Style: Men's Shoes
 

I've decided to get a new pair of shoes. Smart, nice ones that people (*cough* women) will notice and approve of. What's in vogue right now? Brogues? Plain leather? Oxford shoes?

Pictures would be great. :)

Perhaps we can make this a general style educational thread about shoes, for all the clueless men like me out there!

p/s: I know sometimes different occasions and even different countries can have different trends. I am in the UK - but if you chime in it would be cool to hear where you are from so we can see what the fashion trends are in different places.

Oxfords, flat black leather. You can never go wrong with the classic look.

My only advice when buying shoes is don't cheap out. I'd buy a cheap t-shirt or sweater, but never a cheap (flimsy, uncomfortable, tacky) pair of shoes or boots.

Paging all metrosexuals.......

People still use that neologism? When are we going to go back to the more accurate term, dandy?

EDIT: I will benefit from this thread if we see some recommendations for shoes that are both timelessly stylish....and durable. Is there such a thing?

Dont forget comfortable. I only wear sneakers and hiking boots because I have yet to find a pair of shoes I can live with. Clomping around on hard soles all day kills my feet and my back.

Warning : AVOID TASSELS.

Once you get that, you'll be fine.
Only men over 50 should be allowed to wear tassels.

Dandy. Hell-yeah. Like the Pinaud Clubman.

...

Converse All-Stars prove time and time again that you sacrifice durability and comfort for style.

If I was a rich bloke with a zillion oolahs... I would design some Converse All-Stars that were all-encompassing the-bombness. Arch support. Reinforced grommets. Kevlar/Spectra construction. Carbon rubber soles. Triple-stitching. Oh, they'd be the UberTaylors.

I wear these...
http://images.vixensandangels.com/im...percurb72.jpeg
http://images.vixensandangels.com/im...erspoof72.jpeg

World's King... I knew it was you:

Nothing...

a bit too mod for me, but do them come in all black?

Yep.

Creepers...

Although I see Crompsin in these...

http://images.vixensandangels.com/im...ondoknevil.jpg

Cromp's way off. Pee Wee had mad style, not the kitchen dude.
And WK's shoes would be something women would notice in a GOOD way.
Paired with the right attiude and outfit.

Jealous much?


Where will you be wearing these shoes? Work? What kind of work? Formal? Casual?

I'm gonna get me some Hooligans.

Nice choice... they haven't made those in years. The website I posted is from a store here in Denver. (I worked there for years if you all remember.) Been doing business for over twenty years.

Corcoran II paratrooper boots are pretty retro stylish good after you put about a thousand miles on 'em and keep 'em glossy and soft with a lot of Kiwi polish TLC.

US Army's Clown Boots

wild... I didn't think creepers still existed....

TUK still makes them... check this out...

Creeper Sneakers...

Can something like this also be applied to men wearing loafers with no socks? As in, it should never be done... ever.

I dunno... miami vice fashion may make a comeback
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...q/3fa16dac.jpg

That's funny, I kinda saw Crompsin in these....
http://images.vixensandangels.com/im...silbeat72.jpeg

And now, I'll slide out of the testosterone footwear thread. ;)

How about these for Crompsin?
http://images.vixensandangels.com/im...Rcocked72.jpeg

Nice, WK... are those springs inside those Spice Girl monsters?

How will I do cool karate moves? How will I shift on my bike?

I think I'll be safe if I stick with these retro beauties:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/Astro1143/3573.jpg

They're expensive but I get the feeling they'll never wear out.

Trust me. I sold these shoes for almost seven years.

Might I suggest any of these...

I said metrosexual.

Hey, I'm definitely liking these. :thumbsup:

for a basic shoe the oxford is a safe bet, however, if you are going for the trend you need to pay attention to things like the shape of the toe.

You can get squared off toes (out of fashion now), rounded, tapered or pointy.

Definitely NO tassels.

And it all comes down to what you are wearing. If you are wearing a relatively conservative suit or clothes, nothing WK has suggested will really work (unless you have the attitude to pull it off).

I am a musician, but I occasionally teach in schools. I'm looking for something fairly smart that I could wear equally well with a suit or with smart casual clothes like going out for a drink at an upmarket bar.

Charlatan, which toe shapes are in?

Pointed toes are always in...

