The Velvet Albert Slipper: A Quiet Expression of Personal Style, Tradition, and Ease.

What shoes can I wear with a Tuxedo?

When most people think of tuxedo shoes, the classic, patent leather oxford comes to mind – shiny, elegant, timeless, yet either loved or despised.  There are some who prefer calfskin leather and others who prefer a whole-cut shoe to an oxford.  There is also the opera pump, with its low vamp and bow; it is either the pinnacle of formality or slightly feminine, depending on who you ask.  An increasingly popular alternative is the velvet slipper – regularly spotted on the red carpet beneath bare ankles and high-water, skinny-bottom tuxedo trousers.  Despite this “look,” the velvet slipper has a much more distinguished history in settings such as private clubs and the homes of kings and gentlemen.  It remains an elegant option for formal occasions whether at home or on the town.

When Was the Velver Slipper Introduced?

Introduced sometime in the early nineteenth century, the velvet slipper was a luxurious and comfortable item that, like many ubiquitous items, has multiple explanations to its origins.  Whether “inside” footwear to keep floors clean or to intended for use whilst smoking cigars, they were a favorite of Prince Albert, Consort to Queen Victoria, and an icon of contemporary style.  His appreciation for the slippers increased their popularity among gentlemen.  Monograms, crests, and club logos were quickly embroidered on the velvet uppers for personalization, lineage, or affiliation.  By the late nineteenth century and early twentieth, Albert slippers, as they had become known, were a staple in the wardrobes of gentlemen.  There are countless images of famous men over the past century and a half in their slippers, from a number of kings and royals, including the Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII), Charles III (as Prince of Wales) and the current Prince of Wales, to statesmen such as Winston Churchill, actors such as Rex Harrison and David Niven, designers such as Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford, and other cultural icons such as Mick Jagger, David Beckham, Kanye West, and many, many others.  The shoes themselves vary from the traditional English style, Ralph Lauren aesthetic to more whimsical variants such as a pair embroidered with an image of a screw on one foot and the letter “U” on the other, available from a well-known store in Palm Beach.

Velvet Slippers at Waring Tuxedos:

Waring Tuxedos is proud to carry velvet slippers handmade by Bowhill & Elliott in Norwich, England, a city historically renowned for shoemaking.  A fifth-generation family business, Bowhill & Elliott continues to produce the velvet slippers we carry in the same manner, and on the same equipment, as they have for 151 years. 

The firm has been producing shoes since 1874.  Early years produced shoes and boots intended for all use, from bespoke riding boots to military boots for the South African War and two world wars. 

In 1960, Bowhill & Elliott acquired the Osoeasie Slipper Company and turned their focus to house shoes.  From their own published history, “the traditional albert slipper became the hallmark product for Bowhill & Elliott, and it would see them manufacturing for many household names and furnishing the feet of royals and celebrities alike.  From fireside to film sets, Bowhill & Elliott’s trademark British craftsmanship has been enjoyed by generations, many of whom have been known to describe them as “the most comfortable shoes they’ve ever worn.” 

At Waring Tuxedos, we couldn’t agree more.  We have personally worn – and worn out – a number of pair emblazoned with personal monograms, club crests, and whimsical motifs such as stag heads, skulls and bones, cigars, martini glasses, and even Texas flags. 

Certain styles are readily available on short notice, from the plain black classics to those embroidered with skulls and bones, skulls and swords, martinis, and stag heads.  Additional styles, personalized monograms, and club logos are available by special order.   

I am not sure I can pull those off.  How do you wear them?

Many of our customers have expressed doubt about the ability to pull off velvet slippers.  When paired with a classic black tuxedo, the plan black velvet slippers blend in extraordinarily well, and frankly become more subtle than the shiny patent leather alternative.  Men with traditional taste may feel confident adding a monogram, while those more whimsically inclined may embroidered motifs such as a skull and bones or a cigar.  I have had several customers in Fort Worth inquire about having their ranch brands embroidered.

With a tuxedo, I almost always wear them with black silk socks.  There have been a few summer weddings to which I have gone sockless, which can look ok at outdoor weddings with a white dinner jacket for instance.  As a general rule, always wear socks with a tuxedo.  Then, break the rule when it makes sense.

I don’t wear a tuxedo often; when will I wear them again?

At Waring Tuxedos, we don’t limit our use of these wonderful shoes to formalwear.  Like many of the famous men above, we wear them at home or in the store, with dress slacks, khakis, or occasionally even shorts.  Where some men slip on loafers or a pair of sneakers, we slip into our albert slippers.  The ability to “pull them off” is directly correlated with the confidence and comfort one has in his style, and his faith in his ability to wear them as if they are any other shoe.  At worst, I wear them without receiving any comments.  At best, I receive a number of compliments. 

Waring Tuxedos' final take on the Albert slipper:

The velvet slipper is more than just a shoe—it’s a quiet expression of personal style, tradition, and ease. It belongs as comfortably beneath a tuxedo as it does beneath a pair of khakis or dress slacks at home. Its charm lies in the balance it strikes: formal but relaxed, elegant yet unassuming. At Waring Tuxedos, we consider the Albert slipper an essential part of a well-dressed gentleman’s wardrobe—not because it draws attention, but because it reflects confidence, discernment, and a certain comfort in one’s own skin.