Court shoe
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A court shoe or pump is a shoe with a low-cut front, or vamp, with either a shoe buckle or a black bow as ostensible fastening. Deriving from the 17th- and 18th-century dress shoes with shoe buckles, the vamped pump shape emerged in the late 18th century. By the turn of the 19th century, shoe buckles were increasingly replaced by black bows, which has remained the contemporary style for men's formal wear, leather or patent leather evening pumps ever since. This latter style is sometimes also called an opera pump or opera slipper.
A men's court shoe (or opera pump), in patent leather, worn with white tie or black tie attire.
A man's formalwear in the late 1820s.
A pair of 20th-century court shoes for women.
20th-century court shoes for women.
Dress shoe
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A dress shoe is a shoe to be worn at smart casual or more formal events. A dress shoe is typically contrasted to an athletic shoe.
Dress shoes on a woman (left) and a man. (right)
Men's dress shoes (Derby type with open lacing).
Any sandal that has a heel, many straps, or a shiny finish would probably be acceptable in a more formal atmosphere. Tunisian sandal with high heels
Image: Double Monk Felsted (Grenson)