When it comes to dress shoes, there are many different styles.

All it takes is just one google search to get the entire list. However, simply knowing about these styles isn’t enough to understand how to wear them appropriately.

Loafers are casual.
A pair of monk strap shoes are great for business casual but can also be worn with suits.
Oxfords should not be worn with anything other than suits. Or, can they? (Answer: yes, you can)

If you look beneath the surface – you’ll find a whole lot of questions like these. The one we’re tackling today is major – and that is the difference between oxfords and brogues, and whether to choose a pair of oxfords or brogues for a particular occasion

Oxfords and brogues are not exclusive from each other. Brogue isn’t a shoe style in itself but instead refers to any style of shoes that have decorative holes or perforations on them. So – oxford shoes can be brogues as well.

Plain oxford shoes will be appropriate and stylish for any formal event, while oxfords with broguing are great choices for business casual and some formal dress codes. The formality of oxford brogues will be decided by the level of detailing that is present – lesser the broguing, dressier the shoe.

Similarly, derby brogues are less formal than oxfords and oxford brogues and so will be best worn with smart casual pants like chinos or jeans.

In the rest of the post, we’ll get into more detail about these shoes and different situations you can wear them in.

What Are Oxford Shoes?

So what exactly does the oxford shoe style mean?

Oxford shoes are the most formal when compared to all the other shoe styles, but the biggest point of distinction is its closed lacing system. This denotes the manner in which the eyelets and laces are attached to the shoe, which in the case of oxfords, is “closed off”

To put in simple words, this means that the two parts of the shoe that have the eyelets cannot be moved up or down like flaps (like derbys, which we cover later on)

In technical terms, this means that in an oxford shoe – the vamp always goes above the quarters, and the tongue is a separate piece that is attached onto the vamp

Oxford shoes will most commonly have either five or six pairs of eyelets, depending on the region they are made in

Different Types Of Oxfords

A lot of details can be added to or removed from a pair of shoes – which leads to different types within the same shoe style

For oxfords, the different types are mainly three: Cap-toe, Plain-toe, and Whole-cut. Although there are slight differences between them in terms of formality, any of these three types are appropriate enough for any formal occasion

Cap-toe Oxford

Cap toe oxfords can be identified by the presence of a round cap over the toe area of the shoe. To make this, a different piece of leather is stitched to the end of the vamp giving it the distinctive cap shape

Cap-toe or not is usually a matter of personal taste. I find cap-toe oxfords more interesting so I tend to go for them when buying new shoes

Plain-toe Oxford

In plain-toe oxfords, there is no separate toe part – the vamp and the toe area is a single piece of leather

Following the less-is-more definition, plain-toe oxfords are often said to be more formal than cap-toe oxfords.

And while I generally agree with that – in my opinion, the toe is not a major point of difference and both these oxford shoe types can still be worn interchangeably. As mentioned earlier, it depends more on your preference than the level of formality itself

Whole-cut Oxford

Whole cut oxfords have no quarters, no vamp, and no heel counters. The entire shoe is made of a single piece of leather, which also makes the design of this particular oxford very clean and sleek

This sleekness is what many people like about this shoe – it is very difficult to go wrong with a pair of whole cut oxfords!

Whole cut oxfords are also the dressiest of all the three oxford types, and are best reserved for the most formal occasions like black-tie

What Is A Derby Shoe?

Wait, you wanted to know about oxfords or brogues – Where does a derby come into the picture?

Well, it is important to our discussion, and a few paragraphs down you’ll understand how

Like oxfords, derby shoes are laced shoes as well, but they have an open lacing system. The vamp and the tongue are a single piece of material, and here the quarters are sewn over the vamp instead.

Before I started learning and collecting shoes, this was perhaps the only style of formal shoes I knew – because it’s so commonly seen everywhere.

Derbys are easy to put on and adjust due to the flap-like quarters. Because the laces are open, you can also see the ‘V’ like shape that’s formed by the quarters when viewed from the top

However, derbys are less formal than oxford shoes

What Are Brogues?

Here we are – the mighty brogues!

Brogues are often a topic of much discussion in the menswear forums. Men (and many women too) all around the world enjoy wearing their brogues, and rightly so.

But you’d be surprised to hear that brogues aren’t actually a separate style of shoe.

What makes a shoe a brogue, then?

Those holes that you see in some dress shoes – they are the defining feature of a brogue shoe. Broguing refers to the art of engraving patterns and designs on the shoe in the form of tiny holes or perforations. These perforations originally had a functional purpose but now they are purely decorative. Any shoe, that has broguing present can be referred to as a brogue shoe

So, oxfords and brogues are not separate. Sure, you can have oxfords without any broguing, but there are also oxford brogues.

Since broguing can be done any style of shoe, it’s more of an umbrella term spanning across multiple shoe styles. Oxfords and Derbys are the most common shoe styles that have broguing, though, and these are the ones we’re focusing on in this post

Different Types Of Brogues

Depending on the extent of broguing, brogue shoes are of 4 different types

Full Brogues (or Wingtips)

A full brogue will have perforations along every seam of the shoe, with a toe shape that resembles a curved ‘M’ or ‘W’. It is for this reason that full brogues are also referred to as wingtips

Such shoes will also have a medallion: an attractive design made up of perforations on the toebox of the shoe. The design of the medallion is often a great way to show off the creativity of its maker

Menswear style rules say that the higher the extent of broguing, the more casual the shoe. By those standards, a wingtip brogue will always be the least dressy shoe of all brogue types

Semi Brogues (or Half Brogues)

Half brogues are the same as wingtips – but with a cap toe instead of the wingtip toe.

Broguing is done on the seam of the cap as well, and half brogues will also have a medallion design on the toes

The cap toe makes semi brogues one notch dressier than wingtips, but for most occasions, both of these types can be worn interchangeably. These are my favourite kind of brogues as they offer a variety of opportunities to dress up or down

Quarter Brogues

Quarter brogues have no medallion design, and broguing is present only the seam of the cap toe

These are the most formal of all brogues, and the right choice if you want to wear brogues with suits

Longwing Brogues

In Wingtips, the W toe shape ends at the sides. But for Longwing brogues, it extends all along the shoe to the back where it ends at the center seam

Needless to say, these are just as casual as full brogues

Oxfords Not Brogues: The Kingsman word of advice

Now that the difference between oxfords and brogues is clear, I thought I’d take a short detour to briefly talk about these three famous words from the Kingsman movie: “Oxfords, Not Brogues”

(Side note: This movie is brilliant, isn’t it?! If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d strongly recommend you to leave everything and go watch it!)

So – Brogues and Oxfords aren’t mutually exclusive. Why then does the dapper-as-ever Harry say to choose one over the other?

Wait, did he and entire team of the movie get it wrong?!

Well, you can’t say. There are a lot of menswear blogs that have discussed what the line could’ve meant. I think Harry was just playing it safe. When it comes to classic men’s style, fewer details mean more formal: and if you go by that rule brogues don’t seem appropriate for dressed-up outfits like full suits

It’s a rule that’s broken over and again these days, though. You can totally wear brogues with suits too, if you’re intentional about it

And that’s what this next section is about

Oxfords Or Brogues: What To Wear When

The below sections list the clothing pieces that work well with the various types of oxfords and brogues.

For the sake of simplicity in this article – oxfords refer to oxford shoes that have no broguing, and brogues are either oxfords or derbys with different types of broguing

Whole Cut Oxfords

Whole cuts will be the dressiest shoes in your closet, and you can wear them for all formal outfits.

Think of black tie events, weddings, funerals, formal parties, and even office meetings.

Be it a tuxedo, full suit, or just a pair of formal dress pants – whole cut oxford shoes will work with them. Personally, I think these shoes pair the best with some kind of formal jacket though. Their clean look and aesthetic demands that the rest of your outfit is also completely dressed up and on point

Plain Toe / Cap Toe Oxfords

Plain toe or Cap toe oxford shoes will be slightly forgiving than whole cut oxfords, and you can still wear them with all your formal outfits

I’d avoid wearing these shoes with chinos or jeans. There are better choices if you want to dress down – no matter how much you try these shoes by design will always be a highly dressy shoe

Stick with dark colours like black, brown, or oxblood. They will match with most suit colours and dress pants

Oxford Quarter Brogues

If you don’t regularly wear a tuxedo (I think most people don’t), then quarter brogued oxfords are a great place to start keeping both versatility and style in mind

These shoes are still formal though, so it would be wise to stay away from lighter colours or casual pants

Given a choice between plain and quarter brogued oxfords, I’ll choose the quarter brogues every time. The broguing on the toe cap gives the shoe an interesting look, without letting it stray too far towards the casual side

Oxford Semi-Brogues

The type of oxford shoe every man must own? Yes sir, it’s this one.

