Are there any dress shoe brands that focus on formal wear and refined craftsmanship?

Yes — if you want dress shoe brands that lean strongly into formal wear, elegant lasts, and refined craftsmanship, these are some of the best-known options:

High-end / traditional

• John Lobb (Paris / London) – Extremely refined, classic formal shoes; top-tier handcrafting.
• Edward Green – Known for elegant lasts, superb finishing, and very dressy shoes.
• Gaziano & Girling – Sleek, modern-formal styling with excellent craftsmanship.
• Crockett & Jones – Broad range, but many very good formal and business dress styles.
• Alden – Especially strong in classic American dress shoes and formal loafers.

More formal-focused / elegant European makers

• Carmina – Excellent value for handcrafted dress shoes with sharp, elegant silhouettes.
• Carlos Santos – Good craftsmanship and a strong focus on polished dress styles.
• Meermin – More accessible pricing, with some very solid formal options.
• Tassel / loafer specialists like Santoni – Often more fashion-forward, but still refined and dressy.

Luxury fashion houses with formal shoes

• Berluti – Very luxurious, known for patina and polished formal styles.
• Skoaktiebolaget / bespoke and made-to-order options – If you want the highest formality and refinement.

What to look for

If your goal is formal wear, prioritize:

• Closed lacing for Oxfords
• Plain cap-toe or wholecut designs
• Thin, elegant soles
• Dark calf leather or high-quality patina finishes
• Simple lasts without chunky details

If you want, I can also narrow this down by:

1. budget,
2. country/region, or
3. most formal styles like cap-toe Oxfords, wholecuts, or opera pumps.