91

A Gentleman’s Glossary: Shoes

benchmade: Adjective describing a shoe on which at least 25 percent of the work was done by hand.

bespoke: Adjective describing a shoe entirely made to order.

cap-toe oxford: A lace-up shoe, ornamented with a line of stitching across the toe, appropriate for business or social wear.

cordovan: A fine, dark-red leather, made of split cowhide, but originally from the hides of goats from Cordova [or Córdoba], Spain.

kiltie: A shoe with an ornamental fringe of slashed leather covering the instep of a loafer or other slip-on shoe.

loafer: A casual slip-on shoe, the top of the shoe stitched to the shoe’s body, moccasin-style.

monkstrap: A plain-toed shoe, with a buckle strap over the instep.

oxford: A plain-toed lace-up shoe.

pump: A formal shoe with a very low vamp, exposing most of the instep.

wingtip: A lace-up shoe with a layer of scallop-cut, perforated leather added for ornamentation at the toe.