Are Wholecuts The Perfect Dress Shoe | 5 Reasons To Buy Wholecut Oxford Leather Shoes

Exquisitely crafted. 

Refined.

Flawless.

Expect to hear these words when you are spotted wearing a quality pair of wholecut leather shoes.

These shoes exude pure elegance through their narrow shape, clean lines and smooth surface.

This versatile high-quality leather dress shoe can accompany you through your entire day. Wear them from the office to a dressier evening event. They even look fine with a smart pair of jeans.

What are wholecut shoes? What are the pros and cons of this style? And are they suitable for any occasion and foot-size?

Listed below are 7 reasons why wholecut leather shoes are easily the only pair of dress shoes you ever really needed.

 

5 Key Defining Features Of WholeCut Leather Shoes

Wholecut oxford shoes feature an upper (the leather that is visible above the sole when a shoe is worn) constructed from a single piece of leather.

Most dress shoes are made from multiple pieces of leather sewn together.  In wholecut shoes, there are no additional pieces  – no vamps or no quarters.

The sharper chisel toe on wholecuts gives the body of the shoe a little more purpose, an appearance of an elongated toe design thus dressier appeal. The raised bump on the toe speaks of intentional higher style that sets them apart from regular shoes.

The wholecut oxford has the distinctive closed lacing system and this along with the single piece construction gives it an extremely clean and sleek look.

Now let's get into the five reasons you should consider buying a pair of wholecut oxfords.

1. Wholecut Oxfords Are Versatile

The less adorned a shoe is, technically the more formal it is.

The lack of decorative features tends to make wholecut leather shoes in patent leather appropriate for black tie or formal events.

These are formal shoes that can be worn with any outfit you pair with a jacket – anything less formal than traditional business casual starts to become to throw off the look.

Due to their design, wholecuts feature the same closed-lace design found on Oxfords. An all black wholecut in patent leather or mirror polished calf leather works as an evening shoe as long as it has no broguing.

With clean lines and no seams – these type of shoes stand out for the minimalistic design. They represent the simplest and purest form of luxury shoe making.

Wholecut shoes provides the swagger of a patent leather tuxedo pump with the practicality of lace-up shoes. While wholecut shoes in black are best worn with a suit, a brown or tan wholecut can be the perfect shoe to wear with jeans too.

2. The Minimalist Design

The simplicity of a wholecut oxford shoe adds style and elegance to any outfit.

The design of wholecut oxfords makes them suitable for formal occasions, yet because of their minimalist cut they can still draw attention without shouting for it.

Understated elegance – that is the beauty of this shoe style. 

Wholecut oxford shoes feature only a single visible seam at the heel in addition to the seam at the edge of the shaft.

The minimalist design creates an emphasis on the clean aesthetics of the shoes and adds sophistication to any gentleman's outfit.

The one-piece upper also makes wholecut shoes more durable and easy to wear.

3. High Quality Leather Ensured

The wholecut style is the most expensive and exclusive shoe pattern available as it demands flawless single pieces of leather.

The skins that are used to create shoe leather should be free of marks and blemishes. The texture of the leather needs to be consistent across the entire shoe.

The hides necessary to create wholecut shoes are rare, which increases the cost of making these shoes compared to more regular shoe styles.

These shoes are painstakingly assembled by an experienced craftsman, using only the highest quality leather.

From a shoe-making standpoint, the wholecut oxford is one of the most difficult shoe styles to last (lasting is when the upper part of the leather is attached to the bottom wooden form that is shaped according to your foot).

The making of wholecuts requires more leather because it generally has only one seam at the heel.

4. Wholecut Dress Shoes Are Easy To Maintain

With no stitching to get in the way of the shine, wholecut shoes absorb polish and display shine better than other styles of dress shoes.

The stitching does not become shiny and there are no extra folds of attached leather – ensuring a smooth and consistent shine across the whole surface of the shoe.

The high grade of leather used (generally calf skin) for wholecut shoes radiates a brilliant shine.

5. Wholecuts Will Conform To The Shape Of Your Feet

The leather on wholecut shoes is not restricted by stitching and vamps to conforming to the shape of your feet.

If made properly, the leather of a whole-cut shoe follows the shape of the foot – creating a sight of appreciation that is more appealing to the eye compared to shoes that have stitching.

Because wholecuts mould to your feet, they should fit snugly as they will slightly expand over the first few wears (especially if the leather used is thin).

A Few Points To Consider Before Purchasing WholeCut Shoes

Elegance is not the bottom-line with shoes. With clothes made from heavy fabrics with texture, you will need a larger look to the shoes.

Wholecuts are best suited for a suit or jacket/tie outfit in settings where an elegant, classic style effect is required.

Despite their simplicity, wholecut shoes are tricky to fit properly for the following reasons…

• Closed laces – these are slightly more uncomfortable for men with broader feet.
• The silhouette is trim and narrow – if you have borderline wide feet, a pair of cap toe oxfords are going to fit you better.
• Creases that develop are more apparent because there is no toe cap or wing cap to camouflage them.
• The shoe may feel tight for men with wide foot and a high arch – especially across the bridge of the foot.

What Wholecut Leather Shoes Does Antonio Recommend?

This informative article is brought to you by Ace Marks – they make the Wholecut Shoes you see in this article.

I personally own a few pairs of their shoes and highly recommend their quality footwear.  Their shoes are designed and hand-made in Italy.