Aldo white leather sport shoes. Comfortable, capable of movement, fairly trendy appearance.
Wear with jeans or un-ironed khakis, but not with a suit unless it's extremely casual and you're wearing a printed t-shirt or something.

Kenneth Cole black leather dress shoes. Comfortable, but you're not going to want to move around too much in them.
Wear with a decent suit, ironed khakis, or very nice jeans.

Kenneth Cole black leather casual shoes. Comfortable, easier to move around in, but not athletic.
This is generally the shoe that you might want. You can wear it with jeans or with a casual suit. I've got a pair similar to this but older that I wear often to work or around.

Here are some men's shoes that I like. I have 2 favorite shoe stores for me, so I just browsed their men's selection.

Here are some Steve Maddens:

http://zoomcc.richfx.com.edgesuite.n...ATHER_zoom.jpg

http://zoomcc.richfx.com.edgesuite.n...ATHER_zoom.jpg

Aldo has good dress shoes and casual shoes, too.

I also love Dr. Marten's.

Dockers make good shoes that A) look good, B) are comfortable, c) are well made and will last.

Shesus wants these...
http://images.vixensandangels.com/im...s/DM8pp66.jpeg

Wow...those are the coolest shoes I have ever seen. I must have them.

One thing to consider when purchasing men's shoes is body size. Your shoes should balance the rest of your body out. It looks odd when a large man wears shoes that are cut small, and a smaller man in large shoes looks like a clown.

If you want a good all-around shoe that you can wear to work, to shows, and out around the town, something like this :

http://www.kennethcole.com/img/prod/...9252LE_BLK.jpg

is a good workhorse shoe. You could wear it with a nice pair of slacks or chinos, or with jeans. It's not really dressy enough to go with a suit but it looks comfortable enough for long-term wear.

Whatever you do end up buying, make sure that you do it in a brick and mortar store. You want to check fit and comfort. And definitely listen to highthief. A pair of good shoes will cost you a bit more initially, but they'll pay for themselves in the long run.

haha...I said I wanted the green ones, but...
King, PM me for shipping information. Thanks. :D

Here you go snowy...

And Shesus...

I don't remember what shipping is... I think it's around $10. But don't quote me on that.

I have a pair of Doc Marten Smith 4 ties that I wear just about everyday. They also come in a 5 tie boot version.

http://www.dmusastore.com/images/PRO...m/10220001.jpg

Square toes are definitely out right now but this sort of tapered to a square are still in.

The cross between a trainer and a dress shoe that others have posted above are great too. It all depends on what your style is.

You can wear pretty much anything these days but you need to have the attitude to pull it off. Like dogs can smell fear... people can sense when you are not comfortable in your clothes.

You need a these... Monkey Boots...

http://images.vixensandangels.com/im...jmonkey72.jpeg

http://content.nordstrom.com/ImageGa...0/_5453700.jpg

Don't give up on tassels too soon.
These are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.

I get compliments on and people notice them all the time.

Sorry DDDDave but shoes without laces should be scorned... might as well be wearing bedroom slippers. I am sure they are comfortable but I made a vow a long time ago that I would never be caught dead in tasseled shoes.

Tassels died with Magnum PI along with short shorts for men and the non-gay mustache.

But, but ... I have nice legs!

:surprised:

Yea, I can't speak for other ladies, but tassels are the kiss of death.

Slip on shoes are ok, if they are the right style. I happen to like these. They would go great with some thin, faded jeans.

http://zoomcc.richfx.com.edgesuite.n...ULTI_large.jpg

I also like these.

http://zoomcc.richfx.com.edgesuite.n...MULTI_zoom.jpg

Sort of a pho peasant look?

Nothing like expensive shoes meant to look cheap, like the torn jeans thing.

I have a $120 pair of shoes that's lasted 5 years and looks like I bought them yesterday. I don't suppose Payless sells shoes like that.

UsTwo: It's the distressed look. I've always liked it, just like antique furniture.

Will: Payless?...blasphemy. That store serves two purposes. To help a person with limited funds who need to have something covering their feet. Or those poor bridesmaids that have to wear dyables. ;)

You're preaching to the choir. I had Payless boots back when I did landscaping and they barely lasted a month. I went to a military surplus store and picked up some boots and I still have them 5 years later(the $120 shoes mentioned above, in fact).

theres a saying that goes something like.. "you can tell a man by his shoes"


and its true. u can tell a homeless guy by his shoes, or a dentist by his shoes (i know im expecting a response) u can tell a careless person by his shoes, you can tell an untidy person by his shoes..

in fact i always pay attention to peoples shoes and try and work out their pesonalities according to their shoes.

so if u want to keep people guessing, choose shoes you wouldnt usually choose.

