Primer on Mens Shoes

An often overlooked but critical component of a great outfit, a winning pair of shoes is essential to a stylish look. The following suggestions will help you choose the most flattering kinds to complement any outfit.

Sneakers & Trainers

Finding a great pair of sneakers for going to the gym, playing sports, or getting around town is easier than ever, with the huge variety of functional and stylish options available. Save functional options for the gym and sports and choose something more stylish for the town. Whether you prefer loud and colorful or subtle and classic, there is something for you. This is a good area to experiment, as outfits that go with sneakers are infinitely casual and comfortable. New Balance, Nike, and Converse are great lines with lots of options. Diesel makes some stylish sneakers, too.

Sandals

From stylish brown leather sandals worn with light or white pants and a brown belt to plain old flip-flops, perfect for the beach or casual outings around town, sandals for almost any occasion can also be found. The advantage of sandals is that they are cool, very comfortable, and somewhat less conventional than other types of footwear. Colors range from brown to red to mustard yellow. Colorful, patterned flip-flops, a great way to perk up a laid back weekend outfit, are everywhere right now.

Loafers and Oxfords

A good choice for the office, loafers and oxfords can be dressed up or down, depending on the color and styling. Beyond the standard black and brown, camel is a very stylish choice for brown-hued outfits. Loafers can work with nice jeans for a date or dress pants for work. Oxfords, being lace up, are generally dressier than loafers. If you want to experiment with color, it’s probably better to do so with a loafer than an oxford.

Ankle Boots

Sexy and suave, good pair of slick black ankle boots are very sexy with dark pants and a pinstripe shirt for a hot date. Boots with a rougher edge can go with dark, worn-in jeans as well. Alternate colors can be very hot. Red boots are loud and assertive, so if you’re going for something very gutsy, try out a pair. Boots are extremely durable. A quality pair will most likely last you a lifetime.

Dress Shoes

Every man needs at least one fabulous black suit and one fantastic pair of dress shoes for formal occasions. These can be slip on or lace up, though lace ups with a closed throat are better for more formal events. The finish, shiny or matte, is a style choice, though shiny is dressier. Keep dress shoes well polished. Scuffs and nicks will detract from your pulled-together look.

Fit

A good pair of shoes should fit immediately and require no breaking in. Walk around in the store. If you feel any pinching or pressure, find something else. You should have a little bit of room between the ends of your toes and the end of the shoe, and the fit should be comfortable. Make sure the shoes are not too wide or narrow. Many people expect to stretch out a pair of shoes with wear, but they are not designed to accommodate more than minimal stretch, and their appearance will suffer if stretched too far.