Except for black-tie outfits like a tuxedo, oxford semi brogues can be worn with almost every type of pants (shorts and cargo pants don’t even count, duh)

Pair them with a daytime suit for a business casual look, or head to that wedding dressed up in your best dark suit. Chinos and jeans are okay too! Because these shoes work with a variety of outfits – choosing the right colour is key here as it will help set the overall tone of your outfit.

Like always – do remember: dark is dressy, light is not.

Are you sold on these shoes already, or need I convince some more?

Oxford Wingtips

Amongst oxfords, wingtips are the least dressy shoe and that is why you shouldn’t wear them with formal suits

For an event in the day, these shoes will still work fine, but with dark colours (or dark tan, if the occasion is casual)

These are the shoes Harry wouldn’t want you to wear

They do look killer with a pair of jeans, though

Derby Quarter Brogues

Take a derby and add some broguing – and you automatically get a casual shoe, despite the level of detailing

It’s for the same reason that these shoes are best reserved for chinos and jeans – and at times with dress pants

Can you wear Derby Quarter Brogues with a suit?

In the right colour, I think you can, provided the dress code is not too strict. But these type of shoes will always be less formal than their oxford counterparts

Derby Semi Brogues

While you could still get away with wearing quarter brogue derbys with a suit, semi-brogues are a no go for formal outfits

But they really shine in the business-casual/smart-casual section. If you tend to dress more casually otherwise or for work, then you must have at least one of these in your closed.

They will add an extra edge and sharpness to your outfits.

Derby Wingtips

The most casual brogues? Yes, these are the ones!

Derby Wingtips are my favourite pair of shoes for jeans. It.looks.so.good.

I have a Good Year Welted pair in tan colour, and I wear those shoes all the time with my jeans and chinos. Since you’re likely to be wearing these casually anyway, the colour is not a problem. Go crazy (but only if you want to)!

When It’s Decision Time, Keep The Style In Mind

Choosing between oxfords or brogues doesn’t have to be complicated.

If you stick to the overall dress code and understand the style of shoes you’re wearing, you should do just fine. Derby brogues will be casual, while oxford brogues are great for a number of formal and business-casual outfits depending on the extent of broguing on the shoes

Don’t like broguing on your oxfords? That is cool too.

Plain oxford shoes will be the dressiest and can easily be worn as black-tie, for weddings, meetings, or any formal event you can think of

The post Oxfords or Brogues? Some Great Tips To Help You Make The Right Choice appeared first on The Shoestopper.

We live in interesting times.

Shoes are being made with a wide variety of materials available that couldn’t even be imagined earlier.

From artificially made materials that are waterproof to animal-free leather that looks and feels like real leather, the options are many! There are also shoes out there that are being made out of wool! (yes, it’s true!)

However, leather, suede, and canvas still account for a large portion of the footwear industry.

Someone starting out might wonder what makes these materials different from each other, and which one’s the better option

Between leather, suede, and canvas – leather will provide more value for money than suede or canvas. Leather is durable, versatile, offers great support and it looks refined and classic. Suede shoes are like leather but they cannot be worn for every occasion.

The canvas material is much cheaper and lighter than leather or suede, but canvas shoes are casual and not as sturdy as leather. In a direct comparison between these three materials, leather proves to be the better option

The choice you make will ultimately depend on your lifestyle and daily needs. Use this as a guide to make that decision

Suede vs Leather vs Canvas: Ranking Factors

To compare these three different shoe materials, I’ve broken down their features into a list of the seven ranking factors

1. Maintenance/Care – the simpler the better
2. Durability – the more the better
3. Break-in Period – the shorter the better
4. Experience – the less experience required, the better
5. Price – the cheaper the better
6. Versatility – the greater the better
7. Support – the higher the better

Other than these, there are also a few subjective factors. While these are not a part of the rankings, they still play an important role in your choice

1. Formality
2. Weight
3. Weather

Maintenance/Care – The Simpler The Better

When it comes to general shoe care, suede shoes are much simpler to maintain than either leather or canvas shoes.

This might sound incorrect, taking care of suede has been traditionally contended to be very painful, but that is not true.

Let’s put this into perspective: If your suede shoes get dirty – you only need to brush them and use a conditioning/waterproofing spray to protect them. Yes, you should avoid wearing suede in really harsh weather, but salt and water stains formed as a result are also easy to remove from suede. Besides, a dark coloured suede shoe will hide stains better than any other shoe

It’s for these reasons that suede shoes can be worn throughout the year.

Note the easier shoe care does not mean no shoe care. Whether it is canvas, leather or suede, you would have regularly care for your shoes to keep them looking good.

With suede, it just takes lesser effort.

Canvas shoes come a close second – cleaning dirty canvas shoes requires you to really get in there with mild soap water and a brush.

There are suggestions that state it is okay to put your canvas shoes in the washing machine, but I’m not in favour of this. I think it would be better and safer to use some elbow crease and clean them by hand

Finally, leather shoes require the most care to keep them looking healthy. Conditioners, creams and polishes need to be regularly applied on leather shoes if you want to maintain them

Winner: Suede
Runner Up: Canvas

Durability – The More The Better

Between the three materials, nothing can beat the toughness of leather

Leather is an extremely good looking and hard-wearing material that only gets better with time if it’s taken care of. Fine quality leather shoes are known to last for decades, sometimes even passed down from one generation to the next.

Compare that with canvas shoes that are likely to wear out over time, and we know who the clear winner is here

Suede is close to leather in terms of durability, but it is still a little delicate. Suede handles inclement weather better than leather, though

Winner: Leather
Runner Up: Suede

Break-in Period – The Shorter The Better

The break-in period refers to the amount of time it takes for a new pair of shoes to become comfortable on your feet

It is a topic of much discussion in the shoe community, as different people have different experiences with break-in periods.

Generally, new leather shoes will be a bit stiff and fit snug on your feet. This should not be confused with a bad fit: your shoes should always be comfortable from the first day, but they will take some time for you to get used to it

As you wear them more and more, the leather will warm up and mold to the shape of your feet which will then make them very comfortable. It is this time period that is called the break-in period of a shoe

Leather boots have a longer break-in period than leather shoes due to their overall construction.

Suede will have a slight break-in period too, as it is a kind of leather only

However, canvas shoes do not require breaking-in at all. They will always fit and feel the same way they did on the day you first bought them

Winner: Canvas
Runner Up: Leather / Suede

Experience – The Lesser Required, The Better

Suede care is simple, but more nuanced than leather or canvas care

You need a separate suede brush for brushing the shoes, and also the suede sprays need to be applied evenly from a distance

I usually recommend buying shoes only after you’re familiar and good with general leather shoe care. Your experience with leather care will help you in handling suede and will also make its care easier

I’ve only just begun to buy suede shoes, and I’m into collecting shoes for over 3 years now

On the flip side, you can wear canvas shoes even if you’re a beginner. They are easy to style, and cleaning canvas shoes involves merely a brush and sometimes soapy water

Leather care and wear requires some experience too, but it’s more of a learn-as-you-go experience so it shouldn’t be a problem

Winner: Canvas
Runner Up: Leather

Price – The Cheaper The Better

In its raw form, leather is basically animal skin. To ensure that it is useful enough to make shoes, this skin needs to go through quite a lot of processing.

This increases the cost of construction of a pair of leather or suede shoes, which makes them expensive to buy

Canvas, on the other hand, is made from hemp fibres and does not require as much processing as leather would. The retail costs of canvas shoes are low for the very same reason

Between the three shoe materials, canvas shoes will always be the cheapest to buy.

Winner: Canvas

Versatility – The Greater The Better

Leather and suede shoes are easily more versatile than canvas ones

Be it to the office, or a hangout with friends – there is probably some variation or style of leather shoes that is appropriate for the occasion.

With shoes like oxfords and derbys, leather can be worn for the dressiest of events. And in styles like loafers, wingtips or monk straps, it also looks great with business casual and semi-formal dress codes

Despite the occasion, a pair of leather shoes will always look smart and refined.

