Oxfords

There's a lot going on with this shoe—and though objectively I recognize it's kind of weird, I really like the way it all coalesces. The shape is that of a traditional lace-up oxford, except that it's been slashed a bunch to give it a sandal-like airiness, and done up in pewter leather to give it a jolt of glamour. There's something very confident about the design, so if I didn't already know they were $125 and from Urban Outfitters, I would probably guess they were big-name European fancy and quadruple the price. The overall effect is very chic in an indie girl, Chloë Sevigny kind of way. As with any other piece that makes a really strong statement, I'd probably match this with pared-down items that won't compete for attention: dark slim jeans and a shrunken oxford maybe, or else a pencil skirt and drapey tank.

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