In addition to the derby, the blucher also features open lacing. The latter’s name refers back to a bygone Prussian field marshal; nowadays the blucher is a key component of the gentleman’s countryside wardrobe.
Blücher, a Prussian field marshal, commissioned the initial prototype of this kind of men’s shoe at the beginning of the 19th century; he wanted his soldiers well equipped for victory against Napoleon. Originally, then, this was a tough army boot. Its name, still in common use worldwide, alludes to this legacy. On the subject of this name: this model is internationally known as the ‘blucher’ since most languages don’t use umlauts.
Shaft design distinguishes the Blucher from the Derby
The blucher is recognizable by its special shaft design. The side flaps are joined with the lacing, creating the impression that the shaft has been formed from a single piece of leather. Like the derby, the blucher comes with open lacing—accordingly, the layman will often confuse the two. In fact, however, these models are easy to differentiate by their respective structures; unlike the derby, the blucher doesn’t feature any additional quarters.
In this day and age, the blucher is an indispensable sporty/business half shoe. It combines perfectly with jeans and corduroys and is fairly well-suited for a standard shirt-and-trousers combo. However, due to its rough look, it’s utterly unfit for suits.
Additional types of shoes
- Shoe Classification
- Oxford
- Derby
- Men’s Boots
- Moccasin
- Loafer
- Blucher
- Boat Shoe
- Monk Strap
- Budapester
- Buckled Shoes
- Lace-up Shoes
Find out more about interesting shoe terms in our shoe glossary.
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