Precisely.

Is that why WK is confusing?

Isn't fashion a signifier for who you think you are? Isn't it the icing on the cake that is you?

If you choose shoes that you wouldn't normally choose, in an effort to keep people guessing, what does that say about you? And are you willing to put that message out, regardless of how it is interpreted?

I am an admitted shoe snob. My first pair of shoes were from Nordstroms. Now, I normally don't buy shoes from Payless, but last spring I happened to be in one helping a friend shop for wedding shoes. We didn't find any wedding shoes, but we DID find a pair of black patent leather ballet flats for me, and a pair of fuck-me boots for her (buy one, get one free). I don't know how the boots worked out (she was saving 'em for the honeymoon ;)), but I was surprised at how the ballet flats have lasted. I wore them constantly this summer. That was $7 well spent. And they're still kicking, by the way. The leopard print on the insole is a bit faded, but otherwise, the lack of wear (considering how much they have been worn) is impressive.

Despite this experience, I'm not sure I'd buy shoes from Payless again--at least not till I have kids.

Target has better cheap shoes than Payless does, in my opinion, but the BEST places to look for deals are places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross, and Nordstrom Rack. Nordstrom also has great quarterly sales on shoes (they were originally a shoe store). Sure, it's part-shopping-part-treasure-hunt, but that's what makes it fun, right?

The best place in Canada to shop for shoes (heck, clothes) is Winners. I have a pairs of Steve Madden, Ben Sherman and Rockports for which I did not pay anywhere close to retail price.

I have to agree with Charlie, Winners does rock for finding treasures and low prices.


Go for looks when you want to look good, choose comfort when looking for casual.

I have to admit that i am a bit of a shoe whore. I like to keep a rotation going and very it up all the time, i love it when people notice....makes me girlie i guess.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...NL._AA280_.jpg

Hmmm, I'd wear these AND my short-shorts. Yet I also hate hippies. Go figure.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...gersSprint.jpg

Dude, I totally have a gift card for Winners burning a hole in my pocket since Christmas.

When I worked in a garage, the $20 pairs of oil and slip resistant shoes at Payless were a Godsend, especially considering how hard it is to find something in 15W (the 14W would stretch out the extra half size I needed in one or two 10-hour work days.) No boot would survive more than 6 weeks with the amount of antifreeze, oil, and transmission fluid spilled on and in them. The skin on my feet was dyed blue with a hint of purple from the ATF and leather dye.
Very true of the entire wardrobe. I don't define myself by what I wear, but I certainly wouldn't wear something that isn't "me." The fact that I'm a label whore who loves good jeans (not high fashion, but good stuff like Lucky, Perry Ellis, Claiborne, and others that make well-fitted but not skin-tight jeans) yet have only one pair of jeans that cost me more than $18 (they were $30) says something about me.

im the sort of person that doesnt like to get judged.

i also happen to fit into a lot of different type of fashion and trends. i can go from very formal to outright daggy. sometimes dependant on my mood. but i love being who i am. i guess i dont like sticking to a definitive collection of fashion or labels because i dont like to get labelled myself into a particular genre of fashion. i like to keep people guessing at what i'll be wearing. it actually surprises people and u do get comments. but best of all, people dont define you as a type of person because of what u wear.

maybe theres a name for people like me..im not sure..

Mmm, FiveFingers.... pardon me while I wipe away my drool.

I like the Kenneth Cole Reaction line, and I wear alot of Clarks brand shoes.

I like the styles and comfort of Steve Madden shoes.
Seems that the clearance shoes mainly have pointed toes, which means that style is on its way out.


Glock: http://www.stevemadden.com/item_deta...MULTI_zoom.jpg


Elope: http://www.stevemadden.com/item_deta...ATHER_zoom.jpg

Novo: http://www.stevemadden.com/item_deta...ATHER_zoom.jpg

Shifter: http://www.stevemadden.com/item_deta...ATHER_zoom.jpg

Charlatan - I'm curious where you're coming from with the anti-square toes movement. I see many stylish square-toed shoes in the current line from top designers.

