1. A derby is characterized by quarters, with shoelace eyelets that are sewn on top of the vamp. This construction method, also known as “open lacing”.

2. Classic Derbies are plain, simple, easy to wear and care for.

3. Derby is more of a crossover shoe that straddles the formal and informal world pretty efficiently.

4. A dark brown or reddish brown derby can be very versatile.

5. Generally, the plain derby is the most formal among the lot and can be worn with your day suits or casual combinations.

6. As a smart casual option, derbies are perfect because they work well with a blazer/sports coat with chinos/trouser combinations.

7. One of the easiest ways to change the look of your shoes, is to simply change the shoelaces. It takes just a minute or two and really transforms the look, and best of all it’s reversible. So if you just have one or two derby shoes in your closet, but you buy 5 colors of shoelaces, you have 50 different looks.