Shoes have got to be the most taken for granted articles of clothing. They get dirty, support our weight and they literally take us places. That being said, it’s hard to imagine living our lives without shoes.
The history of shoes goes way back but we’re quite lucky, well, very, that we’re not stuck or limited to just owning a pair. Today we have choices; much like with everything else in our lives, we can choose what shoes we want to wear today. Shoes today are made to suit the different activities do, some are made for sports while others are made to be comfortable for work and then there are the dress shoes. Dress shoes are what a man wears to more formal occasions or simply put, when he’s in a suit.
Common Styles of Dress Shoes
When it comes to suiting up, finding the right shoes are very important. While some may argue that they are too far down to be noticed, I beg to differ because they can make or break the outfit. That’s why I am here to give you a crash course on the different types of dress shoes you can wear the next time you put a suit on.
Oxfords
Gucci Oxford Shoes
Also called the Balmoral, this type of shoe is one of the most commonly worn by men. The main characteristic of this type of shoe is the presence of shoe laces but still remains formal looking. One of the things you have to remember is that the sleeker and simpler the oxfords are, the more formal they look. So for work, you can go for oxfords in brown with some design (like brogue embossing on the sides) while for more formal occasions, you’re best off with a simple pair in black.
Loafers
Bally Loafers
This type of shoe is the favorite of business travelers. They easy to wear and to take off, which makes them preferable to wear on a flight. Comfortable yet still stylish, loafers can be worn to less formal occasions and with jeans. This is probably why they are so popular because you’re not limited to just wearing them with suits which means more value for money. If you’re not a person who only has to wear suits on special occasions, loafers are a good choice for you. They come in many different styles and different colors, just make sure that you go with black, brown or a grey charcoal color if you’re going to wear it with a suit.
Dress Boots
Salvatore Ferragamo Dress Boots
Dress boots are literally formal boots. They come in many different styles but the “more simple is more formal” rule also applies to this one. If you’re thinking of wear dress boots with a suit go for a more minimalist look in black or brown if your suit is brown.
Monk Strap
Cole Haan Monk Strap Shoes
When you see a pair of shoes that has straps instead of laces then that is what you call the monk strap. This shoe is much like the oxfords but it saves you the hassle of having to tie your shoelaces from time to time. Monk straps come in a variation of styles and some are not limited to just having one strap. Again, for formal occasions you’re best off with black or brown.
Different Shoe Designs
There are different designs that are incorporated with the different shoe styles and there are two common ones:
Cap toes
Neiman Marcus Cap Toe Oxfords
Cap toes, as the name suggests, really have capped toes. A small piece of leather is used to cover the tip of the shoes where your toes should be. This serves as a design and sometimes it has brogue or embossing on it. You usually see this in oxfords and dress boots.
Wing Tips
Kenneth Cole Wing Tip Oxfords
Wing tip is a term I’m sure most of you have come across when you’re looking at shoes. This type of design is similar to the cap toe in the sense that it’s an extra piece of leather put on top of the shoe to create a design. The main difference between the two is that the wing tip extends to the side creating a wing like design. Wing tips can be a plain piece of leather or can be brogue (embossed).
Looking for a pair of shoes should be fun. Take a look at us women when we’re on the hunt for shoes. You should try your best not to be overwhelmed and resist the urge not to try them on. First and foremost, you have to comfortable with the pair of shoes you’ll be buying because if it doesn’t fit well, you’re literally not going anywhere.
’til my next post!
Melanie
