Beckett Simonon Yates Oxford Brogues

Last time I took a look at a pair of Beckett Simonon shoes, I wrote about their Dean Oxfords, which are relatively formal shoes with a plain cap toe. The clean lines of a cap toe pair very well with the simple, clean look of a business suit. Mine were brown, but dark enough for a navy suit. But what can you wear when you want drop things down one notch on the casual-formal scale. Maybe you want to wear a more casual suit (i.e. lighter color, more casual fabric, etc.). Perhaps you would prefer a pair of trousers and a jacket. Or even a just some casual pants and a sweater with a little flair. I think the perfect shoe for situations like that is the wingtip. So let’s talk about the extremely versatile wingtip brogues, specifically the Beckett Simonon Yates Oxford Brogues.

I think, upon first glance, people expect shoes like the the Beckett Simonon Yates Oxford Brogues to be more formal than a simple Oxford like the Dean. With the intricate detail of the brogueing and the extra leather that creates the wingtip design, they seem fancier. They seem more formal than a plain cap toe. However, it’s important to remember that, in the world of menswear, typically simpler is more formal. Take a look at something elegant like black tie attire. Traditionally one wears a simple black (or dark navy) tuxedo with no cuffs, plain black patent leather shoes, a white shirt, and a black tie. That’s it. It’s quite a simple outfit, but that’s what makes it formal. Now, take a look again at a shoe like the Beckett Simonon Yates Oxford Brogues. While still remaining a dress shoe, they’re actually more casual than a shoe with less detail.

Remembering the history of brogues helps understand where these shoes fall on the spectrum of shoes too. The brogues of the past were supposedly developed in Scotland and Ireland, and the perforations in the leather helped water drain from the shoes as their wearer walked through the bogs. Whether or not this is entirely true is still up for debate. Regardless, brogues initially began as a casual work shoe. Overtime they became more formal, but their rugged roots still influences outfit decisions today.

Specifically, the Beckett Simonon Yates Oxford Brogues are (as the name implies) an OXFORD brogue. This means the eyelet tabs are attached under the vamp, or upper, which covers the top of the foot. When the eyelet tabs are attacher over the vamp, that shoe is called a Derby. When they are attached under the vamp, that shoe is called an Oxford. Typically an Oxford is more formal than a Derby. So, in the case of the Beckett Simonon Yates Oxford Brogues they are a more formal version of a brogue, and this makes them extremely versatile.

As I stated above, Oxford Brogues can be worn with a suit, trousers, or even a pair of chinos (although I would recommend more formal chinos with a crease). Once you start working with different color combinations, the possibilities are virtually endless. Black wingtips with a dark business suit. Dark brown wingtips with navy flannel trousers. Tan wingtips (like the ones I have) with a pair of dress chinos. Wingtips are the Jack of all trades of the shoe world, and these Beckett Simonon Yates Oxford Brogues are the perfect shoe to fill that space in your wardrobe.