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The 7 Best Derby Shoes to Add to Your Shoe Arsenal

Alden Cordovan Blucher
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The characteristic distinction of the best derby shoe is the construction of the upper part of the shoe where the laces attach. The lace eyelets are set into two side flaps that close over the tongue. This design was so common in the early twentieth century that it became the format most sneaker designs follow to this day.

The Derby Shoe is one of two general categories of leather dress shoes, the Oxford being the other. Derby shoes may have been replaced by sneakers for everyday wear a long time ago, but they are still a very useful tool in any man's arsenal. They're the fundamental shoe option to go with suiting or black tie. They also pair well with jeans and chinos for business casual or a night out. We've assembled a list of the best men's derby shoes available for every occasion.

Alden Cordovan Plain Toe Blucher
Alden Cordovan Plain Toe Blucher
The American Classic
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Crocket & Jones Highbury Plain Toe
Crocket & Jones Highbury Plain Toe
The English Originals
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Cole Haan Harrison Grand Cap Toe Derby
Cole Haan Harrison Grand Cap Toe Derby
The Go-To Dress Shoe
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Ecco City Tray Plain Toe Derby
Ecco City Tray Plain Toe Derby
The All-Day Minimalist
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Børn Todd plain Toe Derby
Børn Todd plain Toe Derby
The Almost Sneaker but Not
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Astorflex Coastalflex Derby
Astorflex Coastalflex Derby
The Crepe Sole Comfort
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Allen Edmonds Nomad Buck Suede Derby
Allen Edmonds Nomad Buck Suede Derby
The Perfect Denim Pairing
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best derby shoes alden cordovan blucher
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Alden Cordovan Plain Toe Blucher

Alden has been handcrafting leather footwear in Middleborough, Massachusetts since 1884. They are one of the most respected shoe companies in the world and their products are made to last a lifetime if properly cared for. At $820, the Cordovan Plain Toe Bluchers are an investment piece that will be the highlight of any outfit and can probably be passed down to you kids one day.

Alden Cordovan Plain Toe Blucher
Alden Cordovan Plain Toe Blucher
The American Classic
best derby shoes crocket and jones highbury
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Crocket & Jones Highbury Plain Toe

Derby shoes were invented in England and Crocket & Jones still handcrafts their shoes the same way they did a hundred years ago. Buying an English-made derby is like buying a Swiss-made watch, the generations of craftsmanship is evident in every pair. Whether you wear them with a bespoke suit or a worn in pair of jeans, your feet will be the center of attention.

Crocket & Jones Highbury Plain Toe
Crocket & Jones Highbury Plain Toe
The English Originals
best derby shoes cole haan harrison grand
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Cole Haan Harrison Grand Cap Toe Derby

Cole Haan makes as reliable a dress shoe as your gonna find anywhere. Their Harrison Cap Toe Derby is a perfect go-to all-purpose dress shoe whether you need them for work, for date night, or for the rare formal occasion. If you only need one pair of dress shoes in your closet, this is a great option.

Cole Haan Harrison Grand Cap Toe Derby
Cole Haan Harrison Grand Cap Toe Derby
The Go-To Dress Shoe
best derby shoes ecco city tray
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Ecco City Tray Plain Toe Derby

Ecco designs their shoes with comfort as the primary goal. They make classic designs that can be worn all day, five days a week, without destroying your feet. Their City Tray Plain Toe Derby is ideal for a shoe, especially if you're on your feet all day. They're also great if you hardly ever wear dress shoes but comfort is your primary concern when you do.

Ecco City Tray Plain Toe Derby
Ecco City Tray Plain Toe Derby
The All-Day Minimalist
best derby shoes born todd plain toe
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Børn Todd plain Toe Derby

For a while now, shoe companies have been making dress shoes with sneaker soles to make them more comfortable and functional. This evolution is not a bad thing but many of them veer too far into sneaker territory and lose the derby look. Børn nailed the combination perfectly with their Todd Plain Toe Derby. It's a leather derby upper with a rubber sneaker sole that doesn't detract from the classic aesthetic.

