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Essential Men’s Footwear
Someone said to me a couple of days ago that men will never be into shoes in the same way that women are. I smiled and nodded as is standard in these kinds of situations; however, on reflection and much thought, I disagree. I think guys have always been as obsessed with shoes as much women, they’ve just been obsessed with the wrong kind of shoes. Sneaker-heads have been around since the eighties and plenty of men religiously buy Converse or Vans or K-Swiss as if they were part of some exclusive club. The only thing that separated us from our female counter parts was we just had no variety or imagination.
But these days the tide is changing. Men across the world are becoming more and more obsessed with shoes in all the myriad of options now available to us, that I might even be so bold as to say we’re more obsessed than women are. Or, at least, I am.
So with that in mind, I decided to compile a top 5 list of the types of shoes that every man should have in his wardrobe. Or shoe rack if we’re being fussy. For the non-obsessed this will be a good initiation, and for the already converted a nice check list. What I will say is that when it comes to footwear there are a few things to bear in mind.
Cost And Maintenance
Firstly, you get what you pay for. I can’t pretend that a £30 pair is going to stand up against a £250 pair. It’s fine to buy from the high street and on the low end of the spectrum but expect them to only last you a couple of years (if that) before you need a new pair. The £250 pair on the other hand will be timeless if looked after correctly.
So that is where correct maintenance comes in. If you have gone up market, invest in some shoes trees. These keep the leather’s shape after the day’s sweat it’s absorbed. Clean them regularly with shoe polish, brushes and cloths. And when packing them for travelling, try to keep them in some kind of separate shoe bag so they don’t get marked by other items in your case.
The 5 Essential Shoe Styles
Here’s my official list:
- The White Trainer – yes guys, you can still wear trainers. You just need to start investing in man trainers. My personal favourites are Adidas Stan Smiths or Sambas. The reason is because they are slim and simple. No excess detailing and easy to keep clean. Try to think of your new trainers as you would your clothes; tailored. This way they can be paired easily with anything you’ve got; jeans, chinos, suit trousers, you name it.
- The Loafer – now this can be either a penny or a tassle. Or maybe just a plain old simple loafer. It also doesn’t always have to be in leather, suede loafers are really cool too. In fact, I have a black pair that I rock sockless with my white jeans all the time in the summer. They can be brown or black, that doesn’t matter either. What matters is that they are of decent quality leather and you keep them clean! They’ll look great with any pair of jeans or chinos but they’re not the shoes you wear with your suit. These are your casual go-to’s.
- Brown Brogues – they’ve made a pretty big comeback over the last couple of years and I think they’re probably here to stay. Make sure you get a pair that has a substantial sole to them so they can still be worn when the weather gets rough. All shades of browns look good too, so take the time to decide whether you’re bold enough to go for a tan or oxblood pair or just a simple chocolate. They will look great with your suit to work and are a real easy way to smarten up your jeans. Just be sure to make sure the fit of your jeans suit the brogues – a baggy fit will engulf them.
- The Black Derby – if there was a pair of shoes that I would recommend you to go the extra penny with, it would be this. I know I’m normally the guy who says to always buy brown because they have more style but these bad boys will see you through anything. No matter the occasion they will never be out of place; be it a wedding, the office, a night out or just a way of mixing up a casual outfit. If you invest in them they‘ll be the most versatile shoes you own and will last you forever.
- The Desert Boot – this shoe is the definition of smart/casual. Smarter than trainers but not quite in the league of the derby and the brogue, this one could end up being the work horse of your footwear militia. Always looking their best with a pair of jeans or coloured chinos, I’d suggest you get a pair in a neutral tone such as brown, beige or navy. A tip for cleaning suede that I use for my boots, rather than get suede cleaner simply rub the other shoe against the mark and it will come straight off!
New Season Essentials
The White Trainer
The Loafer
The Brown Brogue
The Black Derby
The Desert Boot
So there you have it guys, 5 shoes every guy should own. Have you got all 5? Or do you need to start doing some serious saving/shopping? Or did I miss something off that you think is 100% essential? Let me know in the comments section.
Until next week,
Matt Allinson
Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 45 – Shirt & Tie Combinations
Men's Fashion Basics - Part 43 - Combining Colours
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I fully agree with your footwear essential list, but whats lacking is a nice pair of boat shoes and classic trainer e.g. NB, addidas, Puma and tiger onitsuka classics
what about pumps…
@GATU – trainers were the first thing mentioned! I love me some Addias Stan Smiths or Sambas, or anything sleek and simple by Puma or Lacoste.
And I did want to include boat shoes but I tend to think of them as a S/S shoe, where as the five I picked can be used all year round not just one particular season.
@HASSAN AKRAM – I’m only a big fan of pumps during the hotter months so couldn’t really classify them as ‘essential’. But them and boat shoes are all I ever wear casually when the Sun finally comes out.
Can’t agree with the white trainers thing – I just think they’re too sporty! Much prefer pumps such as Vans or Converse. Or the ultra-simple ones Topman do. I’ve got the Desert Boots and the Derbies (albeit brown derbies) but I’m hoping to get some brogues soon. I’m just not a fan of loafers so I don’t have a pair :P good tips on how to look after them though!
Totally agree with the shoes covered being among the essentials but would have to throw in a black Chelsea boot.
I live in Spain and there is a popular brand here called ‘El Ganso’ (The Goose) which do amazing simple trainer pump hybrids of the likes I’ve never seem in plaid, herringbone and dogtooth prints and use fabrcis you’d never imagine working in a trainer such as velvet that do really well. Worth checking out online as much as they don’t delvier to the UK!
