Does anyone wear oxford shoes to work?

[Susie]

Not really an H&F question, but I'm asking mostly for H&F reasons.  I used to wear heels everyday, but have gotten to a point where I'm over it.  They're not worth the tight calves that are bad for running, the stress on my lower back, etc., and they make it too easy to take the elevator instead of the stairs, sit all day instead of getting up and walking around frequently (usually at my Fitbit's nudging), etc.  They're fine for client visit days, but I don't want to wear them every day in the office anymore.

My office is business casual, but I am senior enough at this point to not worry too much about what anyone thinks.  For fall I'm envisioning oxfords as a solution with ankle length pants, dress shirts, and ... I am not sure?  I'm stumbling on styling a little.  And what socks I would wear with them?

I am always so jealous of how comfortable Calvin looks in the Cole Haan oxfords I buy him, and... I want in!  Anyone have any suggestions of styles or styling they like?

[Wines Not Whines]

I don't wear oxfords, but in the fall I often wear ankle boots with a low heel or no heel. They're comfortable. That may be another option for you.

[wawa]

I'm calling in the experts.

NitaX

I want a pair of oxfords but havent found exactly what I want in my price range yet.

I would also like guidance on socks...invisible ones...yes? Do any of those actually stay put?

[sadlebred]

I wear Oxford style shoes, but they are a bit fugly. I'll replace them when they fall apart. I gave up any heels long ago, but I only wear pants to work. On the rare occasion I have to look nice for a big meeting I wear a pair of black Tiek flats.

tieks.com/

[wawa]

On the sock question...once fall shows up I fully intend to get some fun patterned trouser socks and wear my oxfords menswear style with dress pants because that's what they're for.

I'm just not sure if any of those little footie socks are any good for summer.

[Wines Not Whines]

Aug 21, 2018 21:27:13 GMT -5 wawa said:

On the sock question...once fall shows up I fully intend to get some fun patterned trouser socks and wear my oxfords menswear style with dress pants because that's what they're for.

I'm just not sure if any of those little footie socks are any good for summer.

I have some that are Hue and Peds brand. They work pretty well. They have little grippy things on the back so they stay up and don't slip down.

[cosmowife]

I have two pairs of Madewell oxfords and they are awesome. Super comfy and I can wear them without socks. They are definitely hard to style, though. I don’t have many pants that work with them. I’ll have to base my fall wardrobe around those shoes because I love wearing them.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I have some Oxfords from Bass I absolutely adore - super comfortable and really cute, but I can't figure out how to wear them. I'm too oddly shaped (and old) for ankle pants and showing tall socks, and none of my pants hit them properly. They look dumb with a skirt. I'd like to make penny loafers work too, but again, can't figure out what to wear them with and they look dumb with a skirt. I'm really struggling with flats right now, because I'm tired of ballet flats but they're the only flat dressy shoes I can figure out how to style.

[Susie]

Aug 21, 2018 20:33:24 GMT -5 wawa said:

I would also like guidance on socks...invisible ones...yes? Do any of those actually stay put?

I always see them styled with no-show (or just no) socks, so that was what I was thinking.  I just haven't found the perfect truly no-show socks yet, and I think they would get gross quickly if I actually wore them with no socks.  

I see plenty of ads for Bombas, Gekks, and similar.  Interested in a review if anyone has tried them.

[wambam]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9QT2NN/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't wear them to work, but when I dress up, I wear them.

[dancelnow]

I wear lifestride a lot. Either bare footed (took me awhile to adjust to it), trouser socks or knee high hose. Knee high hose are my favorite because they are light weight.

[wawa]

Aug 22, 2018 7:57:46 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

I have some Oxfords from Bass I absolutely adore - super comfortable and really cute, but I can't figure out how to wear them. I'm too oddly shaped (and old) for ankle pants and showing tall socks, and none of my pants hit them properly. They look dumb with a skirt. I'd like to make penny loafers work too, but again, can't figure out what to wear them with and they look dumb with a skirt. I'm really struggling with flats right now, because I'm tired of ballet flats but they're the only flat dressy shoes I can figure out how to style.

I feel like I need to see pictures in order to opine on this. Like, are you SURE they look dumb, or are you just not used to the look on you?

[SallyJ]

I've switched to flats almost exclusively after ACL repair. I have several different styles, loafers, oxfords, booties, pointy toe, other styles I don't know the name of. I don't remember all the brands...I just go to DSW and try stuff on.

I wear with skirts, with or without socks depending on the weather, trousers and or ankle plants. I find them to be comfortable and versatile.

[mrshandy]

I stopped wearing heels at work when I broke my ankle about 3 years ago. I wear commuter shoes (black tennis shoes) on my way to and from work. And at work I have a few pairs of cute flats like these.

www.dsw.com/en/us/product/steve-madden-heaven-patent-ballet-flat/dsw12prod1540008?activeColor=488

I don't wear socks with them.

[goldengirlz]

I love Stance socks. I wear the super invisible ones and they’re awesome; they don’t move and they’re true no-show. I have small feet too.

I don’t wear oxfords but I have multiple pairs of shoes from M. Gemi and they’re so comfortable. For business casual, I like the Felize. I wear them without socks and they’re like slippers.

[secretlyevil]

Definitely no show socks - get a basic pair of oxfords and then a fun color/pattern too. The socks thing is from someone living in FL. I think if I lived in the cold areas, I'd probably do with fun trouser socks. I'm more of a boots/bootie person but I've seen some really fun oxfords that have been tempting.

ETA:

I like them styled like this: 

[jene]

I have a pair of plum ones that are amazing. I wear fun socks with them in the winter. Because Minnesota.