Prada: http://www.styledrops.com/handbags-19948.html
http://www.styledrops.com/handbags-17329.html

I would say that I am reacting to the extreme square toed shoes that were on the market about 5 to 10 years ago... What you have there are a lot more tapered than the ones I am thinking about.

http://men.style.com/images/details/...sfashion2h.jpg

The Steve Madden Elope is simply gorgeous!

Can any one recommend to me a good jeans shoes? Not the nice, expensive jeans mind you. The ones that a typical college student would wear.

This sort of depends on the overall look you're going for. Casual? Semi-casual? Construction worker casual? It also depends on climate; if you're getting sub-zero temperatures at the moment, running shoes might not be appropriate.

That said, you do have several options. Chuck Taylors are generally considered classic cool and come in a whole range of styles and colours. shesus' Steve Madden distressed shoes have that Salvation Army chique look, which may or may not still be big on college campuses; as I spend little time on them, I'm not entirely certain. If you want something a little more weather-appropriate, a pair of black leather boots are both warm and quite stylish. I wear a pair that look something like these. And failing all of that, you could just go with a classic dress shoe, which can definitely work with jeans, although it will depend largely on what you wear over them. If you go that route, though, make sure you don't get anything too flashy; something like this could work. You'd wear that with a nice pair of jeans (proper fit, no holes, not overly faded) and a fairly nice shirt; either a wool sweater or maybe a button down left open over a t-shirt. In that case I prefer solid colours, although I know for a fact that willravel disagrees with me and your mileage may vary.

Just some thoughts, anyway.

I was thinking of something along the line of the New Balance Classic look or some thing like this page.

http://www.zappos.com/n/es/d/37109/size/9/page/1.html

I've been wearing New Balance for a while now and I'm thinking about changing to something a little different.

I live in the Seattle, WA area. Rains a lot. If it helps.

So New Balance, but not? That narrows things down quite a bit; you're basically looking for a standard trainer, I gather. Some options straight off the page you linked:

Puma Speed Cat
adidas originals Stan Smith
Reebok Lifestyle Classic Ballistic EXT

Those are all good trainers that might suit you. You can also look at Nikes if you want, but I don't like them myself. I've found they don't seem to wear as well as their competitors. Converse probably isn't a good idea in wet weather, since their All-Stars are almost all made from canvas and I don't know how well that would work in keeping your feet warm and dry. If you're less athletic, you could also look at a pair of skate shoes. I don't really like the chunky style personally, but they're pretty much the word on comfort. A couple of examples are:

Vans Old Skool
DC Belmar

My last suggestion, given based on what little I know about Seattle weather patterns (which are, I gather, quite similar to Vancouver weather patterns), is a hiking shoe. These aren't as good for running or playing sports, but they'll keep your feet warm and dry:

Keen Voyageur
New Balance MR873
Columbia Beartooth

Whatever you get, make sure you don't skimp. I'm not a label snob by any stretch of the imagination (I only have a handful of items in my wardrobe that are from big brand names), but footwear is where I make the exception. Good shoes are worth the extra cash, whereas if you go for the bargain brand you usually end up paying for it. Not only do they tend to wear out sooner, but they're usually not nearly as comfortable either. It's worth it to spend a bit extra upfront and save yourself the headache. Or footache.

Get these:

You can shine them up for going out, you slip on and off, can stand dirt and oil, timeless in style, and will last for 5 years or more.

As Merle Haggard said, "Boots are still in style for manly footwear".

I used to wear a pair Roots boots just about everywhere. I brought them with me but I just can't wear them here. They are too hot. I can only imagine how hot the boots above would be.

I just did a google image search for a pair of Roots boots and I don't think Roots even makes them anymore...

Yes, those are nice. I'll look for 'em at the shoe store next time I go shopping. Thanks!

Love these boots, wear them almost everyday... got them from this store http://www.shop.trboa.com/images/img_w_002L2_B.jpg

Those are nice.

Comfortable, nice looking, and I can run in them.
http://www.kennethcole.com/img/prod/...9265LE_BLK.jpg

Kenneth Cole has some nice shoes. Wonder if they are sold here in London.