Suede shoes suit a wide variety of situations as well, but they are less versatile than regular leather

Canvas shoes finish last in terms of versatility. Being casual in nature, there aren’t a lot of opportunities to dress them up thereby limiting its use

Winner: Leather
Runner up: Suede

Support – The Higher The Better

Canvas is a flexible and light material which offers little to no support to the foot.

You’ll often notice that canvas shoes don’t hold their structure i.e they can be made almost flat by pressing on the top of the shoe

On the other hand, leather and suede are sturdier and often have padding and linings that provide good support especially around the heel. Good quality leather will also conform to the shape of your foot over time, which only adds to the support

This becomes especially important if you’re prone to foot issues or pains.

Comfort in a shoe will differ from person to person. The manner in which soles and heels are designed and attached also contribute to the overall support of a shoe, but the importance of the upper material itself cannot be neglected

Winner: Leather/Suede

Suede vs Leather vs Canvas: Subjective Factors

While the above factors offer a distinct point of ranking, there are also some factors between canvas, suede, and leather that are subjective.

My preferences for these will differ from yours, so it is better to exclude them from the rankings while still understanding how they contribute to the difference between these three materials

Formality

As already introduced in the versatility section, leather shoes are more formal than suede and canvas shoes

A leather sneaker will be dressier than its suede counterpart, even if the style is exactly the same.

Suede shoes can style be worn with business casual or semi formal dress codes, but canvas shoes will casual by default

For some, this might make leather more favourable depending on their day to day wear and personal style. Others would like casual pieces better which would make canvas and/or suede more attractive

I belong to the former set of people, but I also enjoy mixing it up at times

Weight

Depending on the type of construction, leather or suede shoes can sometimes be heavier than canvas shoes

For example, if the soles are made out of leather, that increases the weight. Or if good year welting is used, then that adds to the weight as well

The lightest leather shoes will have PU or EVA soles, or even rubber. There are quite a few tips that can help you decide the right sole for your shoes but in the end, canvas shoes will generally be lighter

This can be good or bad for you, based on your preference.

If you like to be quick on your feet, then full leather sole good year welted shoes are probably not the best option for you. Look for lighter options in leather, or go for canvas if a casual shoe is what you need

Weather

Canvas is the perfect material for the warmer months

It is light, breathable, and should you choose to go sockless – there is a very low chance of foot stink. With leather and suede though, it is always recommended that you wear socks to avoid bacterial growth and stench. Even for the sockless look, wearing no show or loafer socks with leather shoes is a far better idea than not wearing any at all

This does not mean that leather is not breathable – in fact, it is very much breathable – and you can still wear your leather or suede shoes in the summer. In a side by side comparison, though, canvas is the most breathable.

But when it starts to get chilly, canvas is not as useful

It should be able to withstand mild winters (like the one we get here in Mumbai) but would fail to keep you warm when it is very cold. Leather and suede will be better for those months.

In fact, if you think about it, leather wins in this category because it can be worn through any season. But then again, rankings can differ as weather is different from region to region

And The Winner Is ….

Okay, it’s really not a surprise – I revealed it at the beginning of this post

Comparing all the advantages and disadvantages of these three common materials, leather comes out on top (or second) in most of the situations.

Unless you’re someone who only dresses casually and never wants to wear socks, it would be wise to have at least a couple of leather shoe pairs in your wardrobe

I have more shoes in leather than in suede or canvas, but I’d be interested in knowing what your shoe closet looks like.

What do you think? Let me know

The post Suede, Leather or Canvas: Which One’s Better For Shoes? appeared first on The Shoestopper.

Moccasins are slip-on shoes that have a thin upturned sole with no distinct heel.

These shoes also have a separate piece of leather that is attached on the top and extends to the toes – which is called a moc-toe

The thin upturned soles along with the moc-toe make it a casual shoe, and so one might wonder if it is acceptable to wear socks with moccasins

Wearing socks with moccasins is completely okay if you want to. Socks will keep your feet warm when the days get colder, and the level of comfort with/without socks will vary from person to person. However, if you are wearing shorts with moccasins then full-length crew socks should be avoided

The topic of socks with moccasins mainly has two sides to it.

Firstly, there’s the question of whether you should actually wear socks or not. These will mainly depend on the weather outside, and also your choice (yes!)

Next, if you do decide to wear socks – you’ve to choose what type of socks you should wear

Both these concerns are pretty straightforward, so let’s get into it straight away

You Should Wear Socks With Moccasins If

#1: It’s Cold Outside

The weather is pretty much the most obvious reason you would want to wear socks with mocs, or with any kind of shoes really

Socks can not only help with smelly feet, but also keep your feet warm

A nice pair of thick cotton or wool socks will be just perfect for when the temperatures drop.

There is an argument on if you should even wear moccasins in the winter as they are basically summer shoes. That makes some sense, and although I wouldn’t recommend wearing moccasins out while it’s snowing, winters are not the same everywhere.

And there are many cold months in the year apart from the winters

Besides, a lot of people also use moccasins as home-shoes (try it if you haven’t, it’s a great option!), so socks are a great way to feel all cozy and nice when it’s cold outside

On the flip side, on the warmer days you can skip the socks and let your feet breathe. Spring and Summer months are the perfect weather for wearing your moccasins without the socks.

One less thing to take off before jumping into the pool, imo

#2: You Want To

This one’s obvious, but it so important that we need to talk about it.

And I’m glad that it came up – I can have a mini-rant while also hoping that I am giving you some useful info

If you really want to wear socks with moccasins, then go ahead and wear them!

Style is subjective, and style ‘rules’ merely provide you with a framework of things and ideas that are known to suit or look best.

Should you listen and understand those rules? Yes. Because you should know what you’re working with.
Do you need to always follow them? Maybe not

Real Men Real Style has a concept called The Style Pyramid, and it consists of three things – Fit, Function, and Fabric. Basically, these three factors play a big role in the overall style of an Individual

Do you see the second point there? It’s Function.

Looking stylish and trendy is of no use if it’s not actually helping you or serving a function

I have worn a pair of dress pants with moccasins (which is a big no-no) AND socks for months on my commute to work. Why? Because those were the only waterproof shoes I had, and it was the rainy season here in Mumbai.

Looking back, I could’ve made better choices about it – but with the resources I had at that time it was perfectly fine

Oh, and I do wear socks with moccasins, and with every other shoe, even now. Socks always help me feel comfortable in shoes, so that’s what I choose (hey look, rhyme!)

This, however, shouldn’t be an excuse for you to not try anything new. You never know, you might just start enjoying wearing your mocs, without socks

Read everything – try something – and repeat what makes you feel the best

What Type Of Socks Can You Wear With Moccasins

So, you’ve decided that you want to wear socks. What now – which socks should you wear – no-show, ankle-length or crew length

To figure that out, check the pants that you are going to wear with your moccasins.

For shorts and moccasins, it is best to stick with no-show or loafer socks. If you’re not comfortable with no-show socks, give ankle socks a try. They don’t look as good as no-show ones, but can still work with a pair of shorts

When wearing moccasins with other long pants such as jeans or chinos, both no-show and crew socks can be great depending on what you like.

If it is cold though, no-show socks are not going to keep you warm so you’re better off wearing crew length socks (or even over-the-calf socks)

So, What Did You Decide?

Are you team socks or team no-socks?

I’m on the socky (is that a word?) side most of the days, and then no-socks on some

Let me know about your sock-with-moccasin experiences in the comments

The post Can You Wear Socks With Moccasins? appeared first on The Shoestopper.

When it comes to slip-on shoes, there is a lot of variety available

In any discussion about leather semi-formal/casual shoes, these three types (or any of their variations) are sure to come up

Loafers, moccasins, and boat shoes should not be used interchangeably. Even though sometimes they have a similar aesthetic, there are distinct features that make these shoes different

The main difference between loafers, moccasins, and boat shoes is in the absence or presence of a separate heel part. In moccasins, the soles are thin, flat, and turned up on all sides and attached on the upper. Loafers, on the other hand, have a separate heel added to the sole, while boat shoes have a small heel that generally extends as a part of the sole

Moccasins and boat shoes will always have a moc-toe, wherein a separate piece of leather is stitched on the vamp that reaches the toe. However, this can be found in some styles of loafers as well

Let’s break down these points to understand the differences between these three shoes in detail

Loafers vs Moccasins vs Boat Shoes

Since the overall look of all of these shoe styles is similar, it can often be confusing to identify them. And additionally, manufacturers often take features from one type of shoe and put it in another – which often leaves even me scratching my head trying to put a name to the shoe

The underlying differences, are honestly not a lot though.

