Our roundup of the finest footwear this season – whether you’re feeling traditional or a bit more funky.

It is said that you can tell a lot about a man by looking at his shoes. A study conducted by the University of Kansas in 2012 found that, when presented with a series of strangers’ shoes, observers were able to make informed suggestions on the wearer’s gender, age, social status and personality traits, concluding that shoes could convey a “useful slice of information about their wearers”.

Gender is an easy win, of course. High heels – unless you like dressing up as an alter ego at the weekend – tend to be worn by women, for example. But other characteristics shouldn’t be so easy to predict. In a world of relaxed dress codes and democratised fashion tastes, clichés should be fast dissolving. Perfectly shined black Oxfords ought not to be the reserve of lawyers and stock brokers. And zebra-print creepers are for anyone who feels like wearing them – not just moody fashionistas traipsing between fashion shows.

So, in the spirit of open-mindedness, we’ve selected three nice pairs of leather shoes in various styles, new on site today. Something for everyone. Scroll down to pick your pair.

Derby (less formal than Oxfords – because the “facing” is open at the bottom in a less neat fashion) brogues (this refers to the holey detail on the top of the shoe) are your versatile all-rounder when it comes to leather footwear. Robust, broad and neither too formal nor super relaxed, they’re appropriate for a trudge down a rain-filled city street, a night on the tiles, or a party where the dress code falls anywhere between smart casual and smart (formal is where Oxfords come in, of course). And, if they’re made by Grenson, they’ll last you a lifetime.

Now, these are probably quite a significant departure from the leather-shoe norm for most of us. Zebra-print creepers are not everyone’s cup of tea, but, hey, in the interests of the type of open-mindedness we noted in our introduction, we thought they deserved a mention. The creeper (also known as the brothel creeper) began life after WWII and were popularised by Teddy boys and rockers in the 1950s and 1960s – and they experienced a bit of a resurgence about five years ago. Teddy boys would wear them, socks exposed, with drainpipe jeans. Feel free to follow suit, or pair yours with some slim-fitting wool trousers.

Back on more traditional ground, these Oxfords from Berluti are both formal and impeccably well-made. Not only are they crafted from the best Italian leather, they are also Goodyear welted – a classic British method which, some would argue, makes them the most long-lasting of shoes. It also allows the sole to be easily replaced, which is always handy. Polished to provide a rich patina, they will only improve with age. Wear them with a blazer and dress them up for a party or work with matching trousers, or dress them down for dinner with some jeans.