Don't complain, you've got Burberry. It's like Hugo Boss without angry models and the secret Nazi history.

Firstly, wasn't complaining. Was wondering. :)

Secondly, Burberry carries a stigma with it here in the UK. It's associated with the social group referred to as the "chav", and I am among the many people who will never ever buy anything Burberry.

Wow, we see it different here in the US. Go figure. You also have fcuk, but I don't even want to know what you think of that.

Can't you get KC off ebay?

I thought it was hiphop culture... because the link caricature sure does look like a hiphop wigger.

and I agree, I'd stay away from the burberry plaid, but other burberry goods, are not any different than any other upscale brand.

Nah, fcuk is okay.

An article explaining the Burberry-chav problem on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4381140.stm

I'm still nervous about buying shoes online. I feel like I have to try them on first, since sometimes I need to go up or down as much as a full size to get a decent fit.

I like Kenneth Cole stuff... nice and clean. I also love the Hugo Boss clothes... I just can't stomach paying that much for clothing.

The few pieces I own have been paid for using flight insurance. Losing your luggage can have its upside.

A few weeks ago, I bought these Ben Shermans for $30 (CDN) at Winners. :) I got them because they were such a good deal and I needed casual shoes.

was out at sportsmart today as they have buy 1 get the other half off. the lady friend got some nice hiking shoes. i picked out a nice white pair of adidas with black stripes.

makes me feel a bit wigger-ish but very classic and brings me back to my youth.

Wow, I haven't heard that term in awhile...

People used to call you one?!

We need a Winners here... :sad:

Oddly, no.

I can't believe no one's suggested it, so I guess I'll have to add it... Sketchers. They have a wide selection of nice looking casual shoes that are without laces, which makes them good "lazy" shoes. Unless I'm going to do something athletic I am usually wearing something like that.
<img src="http://www.skechers.com/images/productimages/medium/60737_FUD.jpg">

Sketchers. You'll probably spend less than $70, which is also a plus.

I had a nice pair of Skechers that I completely wore out. Very comfy. I'm glad I bought a slightly small pair as they stretched out in a few days to the perfect fit.

Are lifts frowned upon for less tall men?

Bad:
http://www.twelvetwelve.com/img/plats/e_kera15.jpg
Good:
http://www.kennethcole.com/img/prod/...3294LE_001.jpg

spot bilt coach shoes..they look sorta dressy. about as dressy as I get anyway.
https://secure.internalmatters.com/S...rge/100010.jpg
http://www.spotbilt.com/productDetail.aspx?ProductId=36
these are awsome.

or...Whites lace up cowboy packers. http://www.whitesoutdoor.com/store/p...y=Boots&id=695
http://www.whitesoutdoor.com/assets/...boy_packer.jpg
$500 worth of hand made american boots. they'll last you a lifetime.
they'll rebuild them to as new for $150 or so but I got 10+ years in em before I got close to needing a rebuild.
effin awsome boots

creepers are just retarded.

What do you think of these?

http://www.walktallshoes.com/prodima...undy-large.jpg
http://www.walktallshoes.com/prodima...lack-large.jpg
http://www.walktallshoes.com/prodima...lack-large.jpg
http://www.walktallshoes.com/prodima...lack-large.jpg

When would anyone ever wear a black shoe other than with a black suit, black shirt, or black sport jacket? Every other combination to me screams 'brown'

Edit: To add to the thread, I have a pair of Kenneth Cole slip ons in black and brown, two pairs of black sketchers and one pair of brown (all slip-on) , two pairs of black Reef's and one pair of brown leather, and I just bought a pair of blue Ahnu's. I like having shoe options :thumbsup:

#1, 2 and 4 are out of date style. 3 might work, but they're not long enough. Notice how flat the shoes I linked are? How long they are? That's what men are generally wearing now.

I'm wearing these:
http://www.kennethcole.com/img/prod/...6234BB_BLK.jpg
They provide maybe 1" lift, I suppose.

nice choice wil. they are just my style too!

I just recently discovered Bed|Stu which has some pretty awesome shoes for a somewhat reasonable price.

I like the Bobber:
http://bedstu.com/uploads/cshop/BOBB...25fa2345b.jpeg

And the Manchester:
http://bedstu.com/uploads/cshop/manc...0a959fcf2.jpeg


But mostly I just wear Sketchers.