The front section of a shoe's upper that covers the top of the foot.
The vamp is the forepart of the upper, over the toes and instep, and it is where a shoe creases in wear; Crockett & Jones notes that shoe trees reduce creasing of the vamp. Its join with the quarters defines the two classic lace-ups. On an Oxford, the inside and outside quarters are stitched underneath the vamp, closing the lacing; on a Derby, they are stitched over it. On some styles the vamp is cut in one piece with the tongue, as on a monk strap.
The vamp may be shaped before it is cut. For a Chelsea boot, Crockett & Jones blocks the leather for the high-leg vamp, shaping it under pressure with a blade so that it sits on the last and forms to the wearer’s foot.
In job listings
The vamp is not named in current listings on Cerulean. The nearest roles are in shoe upper production, where the cut pieces of the upper are stitched and assembled. See current shoe upper roles.