Børn Todd plain Toe Derby
Børn Todd plain Toe Derby
The Almost Sneaker but Not
best derby shoes astorflex coastalflex
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Astorflex Coastalflex Derby

Crepe soles became popular with desert boots and wallabees. The crepe material provides a bouncy comfort to every step. Now you can get practically any style of shoe with a crepe sole. The Astorflex Coastalfelx is an excellent crepe sole derby in tan suede that looks great with jeans, chinos, or shorts.

Astorflex Coastalflex Derby
Astorflex Coastalflex Derby
The Crepe Sole Comfort
best derby shoes allen edmonds nomad buck
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Allen Edmonds Nomad Buck Suede Derby

There is a timeless beauty to the pairing of tan suede and worn denim. The complementary textures and contrasting colors are a sartorial match made in heaven. Allen Edmonds Nomad Bucks will give your favorite pair of jeans a new life. Of course, they also look great with a suit, tailored trousers, or dark chinos.

Allen Edmonds Nomad Buck Suede Derby
Allen Edmonds Nomad Buck Suede Derby
The Perfect Denim Pairing

Derby shoes were your grandfather's sneakers and when you're styling them it helps to think of them that way. They can be an every day shoe if you want to upgrade your look a bit. You know they work with suiting but they don't have to collect dust in your closet between formal occasions. Swap a pair out where you would normally wear sneakers and you'll see the improvement. Any of the options on this list are a good place to start based on your personal style and needs.

Also, you should always have a well kept pair ready for those formal occasions, but if you've got an alternate pair don't be afraid to beat them up. A good derby can age like a good boot and look better with wear. Once you've spent some time in a derby, you might just wonder how you've lived most of your life in sneakers.

Brad Lanphear

Brad spent a decade on the front lines of New York's fashion retail industry. He did time with Abercrombie & Fitch, Rugby Ralph Lauren (RIP), and J.Crew. Starting out in merchandising, he spent time doing styling, tailoring, and client relations, before getting into experiential marketing - all the while focused on menswear.  Throughout his tenure in the industry, Brad gained experience with almost every facet of fashion retail. Now he is writing about what he learned in order to help fashion conscious men and women make more informed shopping decisions.

Send all editorial inquiries HERE.

Get new Ray-Ban sunglasses at 42% off with this deal
The Ray-Ban Aviator Small Classic sunglasses on a white background.

If you're planning to buy new sunglasses, you should definitely consider Ray-Bans. The brand's popularity is only limited by its premium prices, but you can currently get some Ray-Ban Aviators with a 42% discount from Jomashop. From $191, they're all the way down to a more affordable $110. We're not sure how much time is remaining for you to grab the $81 in savings though, so you need to act fast and push forward with your purchase immediately if you want to get these sunglasses at nearly half-price.

Why you should buy the Ray-Ban Aviator Small sunglasses

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Blancpain completes Fifty Fathoms collection with versatile 38mm additions
Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms collection spans 38-45mm for every wrist preference
Fifty Fathoms collection 38mm additions