To help understand them, it is a good habit to get to the shoes’ individual parts – Lacing, Heels and Soles, Material, Shape and additional Decorations (if any)

As long as you look at the shoes as per the following factors, you should be able to announce if a pair of shoes is a loafer, moccasin, or a boat shoe (neither is an option too :D)

Lacing

All shoes in discussion – loafers, moccasins, and boat shoes – are known for the ease and comfort with which they can be put on.

But lacing still remains an important distinction between the three

Loafers will never have any kind of lacing. If you find a shoe that is loafer-like but has laces present (even if they are fake ones), then those are not loafers

Moccasins on the other hand, may / may not have laces. At many times, the details on the upper of a moccasin and loafer would be similar

And if the shoe does show the presence of laces, it’ll generally have only one/two eyelets on the vamp of the shoe, with the laces tied in a know above them. These are for decoration only and serve no actual purpose in fastening the shoes.

So for all intents and purposes, moccasins also come in the category of slip on shoes

The last shoe style – Boat shoes – was originally made with laces. The peculiar feature of boat shoes is it’s 360 degree lacing. The laces actually go around the entire back of the shoe and open at the eyelets.

The laces can then be used to fasten your shoes as much as you like and then tie them in regular / specialised knots

Two pairs of eyelets are the standard on boat shoes

You might find some shoes that have the 360-degree lacing, but only one or two eyelets on the vamp tied in a knot (like faux lacing). This is one example of the fusion-style I talked about earlier above. While these shoes are also sold as boat shoes I wouldn’t call them so, because they don’t follow the traditional style . Minessota mocs instead

Heels and Soles

Loafers are basically formal shoes that are lower on the dressy scale (aka semi formal), so their overall style and looks are consistent with dress shoes

This means like a pair of loafers will have a distinct sole and a heel attached to it. The sole and heel can be made of different materials like rubber, leather, EVA, etc.

Also, loafer soles will be attached using the same construction methods like dress shoes i.e. cementing, Blake-stitching, Goodyear Welting, etc. being some of the most common ones

Compare that with moccasins, which are completely different. Moccasins do not have a heel, and soles are wrapped up and around. A single piece of leather wraps around the bottom of the shoe until it reaches the top – where it is then stitched on another piece of leather that forms the vamp

When it comes the soles, they are usually thin and made of rubber. At times, moccasins can also have sneaker like white-soles

Boat shoes have thick sneaker like white rubber soles, without a separate heel part. However, a short heel is fashioned out of the same sole piece – which makes it look very elegant

Another striking feature of boat shoe soles are the herringbone patterns on its bottom. These are series of zigzag lines / engravings made on the bottom of the sole. They are said to be for traction and grip, as boat shoes were originally made for sailors and fisherman to wear on their rocky boats

Material

When it comes to material, there is not a lot of difference between loafers, moccasins and boat shoes

All three shoes are generally made out of leather or suede, and boat shoes sometimes are made in fabric too (just like a sneakers)

For boat shoes, the leather is treated to be waterproof – but that might not be the case with all brands so it would be a good idea to verify it first

Toe Detail

Along with the absence/presence of laces and the way heels/soles are stitched, the toe detailing is a clear distinguishing factor between moccasins, loafers and boat shoes

Moccasins and boat shoes show the presence of a moccasin-toe, or simply called a moc-toe. In moc-toe shoes, an extra piece of leather is stitched on the upper of the shoe that extends till the toe.

There are a lot of boots that are also made with a moc-toe – this toe shape seems to have a certain appeal in the shoe-world

Moc-toe is often confused with the apron toe, which is found in loafers and is somewhat similar. Instead of extending completely till the toe, in apron toed shoes – the piece of leather that is stitched on the vamp stops somewhere before the toes. It is as if an apron (of the chosen material) was spread over the upper of the shoe

It is this design that gives loafers their streamlined look. Loafers are also made without the apron toe – such shoes are often called slippers. But their presence in loafers is more common than their absence

Note:
You might find some slip-on shoes that have a distinct heel part, but with a moc-toe. There are often debates on whether such shoes should be called as moccasins or loafers – retailers often use the terms interchangeably for such shoes

I think the presence of heel part is a bigger characteristic difference than the moc toe, so these shoes be considered loafers

Decorations

Vamp decorations are of a few types – the most common ones being the saddle, tassel and horse-bit

On loafers these different decorations give the loafers their separate names, namely the penny loafer, tassel loafer or the horse-bit loafer (which were popularized by Gucci)

Moccasins on the other hand have the faux lace knot that we spoke about earlier, but in absence of those they can also have these very same decorations.

I haven’t seen a lot of moccasins with tassels – maybe that’s because they don’t go with the style (Do let me know if you come across a tassel moccasin!). But I’m sure that penny and horse-bit style moccasins are common in both grain leather and suede

And because boat shoes have eyelets and open-lacing on the vamp, they do not have any other kind of detailing. Some boat shoes will have a contrasting colour pattern to make them more interesting

When To Wear Loafers

Loafers are semi-formal in style, which means that they can be worn for all semi-formal, casual or smart casual events.

While researching this post I found some mentions of loafers being less formal than moccasins, but in my opinion, it’s quite the opposite. After all, a nice sleek loafer would look much better with a suit than a moccasin would.

Of course, the suit should still be of a lighter casual shade, and if you like it, you *can* wear the sockless look (although I wouldn’t)

Loafers are chinos are also a winning combination, as mentioned in my post on wearing chinos with shoes

A suede loafer looks especially wonderful with a pair of shorts – and this time even I would go for the sockless look B-)

Jeans. check
Shorts. check
Chinos. check
Dress pants. [sometimes] check

It’s as versatile as it gets, folks. If you want casual-but-refined, loafers are the answer

When To Wear Moccasins

The moccasin shoe, with it’s thin sole, will not be comfortable for walking over long distances. These shoes are best reserved for indoors, or on days when you know you’re not going to walk a lot

A variation of moccasins are the driving shoes or driving mocs.

In these shoes, the thin rubber sole is replaced with a grid of small nubs of rubber. As the name suggests the shoes are good for driving, but walks in them would be just as uncomfortable as regular moccasins

The only exception is if your mocs have a sneaker like sole though. You should be then able to use them outdoors too

Moccasins will be worn best casually with a pair of jeans, shorts or chinos.

And they are usually worn with no-show socks, although if you do want to wear regular socks it’s okay

Because these are casual shoes, the colour is not a restriction and you can go as bold or as basic as you’d like. Suede looks just as good as grain leather, sometimes even better when worn in the summers

When To Wear Boat Shoes

Consider boat shoes as an option for the times you’d usually wear sneakers.

They are just as casual, and perhaps even preppier than sneakers

These shoes were originally made for fishermen, but not a lot of us are out on the sea these days so wearing them in our day-to-day life should be enough to give them justice

Just like moccasins, sock and sockless are both okay here – with popular sentiment tending more towards sockless

Wear your boat shoes with a pair of shorts and t-shirt to that next beach party.

Or head out for lunch in a pair of jeans, a casual half sleeve shirt, and (of course) boat shoes!

Pick Your Favourite(s)!

Which one of these shoes is your current favourite?

Personally I find loafers better because they are more versatile and can also be dressed up. But I’ve been wearing boat shoes more frequently these days, and they seem to be great too

As always, if you have any questions – let me know in the comments

The post Loafers, Moccasins, and Boat Shoes: How Different Are They? appeared first on The Shoestopper.

Have you ever wondered how it would feel to wear a pair of suede shoes?
Or perhaps, have you been afraid of buying suede shoes thinking they’ll be too difficult to care for?

I’ve been in both situations, until I bought my first pair of suedes.

So, if you’re currently confused about buying suede shoes – let me tell you this: suede feels AMAZING (plus it is so pretty!) And taking care of suede isn’t too hard either – the general suede care routine in this guide will tell you exactly what to do

When To Wear Suede Shoes

The right season for wearing suede shoes has always been a topic of much discussion. There are some who say that suede shoes are only meant only for the fall, while others swear by it in the summer

Suede and rains are whole another debate.

The best months for wearing suede shoes will indeed be in the fall, when it just starts to get cold and there is no possibility of rain or snow.

