Ralph Lauren Quinton Oxford
As a lover of distinctly feminine clothing and accessories, I am just as much an admirer of preppy unisex staples. I’ve yet to meet an oxford cloth button down I didn’t wear threadbare. The same holds true for accessories; I adore a curvaceous heel or a bow-laden ballet flat, but I have a sweet disposition for traditional men’s shoes: brogues, bucks, Weejuns—a preference most certainly nurtured during my four years at Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, VA).
With the resurgence of menswear for women over the past several seasons, designers have tailored men's classics for us in smaller, narrower versions. I’ve stepped into this gorgeous pair of Ralph Lauren Collection wingtip oxfords ($595), made in Italy. A handcrafted, sartorial investment I fully intend on handing down someday. They will break in nicely and only better with age while anchoring my wardrobe’s most feminine ruffles and florals. My first pair of oxfords since prep school, and paired with them, my first set of cedar shoe trees (monogrammed, of course). Of all the shoes I own—and there are numerous—only a select few cause me to truly swoon. This is one such pair.
left a comment on 10/10/2010 at 6:07 PM:
I am an absolute sucker for menswear on women. From brogues and monks, to oxfords and ties, I am a big fan.
www.mensstyle101.blogspot.com
left a comment on 10/10/2010 at 4:20 PM:
Great stuff as usual, I love oxfords on girls. For the comment below: I know a lot of people do but associating Jack Wills with the upper class is plain wrong. “outfitters to the gentry” is an utter affectation, and I have never met a member of “the gentry” who actually wears that stuff.
left a comment on 10/10/2010 at 7:41 AM:
F.E.C, I’d love to hear your opinion on Jack Wills and the British upper class style/“Rah” style/ British prep. I know this is off topic but it would make for an interesting post or two.
left a comment on 10/9/2010 at 9:37 AM:
Smashing article. Thanks for posting this.
A girl wearing brogues is not particularly novel. There was a time, of course, when women did wear brogues, dresses, and tweed quite regularly.
When I explored the vintage clothing markets as a schoolboy in England in the 1980s we would often find women’s brogues mixed in amongst the men’s shoes. Dainty things.
I find the idea of a girl wearing brogues and other ‘trad’ clothing incredibly cute, like a smaller, feminine, sweeter version of moi.
But if New Preppy American girls REALLY want to be ‘distinctly feminine’, ditch the trousers and take up the skirt/dress again.
http://admiralcod.blogspot.com/
left a comment on 10/9/2010 at 7:55 AM:
I love your blog (one of only a few I check every day). I live in Alexandria across from BI am delighted to learn of the local connection.
left a comment on 10/9/2010 at 6:09 AM:
I am huge fan of menswear for women for purely selfish reasons:
1) I’m slender. Really slender. When menswear is made in smaller, slimmer versions, it makes it much easier on me. Plenty of brands I can’t wear; they just don’t make their clothes/shoes/accessories small enough.
2) Women in meswear are quite attractive when the style is done right.
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 7:33 PM:
Try Sid Mashburn’s wingtips (made by Alfred Sargent) and you’ll never bother with the RL website again. Billy Reid actually has a nice pair as well.
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 1:54 PM:
Kenneth: Venetian shoe cream http://www.valetmag.com/style/products/2010/venetian-shoe-cream-091510.php
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 12:14 PM:
Very nice shoes indeed, but I’ll take Allen Edmonds MacNeils (in shell cordovan!) or Strands. I will, unabashedly, admit that I have a small love affair with AE!
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 10:51 AM:
Agreed they look great, and I would get them for the wife- but she looks so good in preppy clothes and cowboy boots.
and thanks for the link back to the Woodlore shoe trees, I needed 2 new pairs and just ordered them. Anyone on here have any suggestions for good leather conditoner and shoe cream?
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 10:37 AM:
very nice, id like to see a picture with an outfit, very fresh. i like your style.
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 10:12 AM:
Bravo, Miss Carpeaux. An excellent write up, from the best dressed woman I know. Your choice of footwear, like your style, is timeless.
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 9:45 AM:
@Meg—If by “fantastic blog” you mean Pair Diem, then I am glad you discovered it. That is the blog of Sara Carpeaux, who wrote this piece on her new brogues.
@cws—Don’t tell her? Unless she is in charge of the checking account. In that case, hit the vintage/thrift shops for some bargain bin finds. You are a brave man attempting to buy shoes for your wife; commendable.
@Woman2blame—Start combing vintage/thrift shops. You will be surprised at what you can find on a college budget.
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 9:23 AM:
Bishop Ireton is in Alexandria, VA, am I right? I am from Northern Virginia myself and attended Foxcroft School. It elates me to discover a person from NoVa runs such a fantastic blog.
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 7:49 AM:
Yes…great looking shoes. Tough to swallow $595…any suggestions on how to justify the purchase to my wife?
left a comment on 10/8/2010 at 7:14 AM:
Gorgeous shoes! I too love the the unisex preppy look. Unfortunately my college budget limits me to bucks, sperry and wallabees. 703.
Z left a comment on 10/15/2010 at 2:48 PM:
@ds I wasn’t actually linking the two, I was wondering what F.E.C thought about the two separate things and if he sees Jack Wills as a wannabe brand who wants to sell the “Gentry” Lifestyle or an actual good representation. I most certainly wasn’t making the link.