Here at Irreverent Gent we like to say that shoes are the secret weapon of style—and there are no men’s dress shoes more stylish or dapper than a good cap toe Oxford.
With a handsome toe cap that sits atop the front of the shoe, cap toes add a touch of class and sophistication.
They elevate the (already timeless and unimpeachable) shape of a classic Oxford, making them a popular style for formal occasions like weddings and other black tie events.
But they’re also great for standing out from the crowd at less formal events, like a job interview or the office, where most guys will probably be wearing derby shoes or a plain Oxford.
Unfortunately, not all Oxfords are created equal.
It’s possible to find some of the best oxford shoes for a reasonable price, but you really have to know where to look.
Otherwise it’s all too easy to be taken in by the affordable prices of cheap shoes that look like the best dress shoes, but don’t have nearly the same quality, comfort, craftsmanship or durability.
To help you find the best combination of style and value, in this post we’ve rounded up the absolute best men’s cap toe Oxfords that will help you (lame pun alert) step up your shoe game.
The (Absolute) Best Cap Toe Oxford Shoes
Breaking Down the Best Cap Toe Dress Shoes on the Market
Overall Best Mens Cap Toe Oxford ↓
Beckett Simonon Dean Oxfords
Features:
- 5 Stars
- 460 Reviews
- Available in 5 leather colors
- Also available in 2suede colors
Advantages:
Online brand Beckett Simonon makes a few different pairs of cap toe shoes (more of which appear below).
But the Deans easily deserve to be the first shoe you should consider if you’re in the market for a classic cap toe oxford.
They provide a damn-near-perfect combination of quality, comfort, style and great value.
Handcrafted from buttery soft Italian full-grain leather, they offer the kind of high-quality craftsmanship that you usually only find at amuchhigher price point from brands like Ace Marks or To Boot New York.
(I pounded the pavement in a pair of Deans to put togethera pretty in-depth review, and was surprised by both their level of comfort and durability.)
And in addition to being well made, they’re also well styled.
They come in five different leather colors, my favorite of which is the “oak” shade of brown leather, which pairs perfectly with a navy suit or a good pair of dark wash jeans.
Plus, they’ve got clean lines and a classically shaped toe box that’s sleek enough to wear with your best suit, but can also elevate more casual outfits.
If you’re looking for a timeless Oxford that will look just as sharp a decade from now as it does today, this is the right pair for you.
Promising Review:
Stunningly beautiful, very solid construction, super comfortable, and really responsive customer service.
I’ll be buying all my dress shoes from Beckett Simonon in the future.
– Evan N.
Allen Edmonds Men’s Park Avenue
Features:
- 4.1 Stars
- 264 Reviews
Advantages:
A quintessentially American Brand, Allen Edmonds offers some of the best men’s dress shoes and dress boots on the market.
Their Park Avenue cap toes are unimpeachable, classically formal shoes that boast all the sharp style and Made-in-the-USA quality Allen Edmonds has become known for.
Another nice perk of going with Allen Edmonds is that, in addition to the standard half sizes offered by most brands, their shoes are also available in a wider size.
So they’re probably the best option for guys with wide feet, who often have trouble finding a pair of shoes that fits them properly.
Promising Review:
This is a high quality, extremely comfortable shoe. It gets more comfortable the more you wear it, as it has a cork footbed that lacks a metal shank that most other dress shoes have.
– J.W. Charles
Frye Paul Bal Oxford
Features:
- 4.6 Stars
- 7 Reviews
Advantages:
Frye’s Paul Bal cap-toe Oxford combines classic American style with modern technology to offer a shoe that’s as practical and durable as it is stylish and dashing.
The combination leather and rubber sole provides strong grip and stability, while the goodyear welt construction offers top-of-the-line quality and durability.
But the best part might be the lacing system:
When fully laced up, they look sharp and sophisticated, making them perfect for formal settings.
But it also has a unique elastic gore, which allows you to forego laces entirely and wear it more like a penny loafer or other slip-on casual shoe.
Promising Review:
This is my second pair of the Paul Bal Oxfords. Great shoe, great quality!!
– Clink K.
Johnston & Murphy Sayer Cap Toe
Features:
- 4.5 Stars
- 29 Reviews
Advantages:
Made from full-grain calfskin leather and styled into a classically sophisticated toe shape, J&M’s Sayer model is the perfect choice for guys who want something that’s a little more casual without going full brogue.
It’s got just a bit of broguing on both the cap toe and the vamp (where you find the closed lace system that usually defines Oxfords), but not nearly as much as you’d find on full-fledged wing tips.
The result is a pair of stylish and versatile shoes that can easily be dressed up for the office, or dressed down with jeans or chinos, depending on your personal style.
Promising Review:
Exceptional quality again! I’ve been wearing one J&M shoe or another for the last 25 years and am yet again pleased with this newest pair!
– Tyler J.
Cole Haan Men’s Warren Cap Ox Oxford
Features:
- 4.5 Stars
- 67 Reviews
Advantages:
Cole Haan has carved out a niche for itself by offering some of the most comfortable dress shoes on the market, and their cap toe Warren Oxfords certainly embody that spirit.
A cushioned leather footbed provides a plush step without sacrificing style, because the Warrens manage to retain the sleek design you’d expect from a great pair of dress shoes.
One thing to note about the Warren is that the cap toe here is a little more subtle than it is on some of the other shoes on this list.
In my personal opinion, a subtler cap is a good look for formal wear and occasions that call for black suits, when the most elegant type of men opt for understatement rather than opulence.
Promising Review:
I bought the brown version of these in Nordstrum. Love them so much that I got the black ones the next week.