But you can wear suede shoes in other seasons too. If you like the look of suede, you can wear them year-round actually. There used to be a time when rain and suede was bad news, but today’s suede shoes can handle a few showers. Some brands even make their suede completely waterproof.

The trick to using suede throughout the year is to care for it based on the season you’re wearing them in.

Suede is a kind of leather, after all, so the same general rules apply. A little bit of pre-treatment and good post-wear care go a long way in making sure that your shoes stay well

So don’t let the fear of ruining suede stop you from buying them. Use these tips instead, and keep up that dapper streak B-)

General Suede Care

Before getting into the season-specific tips to wearing suede shoes, we must know some general suede care methods.

Following these regularly will ensure the longevity of your wonderful suedes

#1: Use a Suede Spray

Just like there are polishes for grain leather, there are sprays for suede.

And a good suede spray plays an important role in the overall health of your suede shoes.

These sprays are meant to rejuvenate and refine the suede in your shoes. Since suede has a velvet-like texture, a spray just makes more sense than a cream or wax.

There are some sprays that are said to slightly alter the colour and finishing of the shoes, so do your research before buying one. Going for neutral sprays would be the best bet as they can be used for all your suede shoes and the chances of colour change would be minimal

When applying a suede spray, be careful not to hold it too close to the shoe. This could cause stains and make certain regions of the shoe look different than the others. The recommended distance to spray from is usually 20 – 30 cm. When in doubt, refer the instructions on the spray bottle

How Often To Use A Suede Spray:
Once every two-three weeks should be good enough, depending on your use.

When you notice that the suede has started to look flat, take that as a sign to use the spray

#2: Use A Suede Brush

Did you know that brushing your suede is just as important as brushing your teeth?

Well, at least for me. Although I don’t brush my suede twice a day every day

Jokes aside, brushing your suede shoes will ensure it keeps looking good. The reason why newly bought suede shoes feel amazing is because of its nap. These are the small soft fibers that you can see on the top of the leather.

When the fibers are standing up and separate, suede feels very good to touch – and that forms a part of its allure.

However, to keep these fibers in good shape, it is necessary to regularly brush them

The horsehair brushes that are used for regular grain leather are not appropriate here; there are specialized suede brushes that are available. These brushes can easily lift the nap of the suede and help clean any dust that has settled in. If you don’t have a separate suede brush, any clean soft-bristled toothbrush will also do.

When brushing suede, be careful to do it only in one direction – unlike the buffing on regular leather. This is an important distinction, going back and forth with the brush on suede is just going to ruin its nap

Some options for buying suede brushes

• Helios Suede cleaning brush
• Pro care suede brush
• Puma suede brush
• AP Suede and Nubuck Brush (recommended)

How Often To Brush Suede:
Once after every use, and before wearing them if required

#3: Store Suede Shoes Properly

While it is good to be taking steps to care for your suede shoes before and after wearing them, it is equally important to store them properly

Leather and moisture are no good friends, so make sure that you store your shoes in a clean and dry place. Also, avoid keeping them in direct sunlight as heat can affect suede in the long term

When not wearing suede shoes, the best way is to store them is in a shoe bag. This will prevent them from getting dusty and also allow the suede / leather to breathe.

Top Tips To Wear Suede Year-Round

As mentioned earlier, you shouldn’t be scared of buying suede shoes because of their upkeep. It’s a wonderful material, and if you use the tips below, your suede shoes should last you a long time through all seasons

Suede Shoes In Spring or Summer

Suede, just like grain leather, is breathable.

So it is okay and possible to wear your suede shoes in the spring or summer months without worrying about the heat. Here’s how:

#1: Wear No-Show Socks

If you sweat too much and are concerned about the sweat ruining your pair of suede shoes, then some good quality no-show socks will be right for you

Also called loafer socks, these cover up your feet and reach only till the back of the heel – staying below the ankles. In this manner, they give the illusion that you aren’t wearing any socks, only that you are

Wearing no show socks with suede shoes in the summer has three fold benefits

1. Your ankles are exposed and can breathe, which means some respite from the heat
2. The foot sweat is still absorbed by the socks, reducing nasty smells and bacteria that could ruin your shoes
3. You get to flaunt the trendy sockless look

If you’re not a fan of no show socks, you can still wear suede shoes in the summer. Thin crew length socks, made of a soft material like Egyptian cotton, should do the trick.
In fact, I’d recommend these if you’re wearing suede shoes in a formal / office setting

#2: Go for Brighter Colours

We’ve all learned this at some point in science class: dark colours absorb heat, bright colours reflect heat.

By the same logic, light-coloured suede shoes are a great idea for the summer. The warmer months are also a good time to be bold and experiment with colours, so this just works in our favour

When wearing suede in the summer, think of colours like light brown, tan or beige. I also like a good rust orange or sky blue colour on suede shoes

Because of the richness and softness of suede, bold colours end up looking a lot better on the material than grain leather

#3: Pick Some Suede Loafers or Moccasins For Full Summer Vibes

No shoes speak relaxed-yet-refined like a pair of loafers

Combine them with suede and you’ve got a shoe that attracts compliments like a magnet

Suede loafers work really well in the summer because they’re not as closed off as other laced shoes, thereby helping with the heat. Bonus points if you like no show socks, because now you can even wear shorts with the same pair of shoes and rock those beach/pool vibes

The type of the loafers does not matter – penny, tassel, or horse-bit all look good. Although I find penny loafers better than all the other types, especially in suede.

Note that loafers are semi-formal shoes and suede takes the formality of these shoes one notch lower.

So it may / may not work in your office, depending on the dress code.

If you want to wear suede lace-up shoes then that’s okay too. They may not keep you as cool as loafers, but I’m assuming most of your workplaces are air-conditioned so once you reach the office it should be fine

Suede Shoes in Rains

Rain and Suede is where it gets tricky, but it is still possible to wear your suedes in the monsoon.

Now, when I say that, I mean that your suede shoes should be able to deal with a few light rain showers / accidental spills – no harm done if you follow the tips below. But you should obviously avoid wearing them if you know heavy rains are on the forecast

#1: Pre-treat Suede Shoes With A Waterproofing Spray

This is the most important step in preparing your suede shoes for the rain, or even in general.

It is recommended to apply a waterproofing spray to your suede shoes, right after you’ve bought them. They will act as a general protectant against dust and rains. They form a layer between the leather and the elements so any accidental spills can roll off the surface of the leather

There are quite some waterproofing sprays available in the market. I’ve tried Vetro Power and it works well

#2: Always Keep A Suede Brush Handy

Using a waterproofing spray can protect your suede shoes, but if your shoes do end up getting wet – there are ways to treat them

When suede gets wet, the soft fibers on its surface fall flat and stick together instead of staying separate and up. So if you accidentally get your shoes wet, then brushing the suede to get the nap up (remember: one direction only) is the first step as a part of the post-treatment

Since you never know when you could need it, it is better to keep a suede brush handy – in your bag or maybe an extra one in the office

This way you can do a quick and light brush on those shoes as soon as you get indoors. Your shoes are happy, you’re happy, I’m happy.

#3: Use Steam To Remove Water Stains

Water stains are far too common on suede shoes, but there are also a few ways to remove them:

1. Use a clean paper towel / tissue paper to blot fresh stains. Do not rub, gently tap the stained area
2. Brush your shoes lightly over the stain to get the nap back up
3. Use steam for dried stains

Yes, steam can help with removing water stains. This could be from a kettle, teapot or a steam iron.

Treat stained suede shoes to steam from a distance of about 20-30 cm. Do this only for a few seconds until the suede feels damp. The idea here is to add some moisture back to those dried stains.

Once you’ve done that, gently blot the stain with a clean tissue and then brush the stained area with a suede brush to revive its nap

#4: Allow Drenched Suede Shoes To Naturally Dry

If you find yourself stuck in the middle of very heavy rain, or your suede shoes get completely drenched for some other reason, do not panic. That’s not the end of the road for your suede shoes and we can still bring them back to life

Before doing anything else, you need to allow your shoes to naturally dry. This means stuffing some newspaper in the shoe and keeping them out overnight in a cool dry place

Shoe trees are an excellent alternative to stuffed papers – these are foot shaped inserts that go into your shoe.

