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Balmoral Shoe

A balmoral (or bal) shoe is a type of men's dressy or business styled leather shoe that is front-laced with a V-shaped opening to which the laces can be tied. The quarters of the shoe meet on the top and the vamp is attached at the front of the throat or opening of the shoe. This style can also be referred to as closed lacing, because the slit is tight enough so that the laces and tongue cannot be seen through the slit itself.

The balmoral shoe is also known as an Oxford in Europe and is rather plain in its design and decorations, making it an excellent choice for wear with a business suit. Men's business wear is typically very basic so the balmoral shoe fits in perfectly. The word balmoral refers to the way the lacing is situated on the upper rather than the particular make of the shoe. Balmorals are simply Oxford shoes meant to be paired with a suit or dress pants. Balmoral shoes can have a cap-toe or other intricate designs, but the true Oxford shoe is very plain and basic.