An outfit is never complete without a shoe. The right shoe that is.
A shoe has the power to make or break the outfit. Many times I have seen a groom wearing a white suit with brown shoes. He has immediately ruining his outfit.
In fact, many people plan their outfit from the shoe up.
Thabani Ndulula, a salesman, at a popular shoe outlet, says he has advised many people to start with the shoe. “It is easier to find an outfit that will match the shoe, rather than a shoe to match the outfit.”
He says the shoe makes the man. And it separates the men from the boys. Knowing which shoe to wear with what is a pre-requisite. It’s a rite of passage.
There’s an art in choosing the right shoe. Many style icons like David Beckham, Tom Ford and Daniel Craig make sure that they are dressed correctly for any occasion.
“It shows how serious they are about a particular look,” adds Thabani. “There is a shoe for every occasion. Their footwear reflects their style.”
Some will say that men don’t have as many choices when it comes to shoes as women do. This is true, but many may counter that and say it’s because of a lack of knowledge.
Choosing the right shoe is simple.
First know what type of shoe you want, the price you are willing to pay and which brand you’d like and what you will wear it with.
It’s pointless buying a shoe that you cannot wear with three or more outfits.
The next thing is the fit. Slip them on and see whether they fit you, if you are comfortable and whether you look good in them.
One important thing to remember is never buy a shoe just because it’s in fashion. It’s stupid and it shows poor judgment. As a gentleman you are supposed to be stylish and make sure that you are not swayed by trends, but rather make your own statement every time.
Some of the best shoe brands for men include Florsheim, Pierre Cardin, Converse, Lacoste, Levi’s and John Craig. High end brands like Gucci, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo and Top Shop also have a good selection of footwear, but obviously at a higher price.
These are the shoes that you need at least one pair of during summer:
The espadrille
A personal favourite, espadrilles are casual flats – but sometimes with a heel – originating from the Pyrenees. They usually have a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of rope or rubber material moulded to look like rope.
These are the perfect shoes for summer, and Lacoste has a range that will appeal to everyone.
The boat shoe
A Kanye West favourite (he raps about them in a verse of his song See Me Now), boat shoes were originally invented by Paul Sperry in 1935, when he cut thin slits in to the rubber soles of his shoes to create a shoe that wouldn’t slip on a wet deck.
Canvas shoes
Durban based blogger, Mxolisi Ngonelo, wrote about canvas shoes in his blog a few weeks ago. “Every stylish gent out there knows that when it’s spring the boots are locked away and the lighter, softer shoes make a comeback; like canvas sneakers.”
He couldn’t be more right. The timeless canvas sneaker, like the ever popular Converse All Star is always the right choice for a dressed down look and are perfect for summer. Soft, flexible, comfortable and stylish one can never go wrong with them.
The moccasin
I’m not a particular fan of these, however they are very popular thanks to shoe brand Carvella. A moccasin is a slipper made of deerskin or soft leather, and it consists of a sole and sides made of one piece of leather, stitched together at the top. The sole is soft and flexible and the upper part often is adorned with embroidery or beading. No need to wear socks, which makes them the perfect summer shoe.
Brogues and wingtips
Every man should know the difference between these two, even though it’s a slight difference.
Brogues are shoes with perforations (little holes) in them, while wingtips are shoes with a W design on the toe cap. Hardly anyone calls them wingtips though, with almost everyone preferring to call them brogues.
Full brogues are shoes with perforations and a W design, while half brogues and quarter brogues have no W design and perforations on the toe cap and on the edge of the toe cap, respectively. These are also a favourite for summer as you can dress them up and down,
The loafer
The ultimate slip-on shoe. Gucci is currently the best when it comes to making loafers. Pierre Cardin is second. I recently got myself a pair of Pierre Cardin loafers and I wear them with everything. They are perfect for those days where you want to show some ankle without any socks.
Sandals
Just as long as you don’t look like you are in 1AD while you are wearing them, you’re good to go.
Dress shoes
It is cocktail party season and these are the best and only shoes you should wear to an evening function. Stick to either black or midnight blue, pointy toe and lace up. They are the only shoe to be worn with a tuxedo or a black and navy suit.
It’s so great that the men’s shoe trends are leaning towards classic styles instead of some “flash in the pan” trend. This means that these shoes will stay in your closet for a couple of years. - Sunday Tribune