They will help with absorbing the moisture while also keeping the shape of your shoes intact. I’d recommend everyone to own at least one pair of shoe trees. There’s an article here that explains all the advantages of shoes trees

Anyway, once the shoes have completely dried you can then follow the same steps discussed in previous point – steam and blot (if necessary) then brush with a suede brush

Suede Shoes in Fall / Winter

Fall is the perfect suede season because you don’t have to worry about the weather having a personal vendatta against your shoes. No extra tips there, use your suede shoes as is in the fall

Winters are a different story. You need to be just as careful wearing suede shoes in the colder months as you would during rains.

The idea remains the same: pre-treatment with a waterproofing spray is necessary, and following general suede care will help maintain the life of your shoes.

But some specific tips for the fall / winter months are as below

#1: Get Some Boots

While it would be better to stay away from them during the summer, the fall and winters are the perfect time to get those suede boots out

The boot style will keep you warm, and the suede style will keep you sharp *grin*

I love the look of a suede Chukka boot, or perhaps even a dress boot in suede. You can wear them with a pair of jeans, or even dress them up with formal pants for work

Yes, suede boots will not be as formal as grain leather boots – but in the right circumstances (and in winter *-*) they will look great

#2: Use A Suede Brush And White Vinegar To Remove Salt Stains

Using suede shoes in the snow means there is a likely chance of your shoes coming in contact with the salt that sprinkled in the snow (to get it to melt faster)

If your shoes are not pre-treated properly, this can result in salt stains causing nasty white spots on your shoes

But this can be taken care of with a little bit of effort. White Vinegar is a powerful ingredient, not only in food but also in removing salt stains on suede shoes.

First, it is always a good practice to brush the suede to get rid of as much dirt/salt as possible. After that, you can apply some white vinegar to the stain, then blot the spot with a tissue paper to get the remaining residue or stain out. Always be careful and start with less vinegar; too much of it can spoil the suede

Once the shoe has dried up and the stains are blotted, use a suede brush again to get those fibers back up

#3: Dark Colours Look Great And Can Hide Salt Stains

If bright colours win in the summer, dark colours dominate the winter: for the same reasons described earlier

Dark coloured shoes will absorb more heat and light than reflect it keeping you all warm and cozy. They also hide salt stains very well, which are common with snow and winter. This means that you won’t have to work too hard towards removing those stains, the colours will do that for you

Dark shoes are also easy to match and go with more winter outfits

The best suede shoe colours for the winter would be dark browns, chocolate browns, grays, blacks and even navy

A navy coloured chukka boot has been on my wishlist for months! Maybe I should buy them in winter this year

Don’t Step On My Blue Suede Shoes!

Isn’t it cool how there is an actual song on suede shoes?

Now that you know how they can be worn at different times of the year, maybe you get inspired to buy blue suede shoes too!

Oh, and do let me know if you have any questions.

I’ll be here, grooving to this rockin’ tune *claps*

The post How To Wear Suede Shoes In Any Season appeared first on The Shoestopper.

If you’re a functioning adult, you’ve probably given an interview.

.Be it for a job or a scholarship, interviews are important events in life where you need to present your best self. You’ll most likely get only one face-to-face chance to make an impression, so it might as well be a good one.

And when you’re already nervous about 10 other things regarding the interview, it is easy to cast aside all thoughts about dressing well and just concentrate on your preparation.

Dressing appropriately for your interview is just as important though, and shoes have a big role to play in it. Many employers say that they will often judge a prospective employee by the shoes he/she wears to the interview – but the sad part is that few men actually make an effort to wear good shoes.

This hasn’t have to be nerve-wracking though, I promise. It’s easy, and I’m here to help you with it.

The shoes that are most appropriate for an interview will be simple, subtle, and (of course!) pretty. Classic formal shoe styles are the best – oxfords and derbys. You shouldn’t have to think much when getting ready for the interview – you can just put these on and know you’ll look great. But yes, we’ve got to be careful about the colour and detailing on the shoes that we choose, as well as the socks that we wear with them. Other than that there’s not a lot to worry about, we’ll cover all the ground in this article

I’ve compiled a list of some tips that you need to keep in mind when deciding your interview shoes. In many ways, these tips will be more helpful to you than the actual shoe styles itself.

Let’s go over them first and then we can talk about the shoes you should wear to rock your next interview

Tips For Deciding Interview Shoes

#1: Find Out The Office Dress Code And Work Setting in Advance

This will help you understand the work culture of the company you are interviewing at so that you can dress appropriately to match their environment.

A casual or business casual work setting is no excuse to be sloppy about your shoe choices though. It is always better to dress professionally and at a level that’s one step higher than the role you’re trying for

Generally, irrespective of the office dress code, they might expect the interviewees to be formally dressed, so you will not go wrong with a pair of dress shoes.

This becomes important only so that there is not a stark disparity between the company dress code and your intended outfit. So, say if they have a casual setting then you might not want to wear a suit.

#2: Match Your Belt With Your Shoes

This is a general style rule, and one that will benefit you here

Always match your belt with your shoes. Black belt with black shoes, and dark brown belt with dark brown shoes. You might be tempted to wear (say) a tan belt with dark brown shoes or vice versa, but that’s a no-no too

Matched belt and shoes make you look more put together, and you also have one less thing to think about.

Oh and remember to match the materials as well – only leather belts with leather shoes. I haven’t seen a lot of guys wearing fabric belts, so I think this shouldn’t a problem in most cases.

#3: Wear Dark Shoes

For shoes, black is the most formal colour of all, followed by dark brown.

Oxblood works too, but anything lighter than that is calling for too much attention to your shoes, which we don’t want.

Stay away from the light browns and the tans

A special mention here would be the colour blue. I’ve been seeing a few (beautiful) blue dress shoes in the market recently and if you’ve liked them as much as I did you’d wonder too if it fits in the interview context.

And because shades of blue can sometimes be difficult to judge as dark or bright, here’s another tip. If the blue dress shoes are navy-ish i.e. they look almost black – go ahead and wear them for the interview. Otherwise keep them for later, when you show off your cool style in office (after you’re hired ;))

#4: No Fancy Socks

I cannot believe I’m saying this, but … *takes deep breaths* .. no fancy socks to the interview please.

Stick with the sock rule of matching them to your trousers and you’ll never go wrong.

This tip is also derived from the need for your shoes and feet to be subtle but nice in an interview.

Fancy socks in bold colours and patterns may not give the right message to the panelists.

Pro Tip: If you would still like to have some fun with your socks, you can choose traditional patterns like stripes in dark colours. The rule of thumb would be the same – it shouldn’t contrast too much with your pants

Ribbed socks are a go too! They’ll look especially nice in an interview if properly matched with pants

#5: Avoid Brogues As Much As Possible

Brogueing refers to the tiny perforations that are done on shoes. It used to have a functional purpose in its early days but today it’s purely decorational.

There are mainly 4 types of brogues – full, half, quarter and longwing. Pictured above are the full brogues, also called wingtips

Brogues are lovely, but you might want to avoid wearing them for your interviews.

Quarter brogueing will generally be fine, but anything more that will be not (even in dark colours like black or brown)

That being said, it is possible that a pair of black / brown wingtips is the only shoe you have right now. In that case, you should decide based on #1 i.e the formality setting of the office.

At business casual workplaces, you could still get away with wearing full brogues. For any place more formal, I’d suggest you look for something else

Best Formal Shoes For Interviews

By now you must’ve already guessed which shoes are appropriate for interviews.

Generally, stick to the two most formal shoes styles i.e. Oxfords and Derbys.
Monkstraps are a pleasant addition to this list, you can wear them

Oxfords

Oxford shoes = timeless + classic + beautiful

A good pair of oxfords in dark shades will be the first pair of shoes I’d recommend you to buy if there are even a handful of formal events in your year.

And if not, get a pair with quarter brogueing (like I have) and they will still work for a multitude of occasions, including an interview

When wearing this for the interview though, make sure you are following general colour matching rules between the shoes and your pants.
Oh, and don’t wear black shoes with brown pants or vice versa

Take a note of how I’m keeping it simple and formal with the black socks, but the very subtle coloured pattern still makes it interesting

I find charcoal dress pants to be the best suited for this occasion. They naturally go with black shoes but also look great with dark brown shoes

Derbys

Ah, Derbys! The less formal (but equally attractive) sibling of oxfords

Don’t be fooled though, derby shoes are still a match for a formal event, like the one we are discussing here

If you are looking to buy a pair of derbys for the interview, resist the urge to get brogued shoes. It can be difficult (for brogues are <3) but a plain derby will be more suitable for this situation

Monkstraps

Okay, I can’t resist talking about all these shoes with so much excitement – they.are.amazing!

