The ultimate guide to what each shoe style says about a man
Words: Charlie Thomas
Shoes say a lot about a man; fact. Ask any woman and they’ll tell you the first thing they notice about what you wear is your shoes, so you better make sure they are pristine. Here is the ultimate guide to what each shoe style says about a man.
THE BAD:
POINTY-TOED
Pointy-toed shoes are a real no-go. They are the result of men not paying enough attention to the details. They scream ‘estate agent’. This is not a good thing. The reason pointy-toed shoes are bad is because of the unnatural way the shoe tapers at the front; your foot isn’t pointed, so why would your shoe be? They should be avoided at all costs.
THE FLIPPER
Wide, long and made of plastic, this is the flipper. We’re not sure why this design exists, but someone, somewhere is buying it. We can only surmise that it is the footwear equivalent of the ‘going out shirt’, a shoe born out of the need to enter a nightclub or other establishment that forbids anything other than black ‘leather’ shoes. Thankfully, those days are mostly over now and with any luck so is this shoe.
THE HYBRID
Even worse though is the hybrid, a weird blend of both a formal shoe and a trainer. No gentlemen, just no.
THE GOOD:
BROGUE
You don’t have to invest in something as costly as a pair of John Lobbs, yet this pair represent the ultimate in timeless design and quality construction. The brogue is as gentlemanly as they come, and purchasing a tan pair is your most classic, versatile option.
John Lobb Darby Leather Brogues, £780 from Mr Porter
LOAFER
For spring and summer, the penny loafer will become your go-to. Crockett & Jones have nailed their new Harvard style, which has been unveiled as part of their SS15 collection, and in this classic brown leather variation it can be paired with a wide array of outfits from your chino/shirt combination to a blue two-piece suit.
Crockett & Jones Harvard, £POA from Crockett & Jones
BOOT
A great transitional shoe, the desert boot is lightweight and comfortable, once you’ve broken them in that is.
Clarks Originals Sand Desert Boot, £89 from Stuarts London
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Further reading
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