Oxfords with a slightly round toe for a cleaner look.^{[2]
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2
Pick a colorful pair for a fun style. Oxfords don’t just come in neutral colors. You can also find them in bright colors, like turquoise, or with multiple colors. Colorful Oxfords are a great choice if you like to mix traditional and modern styles.^{[3]
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- You can put the focus on your colorful shoes by wearing them with a solid-colored outfit—like a black shirt and pants.
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3
Liven up the look with metallic Oxfords. Metallic Oxfords are fun and give an edgy element to your look. You can find metallic Oxfords in gold, rose gold, or silver. Pair these Oxfords with a simple outfit to add something special to your style. Or, wear them with an already edgy outfit to take your look to the next level.^{[4]
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- A simple outfit could consist of a pair of black pants and a gray cardigan over a white button-down shirt.
- An edgy outfit could be a leather skirt or pants with a metallic top.
4
Go for an untraditional look with platform Oxfords. Oxfords are traditionally fairly flat shoes with a slight heel, but they can also be found in a platform style. Platform Oxfords are great for adding height and edge to your look. They can be worn with a variety of outfits, but this type of Oxford probably wouldn’t work for formal attire.^{[5]
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- You can pair platform Oxfords with jeans and a T-shirt or a mini skirt and sweater.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Dressing Up the Look

1
Go for a traditional look with a suit. Oxfords always have been and will continue to be a great option for suits. Wear a pair of brown Oxfords with a beige or brown suit. Choose black Oxfords with a black and more formal suit. Essentially, choose Oxfords that pair well with your suit rather than standing out. You can wear square-toed shoes, but rounded-toe Oxfords are classic, smooth, and visually appealing.^{[6]
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- Make sure to match your belt with your Oxfords, and make sure your socks don’t show unless they are the same color as your shoes.
2
Match Oxfords with colorful suits and socks. Suits, of course, don’t only come in neutral colors. If you are wearing a colorful suit, choose Oxfords to match or put the focus on the suit. For example, if you are wearing a purple suit, wear a pair of purple or black Oxfords. If you want to add a hint of color to a black or brown suit, choose brightly colored socks and colored or neutral Oxfords.^{[7]
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- You can also choose Oxfords that match or contrast with your tie. For example, you can blue Oxfords with a blue tie or blue Oxfords with an orange tie.
3
Choose Oxfords instead of heels with a formal dress. If you’re wearing a dress to a black-tie event, you may feel that your shoe options are limited. Choose Oxfords with your dress if heels aren’t your thing. Oxfords will often look better with shorter formal dresses, but you can also make them work with long formal dresses. For example, wear black Oxfords with a long, black dress.^{[8]
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- Wear socks that don’t show or match the color of the Oxfords.
- Choose colorful socks if you want to bring attention to your shoes.
- Wear a shorter dress in warm weather or for a night out.
4
Pair a button-down shirt with slacks. Button-downs and slacks will always be a great, classy choice for Oxfords. Choose a white button-down, black pants, and black Oxfords for a wedding or office environment. Wear a pastel-colored shirt, brown pants, and brown Oxfords for a dressier, but more laidback occasion.^{[9]
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- This is also a good look for a formal dinner or night out.
5
Choose a slightly formal dress. A “dressier” dress is a good option because it can be transitioned from a day to night outfit, depending on how you style it. For day wear, minimize the accessories and choose a pair of metallic or neutral-colored Oxfords. For night wear, pair the dress with jewelry, wear black Oxfords, and choose a cute handbag.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Going for a Casual Look

1
Pair the Oxfords with jeans and a T-shirt or sweater. This is a cute, versatile, and comfortable look. Go for a simple style by pairing your Oxfords with a basic white T-shirt and plain jeans. You can substitute the T-shirt for a tank top or sweater, depending on the weather. Keep the look simple by pairing it with neutral-colored Oxfords, or wear metallic Oxfords for livelier style.^{[11]
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- You can liven up the look with a print T-shirt or colorful accessories—like a brightly colored belt.
2
Wear sweatpants for an ultra casual style. Oxfords are typically dress shoes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress them down. Pair your Oxfords with a pair of nice sweatpants and a T-shirt. If you want to dress up the look a little, you can pair the sweatpants with a military jacket.^{[12]
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- Wear this outfit with a pair of colorful or metallic Oxfords.
3
Choose denim shorts and a leather jacket for an edgy look. You don’t need long pants to wear Oxfords. Pair black Oxfords with denim shorts, the T-shirt of your choice, and a leather jacket. If leather jackets aren’t your thing, trade the jacket for a light sweater.^{[13]
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- Wear a pair of black socks with black Oxfords.
- You can also choose to wear metallic or colorful Oxfords.
4
Put on a shirtdress for a comfortable and cute style. Shirtdresses are a cute and comfortable choice for a day out. Pair a plain shirtdress in a neutral color with the Oxfords of your choice. If you want a simple look, choose brown Oxfords. Go for platform Oxfords if you want to dress up the look a little while still keeping it casual.^{[14]
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- Oxfords also look great with a semi-formal maxi shirtdress.
- Wear a pair of solid-colored tights with your outfit in colder weather.
5
Wear a floral print calf-length dress for a retro look. This is a great look for a night out or office environment. Choose a pair of neutral-colored Oxfords and pair it with a calf-length floral print dress. It’s also an option to wear a solid-colored dress or choose a different pattern altogether.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What do oxford shoes go with?

Hannah Park
Professional Stylist
Hannah Park is a professional stylist and personal shopper with experience in e-comm styling, celebrity styling and personal styling. She runs an LA-based styling company, The Styling Agent, where she focuses on understanding each individual she works with, and crafting wardrobes according to their needs.

Hannah Park

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

I love the way a navy suit looks with brown oxfords, but you could also wear them with a white or brightly-colored suit.