There is nothing that will make you look more stylish and give you a confidence boost like a nice pair of shoes. Every man needs a few pairs of great dress shoes for the unavoidable occasions that will call for them.
If you’re a man who knows how important quality dress shoes are, then you probably don’t need to read further. But for everyone else, this may be one of the most important fashion articles you read.
What you have on your feet can make or break any look. It doesn’t matter if you have the most amazing suit in the world, if you have bad shoes, you might as well roll around in a puddle of mud. Shoes can get expensive, but if you’re smart about your choice, you’ll be able to wear them for years. Not only that, but the confidence you get every time you put them on will be well worth the price.
Whether for business or for that hot date, nothing will make you look more successful or sexy. Get yourself a pair of high-quality shoes and tell me if you don’t get compliments.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I SPEND ON SHOES?
With shoes, you really get what you pay for. The minimum you should be spending is around N7,000-15,000. If that’s too much for you, just remember the rule of “cost per use.” The shoes will last you years, if not decades, and the amount of use you’ll get out of them will exceed the price.
If you need dress shoes for work every day or you go out on the weekends a lot, then a good pair of dress shoes is of monumental importance to your outfit.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SHOES
With shoes, it’s all about quality, quality, quality. It’s better to have two or three pairs of good shoes that will last a long time than to have fifteen pairs of generic-looking bargain brands.
How do you know Good and quality shoes?
- High-quality shoes are all about construction, and there are few basic things to look for: Your shoes should be made of real leather and have leather soles as well (If you buy quality leather shoes, they can be refurbished a number of times and will last forever, which is ultimately going to be less expensive than having to replace crappy, poorly made shoes every few months.)
- The soles of well-made shoes will be stitched, not glued, to the bottom of the shoes.
- Also, the lining in better shoes is made of high-quality calfskin or natural leather, not synthetic materials.
- Finally, check out the stitching. It should be neat and should be barely noticeable.
SHOE BASICS
The Laces
It’s an inescapable fact that a lace-up still looks better with a suit than a slip-on.
The Color
Black will always be dressier than brown. If you’re suiting up for a board meeting or a formal event, go with the former. If necessary, however, you can pair brown lace-ups with suits – especially navy or charcoal – as long as they’re scuff-free.
The Material
Glossy leather is the fail-safe choice, but you should feel free to experiment with suede – starting with a pair of classic bucks and progressing to exotic materials like alligator and ostrich or the growing number of antiqued leathers.
The Toe
An elongated toe is unequivocally classier than a square. That doesn’t mean all your lace-ups should be pointy – lots of elegant cap toes have squared-off tips – but unless you’re aiming for mid-nineties nostalgia, no shoes you wear should have a blunt, squared-off toe. I suggest staying away from them.
The Welt
Well-made lace-ups should have a close welt – the seam where the upper meets the sole and creates the outer edge of the shoe. It should be visible, but it shouldn’t extend so far past the edge of the shoe that it creates a ledge.
The Sole
A thin sole is the hallmark of a cheap shoe – plus, it not only looks cut-rate, it wears out more quickly. Yours should be at least a quarter-of-an-inch thick and preferably leather, not rubber.
The Broguing
Traditionalists will tell you that the more broguing – decorative stitching and perforated and serrated edges – a shoe has, the less dressy it is. But while it’s true that heavily embellished bucks look better with sport jackets and tweed than with pinstripe suits, this rule is flexible.
Conclusion: The eyes might be the window to the soul, but shoes are the window to just about everything else. What you choose to put on your feet actually does reflect your image and the way people relate with you. This being said, it's best to always take extra care about your shoes and to wearing a good pair regardless of the occasion. Stay dapper always!
Read Also: How Shoes Affect Your Image - HERELabels: Accessories, Men Style, Style Ideas, Wardrobe Guide
