If there’s one shoe revival our shopping editors are most excited about this season, it’s arguably the return of Oxfords. While the origins of the clunky, collegiate style date back to the 1800s in (rather unsurprisingly) Oxford, England, the shoe has undergone a pretty major makeover in recent decades – evolving from a ’90s prep essential to a grunge aesthetic staple of the early aughts and finally reemerging this season as the moody, Wednesday Addams–inspired style of our gothic fashion dreams. The polished shoe – defined by its exposed-heel frame, closed laces, and often blister-inducing design – has been reimagined in more ways than one by designers and celebrities alike (hi, Kourtney Kardashian!), which is why we’re convinced the style is now primed to be one of this year’s biggest shoe trends.
With this in mind, we went ahead and shopped out 10 timeless pairs of Oxford shoes that prove the preppy style is here to stay and so worth investing in (assuming, of course, that you haven’t already). From platform Oxfords that will take your winter wardrobe to new (literal) heights and comfortable Oxford shoes that you can endlessly wear on repeat, each of these styles has its own unique structure, coloring, and even composition – though not to worry, as there are still plenty of leather variations included in the mix. Browse our selects below, and embrace the classic Oxford shoe in a whole new way this season.