[NitaX]

Aug 21, 2018 20:33:24 GMT -5 wawa said:

I'm calling in the experts.

NitaX

I want a pair of oxfords but havent found exactly what I want in my price range yet.

I would also like guidance on socks...invisible ones...yes? Do any of those actually stay put?

Oxfords. YES. I love them. I have a muted gold pair from Zara - they are old and were gifted to me by a colleague who ordered them and the shoe was too short for her. And I have another pair of gold sparkly Oxfords. I've heard good thing about the Cole Haan oxfords, so definitely buy them.

I wear socks like these.  

I will say I think that the trend is shifting toward loafers. I'm a fan of Dr. Scholls; they make really comfortable and cute shoes. 

This Kelly & Katie Oxford is cute!
This is a I Can Rock That Pick - but that's specific to me and my love of burgundy in the fall. LOL But, I can totally see myself doing burgundy and tan or burgundy and fuchsia with some boyfriend jeans. I have a whole outfit for these shoes.  
Sole Society Loafer that would be very sleek with a black pantsuit. 

[secretlyevil]

I've been obsessing about a burgundy oxford I recently saw, so of course you have to show more lust-worthy shoes NitaX .

[Susie]

Aug 22, 2018 5:54:09 GMT -5 cosmowife said:

I have two pairs of Madewell oxfords and they are awesome. Super comfy and I can wear them without socks. They are definitely hard to style, though. I don’t have many pants that work with them. I’ll have to base my fall wardrobe around those shoes because I love wearing them.

Ooh, Madewell is a good suggestion, I really like these!

[Susie]

Thanks all for the suggestions and inspiration!

I already have a few ballet flats, boots, and loafers, and I wear the ankle boots a lot in the winter when there's almost always some snow or slush on the ground.  Ballet flats don't do it for me though.  I'd like a little more support than they provide, and they also just don't feel like my look.  I feel like I'm wearing wannabe heels when I wear them, instead of just going for something totally different.  I really like the menswear inspired look, so maybe I'll give it a shot!

[eponinepontmercy]

I bought a pair of men's black oxfords at a Bass outlet a few years ago. I need to replace them soon, but they've been great. I'd say that I was just going for a menswear look, but it was really just that they were SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE than any of the women's oxfords I tried on.

[wawa]

Aug 23, 2018 9:27:41 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

I bought a pair of men's black oxfords at a Bass outlet a few years ago. I need to replace them soon, but they've been great. I'd say that I was just going for a menswear look, but it was really just that they were SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE than any of the women's oxfords I tried on.

what size?

[shauni27]

I wear a combo of heels, flats, loafers and oxfords. I have these oxfords in blue: www.dsw.com/en/us/product/kelly-and-katie-miralla-oxford/425344?activeColor=250 and these loafers in gold: www.kohls.com/product/prd-2927735/eastland-patricia-womens-penny-loafers.jsp?skuId=63324406&ci_mcc=ci&utm_campaign=WOMENS%20CASUAL%20SHOES&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=google&utm_product=63324406&CID=shopping15&utm_campaignid=174293612&pid=googleadwords_int&af_channel=CSE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgLT99bSD3QIVyLfACh1D9gdqEAQYAiABEgKbAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CIas1Pi0g90CFcVLDAodpncAFw

I have never worn socks with either...

[eponinepontmercy]

Aug 23, 2018 9:44:19 GMT -5 wawa said:

Aug 23, 2018 9:27:41 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

I bought a pair of men's black oxfords at a Bass outlet a few years ago. I need to replace them soon, but they've been great. I'd say that I was just going for a menswear look, but it was really just that they were SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE than any of the women's oxfords I tried on.

what size?

I'm usually a women's 10, and these are a men's 8.5.

[wawa]

Aug 23, 2018 9:52:45 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

Aug 23, 2018 9:44:19 GMT -5 wawa said:

what size?

I'm usually a women's 10, and these are a men's 8.5.

Darn it. I was hoping you had smaller feet. I tried to buy men's shoes and nobody carries my size. And I haven't seen boys shoes in the same quality/style.

[Brit]

I’m probably pushing the limits here, but I have more and more frequently been wearing my Cole Haan Zerogrand Oxford sneakers to work. I wear them with Adidas no-show socks and ankle pants.

I also wear my Cole Haan Zerogrand flats quite a bit.

I work in a creative space, but within a pretty conservative environment.

[Susie]

Aug 23, 2018 21:35:09 GMT -5 Brit said:

I’m probably pushing the limits here, but I have more and more frequently been wearing my Cole Haan Zerogrand Oxford sneakers to work. I wear them with Adidas no-show socks and ankle pants.

I also wear my Cole Haan Zerogrand flats quite a bit.

I work in a creative space, but within a pretty conservative environment.

Which ones do you have?  I was looking at those.  It's probably slightly pushing it here too, but I'm confident no one would really bat an eye.  

[Brit]

Aug 24, 2018 8:41:31 GMT -5 Susie said:

Aug 23, 2018 21:35:09 GMT -5 Brit said:

I’m probably pushing the limits here, but I have more and more frequently been wearing my Cole Haan Zerogrand Oxford sneakers to work. I wear them with Adidas no-show socks and ankle pants.

I also wear my Cole Haan Zerogrand flats quite a bit.

I work in a creative space, but within a pretty conservative environment.

Which ones do you have?  I was looking at those.  It's probably slightly pushing it here too, but I'm confident no one would really bat an eye.  

Mine are blue suede-ish. Like Wedgewood blue.

ETA: I am really liking that color because I can wear them with black pants, brown tone pants, dark blue... they have been super versatile.