Monk strap shoes are very versatile, cause they can be worn as formal shoes (even with a suit!) or dressed down with a pair of jeans or chinos.

These shoes got their name because their first users were – take a guess? – monks! The straps were simply practical, and the closed toes offered more protection

I’ve put monk strap shoes last on the list because formality wise they’re the least formal. But that doesn’t mean you cannot wear them for an interview. With the straps fastened, these shoes have a clean look so they’ll do great in our context.

Monk shoes come in single, double, even triple strap variations – but somehow I find the look of double monk straps to the best and more formal. I’d suggest you stay away from triple straps to begin with, the other two would be fine

I’ve got these dark brown monk straps, and I am *pumped* every time I get to put that on. Imagine that kind of enthusiasm for your interview? Small joys

For all three shoes though, remember to stick to dark colours as per tip #3

Shoes Not To Wear To An Interview

There are shoes you can wear, and there are shoes you should not wear for your job interview. It is nice to know these too, so here you go:

Slip-on Shoes / Loafers

A Loafer or any slip-on shoes has a relaxed vibe best suited for business casual occasions.

When you’re interviewing for a job you’d want to appear attentive and eager, not laid back and relaxed.

This is the main reason why loafers should be avoided, even if the workplace is business casual. Unless your prospective job has a suit-tie setting you can very well wear the loafers later on once you’ve started the job

As an exception, if you’re interviewing at a place with a casual dress code – loafers could be worn on the interview (emphasis on ‘could’ because there are a lot of factors at play)
It will be a good way to adhere to the code while still looking job-ready

Sneakers

“Is it okay to wear sneakers to an interview?”, someone asks
“Oh no!”, I respond

If loafers are ‘relaxed’, sneakers shout “I just want to have fun!”

Unless you’re in the creative field, sneakers, or any casual shoes are never a good option to wear to an interview. And even in those sectors, I’m sure the employers do expect at least a certain level of formality – best to check it out in advance

Dressing slightly more formally than you are expected will always be safe.

So do me a solid and not wear sneakers to the interview, please?

Suede Shoes

The jury is still out on this one – Suede shoes may or may not be appropriate for an interview, we can’t really say for sure

I think it’s better to err on the side of caution and stay away from them. Even if you have suede oxfords in a dark colour, it might still be a risk and draw some attention

Suede shoes are a great way to express your personal style (if that’s what you like) but it will not be the right choice here

Wishing You Luck!

Your skills are on point, and now you’re shoes are too

I hope this helped you with making a better choice for interview shoes. If it did, please let me know. And if you have any questions, please feel free to ask them too – I’ll be more than happy to answer.

Go forth, padawan, and rock that interview! All the best!

The post These Formal Shoe Styles Are The Most Appropriate For An Interview (And The Ones That Aren’t) appeared first on The Shoestopper.

*Click Clack Click Clack*
We’ve all been there, we’ve all heard it. You might think that the familiar clicking sound is typical only for women’s shoes, but that is not the case

Men’s shoes can also click. Men’s shoes can also sound (closely) like women’s high heels. In fact, heels, which are primarily responsible for making this sound were originally made for… men.

Yes, us men. Well, not literally. The heels helped the soldiers in ancient times (15th century) to plant their feet securely in the horse stirrups – which helped them in battle.

I personally love the clicking of my dress shoes – it gives a sense of authority and confidence like nothing else. But if you’d rather prefer your shoes to be quiet and not announce your arrival, I get that too. If you’re in the second camp, this article will be especially useful for you

The easiest way to stop your dress shoes from clicking would be to change the way the shoes interact with the floor / ground. The main reason for the clicking is the hard soles and heels of the shoes – if you add a sound-absorbing material (like rubber) to the bottom of your soles, then the clicking sound is greatly reduced or might even stop.

Based on your usage, this may either be a permanent / temporary solution for you. In either case, it is important to understand the reason behind this sound, and the steps that you can take to avoid or fix it

What Makes Men’s Dress Shoes Click?

As mentioned earlier, the sound a pair of dress shoes makes depends on the way it interacts with the floor. This is seen primarily in shoes that have soles made of leather – for it is sturdier than other materials. In addition to that, there are two other factors that can amplify this sound

1) Leather Soles

The clicking sound is actually a mark of a pair of good quality shoes. This is because the clicking is caused when the leather sole hits the ground while you’re walking. And I think it is already clear that most high-end dress shoes will have leather soles

Actually, it’s not even the sole, rather the heel part that makes the dress shoes click. The leather used in the sole and the heel region is especially hard and tough to ensure that these shoes are durable.

In addition, these leather heels are further held in place by nails (they may be visible or covered). These nails, when touching the ground while walking, also lead to the click-clack sound

As far as I know, you will usually have this problem (if that’s what you like to call it :D) only with leather soles

2) You Have A Hard Walk

Everyone has a different walk, so accurately describing the exact type of walk that adds to the clicking noise is not possible.

However, if you hit your feet very hard on the ground, or take tall steps – then the heels are having a greater impact which is adding to the whole clacking noise.

If you’ve noticed this about yourself, try taking – erm, soft steps the next time. This means not to stomp your heels hard while walking – as if you’re walking wearing sneakers / flat-soled shoes.
It might solve your problem. And if it doesn’t, there are always the hacks that we’re going to talk about later

Oversized shoes

From the previous point it is clear that greater the impact of the leather heel with the ground, louder the shoes click.

On the same lines, if your shoes are oversized they will contribute to the clicking sound as well. This is because oversized shoes will not be secure around your feet and tend to slip off when you walk, most likely touching the ground before your feet do.

The wrong fit can lead to a lot of problems anyway, so you should always be making sure your dress shoes fit you just right. If you need help, there’s already a post where I talk about the fit of dress shoes. Check it out here

5 Hacks For Noisy / Clicky Dress Shoes

Finally, the highlight of this post. It’s time to get rid of that clicky noise from your shoes. The following methods will help

Hack #1: Wear Rubber Soled Shoes

This one’s obvious. Since leather soles are causing the clicking noise, if you don’t like it, don’t wear leather-soles shoes. Problem solved!

Rubber soles will work wonders for sound-proofing, have great grip, and are also waterproof. If you wear dress shoes in wet conditions then these are the perfect option for you.

However, rubber has some trade-offs as well, and often the process of choosing the best-suited soles has more sides to it than just the clicking noise.

So if you want to only have leather-soled shoes, but still hate the sound of clicking – then the other hacks might offer a solution

Hack #2: Use Rubber Heel Taps

If rubber soled shoes are not an option, what about rubber sole add-ons?

Many cobblers will have pieces of thin rubber heel parts with them that they can easily attach to the bottom of your leather soles. These might not provide the complete benefits of a full rubber sole, but definitely will help with the clicking and provide some grip as well

NOTE: Some shoe brands already attach some rubber on their soles to add a bit of traction to the shoes. These may help with the noise but if they are not, you can still go with this option of Rubber Heel Taps

Alternatively, if you have no cobbler around or you don’t want to reach out to them, then such rubber heel taps might be available online as well. They are usually self-adhesive so you can attach them to the shoes yourself. I think they might work well enough.

Here’s one I found on Amazon

Be wary of the thickness of these add-ons though. If they are too thick they will add an unnecessary height to the shoe and also be easily seen when you’re walking. Ideally, you want something that’s thin but gets the job done

Rubber Heel / Sole pads like these are sold for women’s high heels as well, so if you can’t find the ones I mentioned above look for these.

As they are made for women’s shoes they should be thin enough for our needs. Although they are mainly attached towards the front of the shoes (below the forefoot) for women, you can cut out a part and stick it on the heels of your shoes

Hack #3: Furniture Felt Pads

You must’ve seen those furniture pads, the ones that are placed below the legs of tables (any other part that comes in contact) so as to protect the nice tiling / flooring.

They are usually made out of felt, and yes we can use them to our advantage to stop our shoes from clicking

The principle is the same as the rubber taps: you take two of these felt pads, cut them out in the shape of the heel, and stick them on. Done!

Felt might not last you as long as rubber does though, so you might have to be careful of that. The only time I’d suggest you go for this option is if you wear your shoes indoors only i.e at home or the office. For everything else, rubber taps would be more preferable

NOTE: Furniture Pads also come in rubber, so if you can’t find any of the options listed earlier, try to find these

Hack #4: Wine Corks (or any Cork)

Yes, I know, Wine Corks are not big enough to attach to your heels. But you instantly understood the material I’m referring to, didn’t you

Like Felt, Cork will offer sound dampening too, thus helping to stop your dress shoes from clicking.

