Image via Zoe and Jason’s Relaxed Macedon Ranges Wedding
There is nothing quite like the feeling of wearing a pair of great-looking shoes. The essential finisher to any outfit, shoes are a great way to express a little of your personality. From flashy to classic, there are a myriad of styles afforded to the style conscious male! Today we discuss InStitchu’s take on the six pairs of shoes that every modern man should have at his disposal.
Oxfords
Oxfords are the standard business and formal shoe. These shoes are particularly characterised by their lace eyelets and narrow front profile. However, oxfords are extremely versatile and can often be used as both a formal and smart-casual shoe; available in a variety of materials and colours.
The most common combinations are black or brown leather oxfords. These are traditionally accompanied with a tailored suit in a business or formal setting, like InStitchu’s classic Mr Cordell suit. Many men also love to dress down some oxfords with a pair of chinos or jeans.
Wingtips
Over the past decade, wingtips have made a huge comeback. The humble wingtip is a very conservative and traditional shoe, which can however be used with a range of outfits. Wingtips are characterised by their ‘winged’ stitch on the toe-cap, perforated leather pattern along the sides and their often-substantial sole. This thick sole is to ensure they remain wearable when the weather turns sour.
The most common pair of wingtips you will find are brown or tan. These look great with a three-piece suit to maintain the Saville Row feel; pair them with InStitchu’s Mr Hancock for a trendy but distinguished look.
Dress boots
The dress boot is constructed to look like a tailored shoe rather than a work boot with a sleek profile and minimalistic design. These shoes rise just above the ankle and are often suited to poor weather or colder climates as they provide a little more protection and warmth for your feet.
The most common style of boot is a Chelsea boot or riding boot, characterised by the elastic siding and tight fit.
Monk straps
Similar to the wingtips, the monk straps have made a resurgence over the last ten years. Monk straps are easily identified by their absence of laces and their closed buckles or strap. Available in a range of materials and colours, they are commonly found in black or brown leather and are readily worn with a suit.
While the monk straps are not for the sartorial faint of heart, if you get it right, you will be turning heads.
Loafers
Loafers offer comfort, security and versatility. While they are often portrayed as a bit of an ‘old man’ shoe and are casual by their slip-on nature, this is not always the case. Suede tassel loafers are great for pottering around the house or leather pennys are suitable for more formal occasions. Leather loafers with tassels, buckles or brown straps are often worn in a business or formal environment. Brown leather loafers without socks look great in summer, especially when dressed up with navy trousers. Try InStitchu’s customisable navy fitted trousers for the perfect look!
Desert boots
Desert boots or suede chukka boots are very much smart casual, wearable with a broad range of outfits. These boots are characterised by their suede fabric and their comfort for the wearer. Desert boots were originally designed by Nathan Clark of Clark’s shoes as a boot that was aesthetically pleasing and something that can be worn with almost any outfit.
Most commonly, blue, brown, tan and grey are the preferred choices as they can be worn with a variety of pants.
Shoe images x 6 via Institchu
Ms Chinoiserie Says: With a shoe for every occasion, this top six list ensures your choice is always on trend!
About InStitchu: We believe that every man should be able to afford high quality tailored suits and shirts. Our customers order by designing their own tailored suit or shirt from scratch or can use an existing design from our collections page. With a guaranteed fit policy, we have strict quality control procedures to ensure our tailored suits and shirts meet the highest quality standards expected by our customers.
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