Blancpain finishes the Fifty Fathoms Automatique collection with new 38mm pieces, creating a full three-size line for every wrist. After releasing the mother-of-pearl dégradé models in petal pink and smoky black, the company now offers classic 38mm options in stainless steel, grade 23 titanium, and 18-carat red gold, with blue or black sunburst dials.
The introduction of the 38mm model marks a notable shift for Blancpain’s dive watch, which began in 1953 under CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter. The first Fifty Fathoms set the standard for professional dive watches—featuring a locking rotating bezel, improved water resistance, a luminous and high-contrast dial, automatic winding, and anti-magnetic protection. These features remain important today.
Blancpain says, “This isn’t simply a scaled-down version,” about the new size. The company carefully designed the 38mm case to achieve balance, harmony, and presence on all wrist sizes, bringing new options while keeping the classic Fifty Fathoms look.
Market response shows the wide appeal of this format, moving beyond old gender limits. Demand is high among women who want sporty, well-made watches for smaller wrists, and the 38mm size also attracts men who prefer smaller, lighter cases. This fits with Blancpain’s idea of making “a line for everyone” instead of products for specific genders.
The Blancpain Manufacture Caliber 1150 demonstrates strong technical skill. It beats at 3Hz and offers a 100-hour power reserve. The movement, which winds automatically, features a silicon balance spring for improved anti-magnetic performance. A sapphire crystal caseback reveals the fine finishing, including an 18-carat gold rotor with NAC coating, inspired by the 1953 watch.
The expanded collection now forms a clear family structure with 38mm, 42mm, and 45mm choices, ensuring the right size for different tastes and wrists. This broader approach reflects today’s market needs for sizing that includes everyone and goes beyond outdated gender ideas.
Blancpain’s Ocean Commitment (BOC) continues to support ocean exploration projects, connecting the brand’s watchmaking history with modern environmental awareness. The Fifty Fathoms story now goes beyond just telling time, extending to ocean conservation.
With three sizes now available, the Fifty Fathoms Automatique achieves Blancpain’s aim of making the collection accessible to all, while also honoring seventy years of dive watch progress. The collection shows how respected designs can evolve with smart sizing without losing technical skill or good looks.
This completion makes the Fifty Fathoms a truly complete dive watch family. Its definition no longer comes from wrist size limits but from its inclusive approach to luxury sports watch ownership.

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Fellows auction spotlights platinum Rolex Daytona among 464 coveted timepieces
Auction spotlight: Fellows presents platinum rolex daytona with ice blue dial
Fellows rolex daytona spotlight

Fellows offers its latest online watch auction at 10 AM BST on Thursday, June 26. The auction features 464 selected timepieces, and a platinum Rolex Daytona with an ice blue dial stands out. This 40mm watch, listed as Lot 194, is estimated at about $74,000–$101,000. It gives collectors a chance to acquire a highly sought-after watch.
The platinum Daytona has small recorder dials at three, six, and nine o'clock, keeping the classic look that has defined the model since it began. It comes with its original box and papers. This example represents Rolex’s best chronograph watches, combining a precious metal case with the brand’s iconic race-inspired design.
Platinum Daytonas are important to collectors because Rolex produces very few of them, and they feature the special ice blue dial. Rolex uses this color combination only for its platinum watches, making it a unique feature. Along with the Daytona’s fame in car racing and popular culture, this often leads to strong auction results worldwide.
The auction includes much more than just the Daytona. There are watches from Omega, Cartier, Breitling, and other Rolex models, covering a range of styles and periods. Lot 198 is a Rolex "Batman" GMT-Master II, estimated at $8,000–$11,000. Lot 210 is a Rolex Day-Date, with an estimate between $27,000–$41,000.
Modern luxury sports watches are also featured. Lot 116 is an IWC Pilot Top Gun, estimated at $6,700–$11,000, showing the strong market demand for aviation-inspired pieces. Lot 110 is a Hublot Big Bang, estimated at $5,400–$8,000, demonstrating the auction’s reach across both classic and contemporary luxury segments.
Fellows’ online format allows collectors from around the world to participate. People can request online viewings, which has become an important part of luxury watch auctions, allowing collectors to take part even if they cannot attend in person. It also ensures the careful inspection needed for high-value watches.
The June 26 sale comes at a good time in the summer auction calendar, as collector activity often increases before the main international sales in autumn. With prices ranging from accessible luxury watches around $5,000 to six-figure special pieces, the auction appeals to a wide range of collectors.
With 464 lots spanning vintage classics to modern luxury, Fellows’ latest auction highlights the ongoing strength of the pre-owned luxury watch market and offers collectors opportunities at many price points and in various collecting areas.

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