It would be fair to say shoes are just as important to guys as they are to girls. The only difference is we guys don’t need a lot of pairs. We can make the same few work for every occasion- provided we have the right selection.
The shoe game is really evolving, which is kind of exciting since it means we have lots of options to choose from. But that doesn’t necessarily mean everything works for everyone. Knowing what we should pick is important if we don’t want to end up uncomfortable or disappointed.
There are so many ways to wear our shoes, chinos and sneakers with blazer, shorts and dress shoes (on the slightly dramatic side) etc. In fact we are living in times where people aren’t judgy about how we show up for a particular occasion as long as it suits us and our personality. That doesn’t mean we deviate from what’s necessary for a formal ocassion or a casual day with your friends.
I know college life is all about canvas shoes and sneakers and as such when there are occasions that demand a slightly serious look – presentation day or guest lectures, we start borrowing or even look for something to buy last minute which I must say never works in our favour.
Keeping this in mind, I am going to give you an inside into the type of shoes you need in your life to be ready for any occasion and the type which you are suppose to bid goodbye to. I’ll also be talking about the brands you can rely on, since most brands don’t give us value for money, but most importantly the type of shoes which will suit people based on their physical stature.
So if you are confused every time you look for a pair of shoes, this write up will be your good samaritan.
Dress Shoes
This would include all the leather shoes which are primarily for formal or semiformal occasions. We all know college life is all about easy casuals, so wearing dress shoes is kind of misfit per say, but having said that, the right dress shoes can be worn even with our jeans and tee.
So what are the right dress shoes which swing both ways? Wingtips, brogues and monk straps to name a few. What are the colours or material? Suede, tan, brown, black, grey, navy.
And one should definitely avoid shiny (patent leather) shoes, especially the pointy ones (not only are they outdated according to me, but most importantly, they are way too loud if you want to use them for a casual occasion). These shoes work for almost everyone, but if you are on the heavier side – stay away from brogues or heavy detailed shoes.
Now which brands to trust? Carlton London, Woodland and Zara to name a few – that is if you really want to make the best use of the money you spend.
Loafers
Loafers are a unique product – a fine balance of formal and casual. Loafers are extremely comfortable and effortless while making you look your best (what more could one ask for). There are so many types of loafers in leather and suede – penny loafer, tassel loafer etc. They suit almost everyone, and if you are on the heavier side, these will suit you even better. But if you are thin, I would suggest staying away from them.
The frustrating part would be none of the brands available in India produces loafer that gives people a run for money while some manages to fair just well at least that’s how I feel ;).
Anyway the brands to trust for loafers would be – Benetton, Zara, and Woodland. If these brands don’t satisfy you, try fordering from Asos (the site delivers to India too).
If you are someone who is not a fan of dress shoes – loafers would be a wise investment for multiple occasion use (preferably leather loafers).
PS: No socks with leather loafers please.
Casual shoes
Now this department is our life saver! Everyone has mastered this section. But before I go ahead I have a request to make – please stop wearing skinny jeans with trekking shoes, from Woodland specifically, or high top basketball shoes with jeans and a formal shirt. Economy wise, you can get 10x better multipurpose shoes at half the price you spent on those shoes.
One casual shoe which is trending and I personally do it has to be a pair of simple white shoe. It suits everyone and you don’t even have to think twice about what to wear with it. And if you may say it’s hard to maintain (like my friends say) – I disagree. Buy it and you’ll find ways to maintain it ;).
Apart from white you can opt for grey, black and earthy tones as per the trend and yes it will absolutely suit everyone. Sneakers are in too but if you want to avoid brain farts while trying to make it work with your attire? Go for solid colours and not the shoe with the whole rainbow on it hahahaha. Oh and also please don’t go for heavy in soled high top sneakers, because most of us fail in pulling it off☺.
If it’s too much info to follow up, go for an espadrille in solid tone and you are good.
Brands you can rely – Vans, Nike, Benetton, for espadrilles Superdry, Koovs and Asos.
Boots
I love boots, especially during winters, and also for rainy days. There are a variety of boots – Brogue boots, Chelsea boots, Combat boots, Desert etc. I prefer desert in suede for most occasions, primarily because that’s what I happen to like from the products we get. Everyone should own a pair of boots, but people on the heavier side should be very cautious when buying a pair, as most boots will end up making you look stout.
Remember we want it for multipurpose so the colour should be grey, black, and dark brown preferably.
And the brands you can confidently choose – Clarks, Zara, Woodland.
