Men's Shoes

Aside from the conventional pair of sneakers, every man needs to have certain shoes in his wardrobe -- a shiny pair of dress shoes; a comfortable pair of sandals; a pair of attention-grabbing boots.

Hopefully, after reading this, you'll know enough about men's footwear to open up your closet with confidence, and venture into a shoe store with your head held high.

Dress Shoes

The great bulk of dress, or "business" shoes fit snugly into two broad categories.


Oxfords
Oxfords are any lace-up men's shoes that don't rise above the ankle. Of course, within the Oxford category, there are many varieties, both structural and stylistic.

Open-laced (Bluchers) oxfords have the sides of the shoe sewn on top of the front part. When laced, the shoe looks like it's built out in segments. Front, top, side, back, etc.

Close-laced (Balmorals) oxfords are drawn together by laces sewn under the front part of the shoe and then closed over its tongue. The result is a shoe that looks as if it's made from one piece of leather.

Some oxfords have a separate piece of leather on the shoe's toe (also known as a "cap toe"). This leather may be plain or decorated with brogueing (leather embroidery).

"Saddle" oxfords have a saddle-shaped piece of leather of a different color, or leather type, over the shoe's instep.

"Kilties" are oxfords with a tongue of fringed leather that is draped over the instep to cover the shoe's laces and eyelets.

The "wingtip" is arguably the most common of all oxfords. This footwear features toe brogueing that resembles a bird with its wings spread.

When it comes to your oxfords, never settle for anything less than genuine leather. And no matter the structural design or the style of the leather finish, when worn in black, all oxford styles match with business suits.

Black, leather, close-laced oxfords, however, are the more formal dress shoe. They work especially well with pinstriped suits and double-breasted suits. If brown, they can be worn with tweed suits and sport jackets.

When worn in brown or oxblood, open-laced oxfords match with everything from jeans and khakis, to light suits and sports coats.


Loafers (Slip-On)
All loafers are marked by a low-cut, a broad, moccasin-type top, and a wide, flat heel.

As with oxfords, there are several varieties of loafer: penny loafer, moccasin, monk strap (buckle), tassel, etc.

Unlike oxfords, however, loafers don't automatically look good on all men.

Younger men might want to approach brown monk straps with caution, as those are more common among middle-aged guys. That said, a black monk strap looks quite good on the dance floor.

Tassel loafers are relatively formal and well-suited to business and tailored suits. Suede tassel loafers skew toward a more casual look, and can be worn with linen suits and other informal outfits, even jeans.

The classic Gucci or Prada moccasin-style loafer has been worn by business professionals for a while now, but it also looks good with jeans for a night out clubbing. Many young fashion mavens consider these shoes a basic necessity.

Penny loafers are casual, and perfect for khaki-and-blazer outfits. Although originally a favorite among younger demographics, they're now largely the province of older men.

Penny loafers and suede moccasins, however, are the only "dress" shoes that can successfully be worn with shorts and a polo shirt.

Tips for buying, wearing, and caring for dress shoes:

Protect your dressier shoes from rain/mud/snow by wearing overshoes (rubber protectors).

Invest in shoe trees.

Black shoes go with black, gray and navy clothes.

Brown shoes go with earth tones.

Burgundy (oxblood) shoes go with just about all men's colors.

Sandals

Thongs (flip-flops)
Thongs can be cheap and easy. They are beachwear, plain and simple. Don't wear them with anything other than shorts. And never (ever!) wear them with socks.


Sports sandals
This footwear is waterproof, with an athletic sole for traction. Sports sandals usually have several wide cross straps that go over the foot for support.

The airy, yet well-structured, design makes the shoes good for rafting, hiking or golf (on public courses), among other outdoor summer activities. When wearing them casually, match them with jeans, shorts or chinos.

Sports sandals are available in rubber, polyurethane or vinyl, as well as a range of colors and shades.


"Dress" sandals
These are a slightly more formal version of the sports sandal, except leather replaces rubber, and metal buckles replace Velcro straps. The increase in formality makes "dress" sandals wearable at spring and summertime outdoor events/functions, and with linen suits.

Tips for wearing and caring for sandals:

Make sure your feet look good when they're exposed.

Spray sandal leather with a water stain-resistant spray to guard against your perspiration. Foot sweat can quickly ruin a nice pair of sandals.

Lifestyle/Casual shoes

They're not quite dress shoes. But they can be quite a bit classier than simple tennis shoes. So, just what is the deal with the non-sneaker casual shoe?


Lifestyle shoes
These resemble open-laced oxfords, only with an athletic (rubber) sole and a slightly higher top. Lifestyle shoes are extremely flexible, as far as accompanying clothing goes. You can wear them with corduroy, cargo pants, khakis, wool slacks, or jeans. Nevertheless, they're best-suited for the campus, parties or simply for everyday, non-athletic events.

You can't go wrong picking lifestyle shoes in blues, grays, browns, and blacks. Bolder colors require that you match them well with your belt and other garments. The best lifestyle shoes are found in suede and leather.

Deck shoes or boat shoes
These are slip-on canvas loafers that can be worn without socks. They usually have white, non-slip soles. As a warm-weather shoe, boat shoes are best worn with linen pants or shorts, and in a variety of bright colors.

Tips for wearing and caring for casual shoes:

For canvas shoes, clean them with a damp cloth and mild soap.

To ensure the best fit of a leather lifestyle shoe, try it on later in the day. Your feet swell after a day of walking.

Boots

Ankle boots
These are the standard, stylish low boot, with a leather body, rubber sole and rounded toe. Zipper-front ankle boots are more pointed and formal, but both zipper-front and lace-up ankle boots can be worn under suits in business settings, on dates or for special events.






Hiking
These boots provide support above the ankle with a suede or leather upper, a padded collar, and a soft leather lining. A lace-up front is usually accompanied by a cushioned insole and padded tongue. A thick rubber sole completes the boot.


Cowboy/Biker boots (motorcycle-type boots)
Three key differences set the cowboy boot aside from its cousins: pointed toes, prominent -- even high -- heels, and a length that stops just short of the knee.



Unless it's a black leather or suede ankle boot, it is best to consider all boots casual footwear. Hiking and cowboy/biker boots can be worn with jeans, or in the case of biker boots, leather. Because the best boots should be some form of leather or suede, stick to the same color rules outlined in the section on dress shoes.

Tips for buying and taking care of boots:

Boot leather doesn't really expand. It either fits or it doesn't. Take the time to measure your foot accurately, and don't hesitate to ask for help (and a second opinion) from a salesperson.

Use a shoehorn to protect the boot's heel when slipping it on and off.

Don't wear your boots day in and day out. Leather absorbs moisture and your feet will sweat.

Men's Shoes