Totally agree with the shoes covered all being essentials but would have to throw in a black Chelsea boot.
I don’t normally like any kind of trainer but I came across a Spanish brand through friends called ‘El Ganso’ which does amazing simple trainers/pumps of the likes I’ve never seen in solid colours but also plaid, herringbone and dogtooth fabrics giving them a heritage feel. There is an endless choice of colours to chose from and they use fabrics you’d never imagine working in a trainer such as velvet and oxford cloth. By no means an essential but I was struck with how original and refreshing they were compared to all the garrish urban ‘Foot Locker’ trainers you see around and your typcial simple plimsoll/pump. Unfortunately they don’t deliver to the UK (yet), rendering this post a bit pointless really! :)
I would have to include deck/boat shoes in the list one of the most comfortable and versatile shoes I own. They also look so good, that women actually assume you own a boat when you where them so it’s a win win for everyone lol
Another good article which has prompted a fair bit of reasonable response. Must admit I already own white Converse pumps, black dress shoes, 3 pairs of Chelsea boots (patent black Russell Brand stylee, matt black & dark red/brown) plus a few pairs of loafers (Patrick Cox included) but… no desert boots!
Question is do I buy a pair of tobacco brown ones given that s/s is on the way or get a pair of plain white Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66′s..?
Damn I wish I could afford both…
PS best trainers of all time are the original neon/grey Nike Air Max 95s xxx
Hey Matt thanks for the comments, much appreciated keep it up
fantastic article.. great set of shoes if you have one from each category referenced here..
however what about boots? i have recently become a boot lover during this winter and i really have fallen in love with wearing them :)
Crisp white trainers can be really pleasing on the eyes. But how are we supposed to wear the laces? tuck them in or leave them dangling?
I prefer the tucked in lace look if it’s feasibly comfy, failing which I face up to reality and leave them dangling
PS – Bought both the plain white Onisuka Tiger Mexico 66′s and the tobacco-coloured desert boots today – it had to be done.
Love your choices and was actually wondering when you were going to let us know which shoes were most important. I have to agree with some of the others though, I won’t be getting rid of my Vans or boat shoes anytime soon! :P
Hey Matt – I have a white pair of diesel casual shoes, you have any tips with what type of pants/ jeans and shirts/ t shirts, they go with. White shoes tend to really stand out and I want to avoid this “watch me” impression. Love all your articles BTW.
Do you think is ok use loafers with a suit? Maybe some of them could do the job…I mean, im using them only for a special event, but after that day I’m using them for casual….and the standard ones with laces seems too formal for me, one pair i could never use again with my clothes.
If not loafers….what kind of shoes would you guys can recommend me to do the job? Thanks for answering. BTW great articles!!!
@DANIEL – it depends entirely how you are wearing the suit. If it’s a very structured formal suit then the loafers will look really out of place with it. However, if it’s relaxed tailoring, maybe an unstructured shoulder and you’re not wearing a tie or a belt then the loafers may look ok. If you wear the suit casually, then it should be ok. If you’re not then I really would suggest getting pair of lace-ups, you never know when you might need them again!
i have pretty big feet, size 12 in most shoes (slightly smaller in some) and i have long fairly slim legs. i tried on a pair of slim jeans the other day but couldn’t pull them off with the shoes i was wearing as they did nothing to hide the size of them. i just bought a pair of KG by Kurt Geiger shoes in black, so need something a bit more casual now and definitely something that minimizes the size of them. what are you suggestions?
Hi, love this site, such a big help in so many ways!!!
Im going to a smart/casual company do. I want to wear my tan brogues with a dark blue blazer. Stuck with trousers and shirts though? Im thinking grey trousers or light coloured chinos and a smart pale blue or white shirt? Brown belt of course….Please help.
Anyone know what the sand coloured boots with the red lining are in the main banner image of this article ??
well, to add to the above question,
anyone know what’s the exact name/model/brand of the shoe on the right? its like a black brogue. is it? would appreciate if someone could give some details of that shoes to me.
i have a dark blue slim fitting jeans and i think those pair of shoes would really suit my jeans extremely well!
i’d rather walk barefoot than wear loafers :)
in particular those with with bells… ridiculous.
just out of interest, which ones have bells on them? Do you mean the tassles on the tassle loafers?
loafers looks very good in some outfits especially topsiders or boat shoes – as some people call them.
Got a question for anyone who wants to help. I’ve been buying a lot of shoes lately and I already have some black patent leather derbies. I also have a pair of clunky-looking very casual derbies from Rockport. I’d like to have a pair that looks good with anything and I don’t feel like I do yet. Do you guys think I should ditch both pairs I have for a pair more like the ones on display here?
to start with, you bought both shoes because you think it will look good on you, right? but if i were you, i wouldn’t ditch those two, you might need them for something or maybe they can go to some outfits you got, its just a matter of feeling good and confident about wearing them.
I think we should also include a rugged boots here. A rugged boots will be perfect for a slim or even straight cut jeans.
‘MOMA’ is a not so well known brand who produce classic, simple, elegant and unfussily masculine, good looking leather boots and shoes.
Perfect for my taste, and trust me, I’ve really had to look for some time before finding what I liked
I first came across a pair in ‘Sole Trader’ (Covent Garden, London).
They seem to be one of a handful of retailers who stock this very classy and understated brand
However, there is a far better and more comprehensive range of their footwear available online at ‘Zalando’ – they look at the very least just as good in ‘real life’ as they do in the online pics – fine materials, excellent workmanship, clean, simple, masculine elegance and eminently versatile and wearable.