It will take a week or so to wear in, but is without a doubt the most comfortable and classy dress shoes.
– Audiophile
Best of the Rest ↓
The five men’s shoes listed above represent my top picks for the best cap toe Oxfords in a reasonable price range that most guys can afford.
But they’re hardly alone at the top of the heap.
Below you’ll find nearly a dozen more good quality cap toes that provide plenty of comfort, quality and style, which may be more to your personal taste or preference.
Beckett Simonon Durant Oxfords
Features:
- 5 Stars
- 151 Reviews
- Available in 5 leather colors
- Also available in 2 suede colors
Promising Review:
Everything I heard about this company is true. The shoes arrived in excellent packaging and are the highest quality possible for the price.
Will definitely purchase from Beckett Simonon again.
– Cody C.
Allen Edmonds Men’s Fifth Avenue Oxford Shoe
Features:
- 4 Stars
- 98 Reviews
Promising Review:
Love these shoes and get many compliments. People will notice the quality of your footwear is a cut above what they’re used to seeing…
Great color, I bought a belt to match from Allen Edmonds too.
– George
Florsheim Medfield Cap Toe Oxford
Features:
- 4.7 Stars
- 677 Reviews
Promising Review:
You really can’t go wrong with these shoes. They’re so comfortable, it almost feels like I’m wearing sneakers.
I work as a lawyer and so I need to be dressed professionally a lot. These are great and they go with virtually any color suit
– Michael Wang
Ecco Citytray Cap Toe Tie Oxford
Features:
- 4.9 Stars
- 12 Reviews
Promising Review:
I have never been able to successfully buy shoes online because I have a narrow foot. Shoes anywhere are difficult to find.
But these shoes fit like they were custom-made for me. Beautiful comfortable and exactly what I was looking for.
– Amazon Customer
Johnston & Murphy Conard Oxfords
Features:
- 4.5 Stars
- 257 Reviews
Promising Review:
This shoe is amazing and is a necessity for any man’s wardrobe. I bought these shoes 5 years ago to the date and have never looked back.
These are one of my go-to shoes, whenever I need to dress the part and goes with practically everything.
– agust1m
Beckett Simonon Reyes Oxfords
Features:
- 5 Stars
- 25 Reviews
Promising Review:
These are of the best shoes in my closet…
…the quality of the leather, craftsmanship of the shoe even the minute details inside the shoe are beautiful.
– Rob J.
Stacy Adams Dickinson Cap-Toe Lace-up Oxford
Features:
- 4.6 Stars
- 5,250 Reviews
Promising Review:
Love these shoes. It is rare for me to go a day without getting several compliments on how these shoes look.
These shoes are comfortable… I have a standing desk and I can wear these shoes an entire day without a problem.
– The Lego Guy
Johnston & Murphy Melton Oxfords
Features:
- 4.5 Stars
- 590 Reviews
Promising Review:
I have only purchased my shoes from J&M. I can always depend on the quality workmanship that goes into every pair.
They not only look great. But are so very comfortable. They are fit for every occasion.
– David E.
Cole Haan Lenoxford Hill Cap Toe Oxford
Features:
- 4.2 Stars
- 16 Reviews
Promising Review:
Bought these for my son, as I am personally a fan of Cole Haan shoes.
The classic styling will keep him in good form, and with the easy lacing, will keep him in these shoes for many years to come.
The fit is true to size, and the free returns made it simple to be assured we got the right (and left) ones.
– Robert T.
Clarks Tilden Cap Oxford Shoe
Features:
- 4.6 Stars
- 9.244 Reviews
Promising Review:
This shoe is fantastic for every day business attire.
It is very comfortable (Clarks always are) and looks great with a suit!
– Hotelier
More Resources ↓
More Advice onMen’s Boots and ShoesfromIrreverent Gent:
- The Best Men’s Shoes to Wear with Jeans
- The Absolute Best Shoes to Wear with Shorts
- The Most Stylish Men’s Casual Boots to Wear with Jeans
- The Absolute Best Men’s Shoes for Standing All Day
- The 25 Best Men’s Summer Shoes
- The Best Nursing Shoes for Men
- The 8 Most Stylish Types of Men’s Shoes
- The (Absolute) Best Casual Shoes for Men
- The Best Men’s Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
- 17 of the Best Men’s Chukka Boots
- In Review: Beckett Simonon Shoes
- The (Absolute) Best Mens Fall Shoes
- The 31 Best Shoes for Walking on Concrete All Day
- How toWearRock a Blue Suit and Brown Shoes
- The Most Comfortable Work Boots on the Market
- In Review: Thursday Boot Company’s “Captain”
- The 9 Best Boot Styles for Men
- The Most Comfortable Golf Shoes for Walking the Course
- The 11 Most Comfortable Steel Toe Boots for Standing All Day
- In-Depth Wolf and Shepherd Shoes Review
More Insight on How to Look Good & Live Well:
- How Should a Suit Fit? The Ultimate Guide to Getting the Perfect Fit
- In Review: Undone Watches’ Customized Minimalist Silver Watch
- The Best Money Clip Wallets for Men
- The 125 Coolest, Most Unique and Badass Mens Wedding Bands
- The 13 Most Soothing, Smooth and All Around Best Shaving Soaps for Men
Banner Image: Allen Edmonds, Illustration by Irreverent Gent
The Recap ↓
Overall Best Cap Toe Oxford Dress Shoes for Men
Dave Bowden
Summary
Handcrafted from buttery soft Italian full-grain leather, the Deans offer the kind of high-quality craftsmanship that you usually only find at a much higher price point.
5
