We’ve already featured quite a number of men’s-adapted-by-women lace-up shoes here on Retrovintageshoes (such as the saddle shoe and the spectator), but the men’s shoe turned women’s shoe that’s really having its moment in the spotlight right now is the oxford / derby.

No less than the hottest and brightest female stars of the young Hollywood set have been seen sporting these lace-up shoe styles, trading in their beautiful but tortuous high heels for the lowly yet comfy oxford or derby shoe:

Set 1: Kristen Stewart, Zoe Kravitz, and Taylor Swift in oxford/derby shoes

Set 2: Ashley Greene, Taylor Swift (again), and Leighton Meester

Before anything else, can you tell which set is wearing oxford shoes and which set is wearing derby shoes?

Okay, it might be hard to tell apart without say, a magnifying glass, but there is a way to distinguish derby shoes from oxford shoes. Take a closer look at the vamp of the shoe: the lace facings on the derby shoes are NOT stitched to the bottom; they are attached on the oxfords.

As of late, oxford and derby shoes have become interchangeable and derby shoes are now generally classified as oxford shoes as well. But here are more examples anyways, just to distinguish one from the other:

Oxford Shoes

Sam Edelman Women’s Cory

Steven by Steve Madden Women’s Melin

Franco Sarto Women’s Henley

Derby Shoes

Bass Women’s Chrissie

Bass Women’s Ellie

Trotters Women’s Martie

Now can you tell them apart?

If you’re wondering how to wear these types of shoes, check out this previous Retrovintageshoes post showing 6 Ways to Wear Oxford Shoes, ala Sienna Miller.

All of these oxford shoes and derby shoes are available at Shoes.com.

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