When Harry Hart in the movie"Kingsman" gave his protegé Eggsy three words to live by “Oxfords, not brogues”, the confusion between these two was further heightened. Simply put, an oxford refers to a dress shoe that has a closed lacing system, meaning the parts of the shoe that holds the shoelace eyelets are sewn underneath…
Simply put, an oxford refers to a dress shoe that has a closed lacing system, meaning the parts of the shoe that holds the shoelace eyelets are sewn underneath the vamp and can’t be seen on the top, making the Oxford clean with a slim silhouette and therefore the classic choice when wearing a suit. Shoes with broguing tended to be seen as country shoes that were otherwise unsuitable for city gents. On the other hand, traditional Oxfords were considered smarter due to the closed laces which made them more suitable for a business setting.
Different kinds of broguing are meant for different occasions. Two popular kinds are the semi brogues and the wing tip.