If you’ve ever heard the old adage “you can tell a lot about a man by his shoes”, you, and just about every stylist out there will know it is absolutely true. Shoes will not only tell you a lot about the person wearing them but also dictate the mood and feeling of an outfit.
If you’re not convinced of this, think about how a change of shoes can change something as classic as a navy blue suit; when paired with a pair of polished black Oxfords a navy blue suit becomes instantly ready for any formal occasion. Matching the same navy suit with a pair of brown brogues creates a look that’s equal parts classic and contemporary and would be a perfect wardrobe staple for a young professional. Swapping out the brogues for a pair of white sneakers now transforms the look from young professional to professional creative. One suit, three looks, three moods – all created with a quick change of footwear.
So now that we can agree that shoes are vital in creating the mood for your look, let’s look at the essential shoe buys for this winter.
1. The Chelsea Boot
Although Chelsea boots are definitely having a moment this winter their popularity amongst style-minded men isn’t anything new. Since The Beatles crossed the pond in pairs of Chelsea boots they have become the shoe of choice for any aspiring rock star, actor or man about town. The Chelsea boot’s popularity lies not only in its stylishness but also in its versatility; they look equally good whether paired with a suit or with jeans and a biker jacket.
The key to a truly versatile Chelsea boot lies in the shape of its toe; the more tapered the toe, the more formal the shoe. So if you’re looking for a pair to take you from bike to boardroom, choose a pair with a slightly more rounded toe.
2. The Chukka Boot
As its name suggests the chukka boot owes its origins to the polo field but has thankfully left its equine origins behind to become a mainstay of men’s casual stylishness. In South Africa, the chukka has found favour as the shoe of choice for the platteland and has been rechristened as the veldskoen.
Suede options of the chukka give suits a sense of contemporary coolness but are also a stylish upgrade from a pair of sneakers when paired with some jeans. More refined leather options of the chukka boot wouldn’t look out of place in any office or boardroom.
3. The Hiking Boot
The utilitarian hiking boot has been transposed from its preferred role of trekking up some great big pile of rock to trekking through the paved wilderness of city streets. When paired with jeans and some chunky knitwear these boots will give your look that ‘just got in from being manly in the countryside’ feel and when paired with cargo pants and an anorak or padded parka will give the wearer that ‘I could go exploring but choose not to’ look.
4. The Derby Lace-Up
Versatility is a key trend in this season’s styling and in this respect, the Derby shoe outperforms its more formal counterpart – the Oxford. Design details like suede and brogueing – while both classics of men’s footwear design – give the Derby lace-up a fresh and modern appeal. Like the chukka boot, the Derby shoe can be used to give formal attire a more contemporary feel while conversely, it gives casual attire a polished edge.
5. The Formal Slip-On
If you’re the kind of guy who would prefer to ditch laces altogether then there are two great formal shoe options for you this winter.
1) Looking for a pair of slip-on shoes that look polished and refined? Look no further than the monk strap shoe. Quick tip: the bigger the buckle on the shoe, the more casual it is.
2) Prefer a pair of formal slip-on shoes that could also live in a casual setting, then a pair of loafers would be your ideal choice.
6. The Dad Sneaker
Those paying attention to trends over the last year and a bit would’ve seen the rise of dadcore as a bonafide fashion trend. And for those scratching their heads as to what dadcore could possibly be, it’s actually rather simple – dadcore makes fashionable that which is usually considered completely unfashionable, think garments that have just about abandoned fit and detailing, e.g. loose fitting jeans or chinos, polar fleece sweatshirts (extra points if it has a half-zip), cable-knit jumpers, boxy T-shirts, baseball caps, bumbags and the pièce de résistance – the chunky-soled sneaker.
While fashion heavyweights like Balenciaga and Gucci are recent pioneers of the trend, the world’s major sporting brands have dusted off their archives to either update or relaunch styles we thought were long forgotten but have now been given a new lease on its fashion life. So meet the new dad sneaker, same as the old one yet somehow better.
7. The Court Sneaker
While the emergence of the dad sneaker has brought back into the public consciousness styles we thought dead and buried, the court sneaker is a classic sneaker style that has maintained its fashion cred throughout its history. The white court sneaker has reigned supreme over the last few seasons as the go-to fashion choice when wanting to put a more casual spin to suits and semi-formal attire. This winter, try a grey iteration of the court sneaker to achieve the same.
8. The Minimalist Tech Sneaker
While both the dad and court sneakers draw their inspiration from the past, the minimalist sneaker has its eyes firmly on the future. New high tech materials and construction methods give these sneakers a decidedly modern feel.
If it’s true that your shoes can tell the world all that there is to know about you, the shoes mentioned above will ensure that it’s a good story to tell.
Catch up on the Men’s Winter Shopping Guide Part 1 here.