There are cork pads available too, mainly as coasters. You can cut them in shape and glue them onto the heels.
As with rubber heel pads, you might want to verify the thickness (~2-3 mm would do) of these. The ones that are sold as coasters should be fine

Note that cork will not help you in humid / wet conditions, so don’t think of wearing your cork attached dress shoes in the rain (not that you should wear those nice formal shoes in the rain anyway)

[SURPRISE] Hack #5: Duct Tape?

I was shocked when I found this hack while researching the post. Duct tape sounds like a rather unlikely solution for clicky shoes – but I tried it out and well, it sorta works. I wasn’t completely pleased with the outcome though

You need to make sure you cover up the heel fully though. If those nail parts are visible the clicking might still leak through.

Needless to say these will be the least durable of all the hacks, and the first ones to come off. But if you’re in a hurry and can’t do with any clicking, then it can work in your favour

Clickety-Clack, Clickety-Clack…

That covers all the tips I had to stop men’s dress shoes from clicking.

Everyone deserves to be happy with the shoes they’re wearing, and if these methods help you with that, then more power to you!

The stick-on heel pads (#2, #3, #4) will be easy to install by yourself, but do note that removing them once they’re worn out can be tricky and leave sticky residues behind. So be completely sure when you decide to go for them

If you have any other hacks that you’d to share, please let me know in the comments

The post The Easiest Methods To Stop Men’s Dress Shoes From Clicking appeared first on The Shoestopper.

When it comes to casual shoes, it is not very tricky to differentiate them from formal shoes. There are 5 simple factors, and once you’ve understood them then you can identify the correct category by yourself

Semi-formal shoes are whole another ball game though.

They are not casual shoes, but they aren’t formal either
But wait, the word ‘formal’ is right there!
Okay yes, it is a subset of formal shoes.

Is it, though? *smirk*

For a second there, the folks who already knew about semi-formal shoes must’ve forgotten too I promise, the rest of this post will not be as confusing

Semi-formal shoes are basically dressed down formal shoes. So, if you rank dress / formal shoes on a scale from the most formal to the least – on the lower end of that scale would be semi-formal shoes. There are just 4 key differences between formal and semi-formal shoes: the level of decoration on the shoe, the presence of shoelaces, the colour of the leather, and the sole material. These will help you decide if a pair of shoes is appropriate for an event, depending on whether the event is formal or semi-formal

For e.g. the more patterns on a shoe, the less formal it is. We’ll be going into all of these differences below. There’s also some bonus info towards the end, so stay tuned. Soon you’ll be able to point out semi-formal shoes even in your sleep

Difference Between Formal And Semi-Formal Shoes

Like I’ve said before, formality is a spectrum. While there is a sort of demarcation between formal and casual shoes, the line becomes blurry as you move towards the formal side

These 4 tips will tell you the factors that reduce the formality of a dress shoe. If a pair of shoes cannot be worn for the top 3-4 dressiest occasions, then they are semi-formal

Let’s get started:

#1: Amount Of Decoration / Patterns

Decoration / Patterns refer to three things in case of a pair of dress shoes:

1. Toe Detail (Cap toe vs Plain toe vs Split toe)
2. Brogueing
3. Ornaments (for loafers – horse-bit, tassels)

Toe Detail

The toe detail depends on the pieces of leather that were used to make the shoes. Wholecut shoes are beautiful shoes where a single piece of leather is used to construct the shoe. This makes them usually expensive, and also the most formal

For a plain toe, 2 pieces of leather are joined together so there is no detailing on the shoe, whereas a cap toe has an additional piece of leather stitched over the toe forming a cap shape on it

Both plain and cap toes are at the same level of formality, and you can still wear them with suits. This is followed by apron toe and split-toe shoes, which are the least formal and usually reserved for loafers

Brogueing

Brogueing is the act of making tiny holes / perforations on different sections of the shoe. Originally they had a function – the wearers worked in marshy lands and the holes made sure that their shoes dried up faster. Over time, that function has been lost and now, these holes are purely decorative

Based on the extent of brogueing brogues are of four types, from the most detail to the least: Full-brogues / wingtips, longwing brogues, half-brogues, and quarter-brogues

Higher the amount of brogueing, lower the formality of the shoe. So a pair of quarter-brogues are suitable to wear with suits, but full-brogues are not.

Full brogues / Wingtips, although extremely popular with men all around the world, are best reserved for semi-formal or casual occasions

You might see brogues being referred to as a separate style of shoe, but in reality, they are not. Any dress shoe from oxfords to loafers can be called brogues if brogueing is present.

Ornaments

Penny loafers have the distinct slit on the vamp (also used to keep pennies in the earlier days, hence the name)

Tassel Loafers show the presence of tassels i.e. knotted pieces of leather used to decorate the vamp of the shoe. And Horse-bit loafers have the signature metal strip made famous by Gucci.

Both of these are additional details that skew a pair of shoes towards the semi formal side

#2: Presence Of Shoelaces

The most formal shoes will have shoelaces, specifically in a closed lacing system like the oxfords.

Open laced derbies are less formal than oxfords but can still be paired with blazers, sports jackets and other pieces of daytime or evening formal wear

Monk straps, even though without any lacing system, still has the straps used for fastening which bring them next in line in terms of formality

And finally, we have slip on Loafers and Chelsea boots that are semi-formal due to the absence or a lacing or fastening system

#3: Colour

Black is the most formal colour when it comes to dress shoes, followed by other dark colours like brown and oxblood

There are so many shades to choose, but the rule of thumb is that bright / light colours and semi-formal and dark colours are formal

Tan is a good example : it is not formal enough to wear with a full suit, but dressed outfits without the jacket and tie could still work with tan coloured shoes under the right setting

Recently I’ve seen navy / blue shoes as well. I find them exciting and interesting – have been looking to buy a pair of dark blue oxfords for a while now – and would rank dark blues to be more formal than tan, while lighter and vivid blues less formal than tan

Maybe it’s because shades of brown / red have been more commonly used for dress shoes in the beginning; any other colour feels a little less formal even if it is dark

Spectator shoes are semi-formal, and are the only example I know of white being used in dress shoes

#4: Sole Material

As a rule: Leather soles are the most appropriate for highly formal events, while anything that is not leather is semi-formal and for other casual situations. This is because leather soles will have a sleek profile and are usually cut close to the shoe, which makes them subtle and elegant

Rubber or non-leather soles are usually chunkier and thicker which puts them lower in formality

The question here, though, is identification. While the other differences we discussed are noticeable from a distance, the shoe soles are not. A well made rubber-soled shoe might look the same as a leather-soled shoe unless very closely expected. So you might get away with it

Remember this as a point of difference between formal and semi-formal shoes, but don’t bother too about it. If non-leather soles work best for you, then go ahead and wear them – it should be okay!

[BONUS GUIDE] Various Formal Shoes Ranked In Formality

The below table has various dress shoes ranked from formal to semi-formal.
You can order the table in reverse rank by clicking on the rank column, and click on the shoe to skip to the relevant section

1. Plain-toe oxfords in patent black leather

Patent leather is that really shiny kind of leather that looks almost plastic (but is not). It has just been treated to give off the shine

Patent black leather oxfords are the dressiest shoes you can own

WEAR THEM WITH: A tuxedo for black-tie and white tie-events. Most people don’t regularly attend such high formal events, but if you do then these are a must-have

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Full suits or blazers that are not tuxedos.

DEFINITELY DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Chinos, or jeans. Please, no. You’re not Ranveer Singh

2. Wholecut Oxfords in Black / Dark Brown / Oxblood

Wholecut shoes, like mentioned earlier, are highly formal.

Some would say that Plain / Cap-toe Oxfords are dressier than these but I still like to follow the “less is more” rule for formality, which makes these more formal due to their simple design

WEAR THEM WITH: Full-suits. Choose the colour of the shoe to match with the suit

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Anything that is casual

3. Plain-toe / Cap-toe Oxfords in Black / Dark Brown / Oxblood (Quarter brogueing is okay)

We’re still in the very formal end of the scale, but this is where the majority of people will start from – including me. The tiny scope to allow for quarter brogueing keeps things interesting

The reason why I’ve kept both Plain-toe and Cap-toe at the same level, is because honestly it depends on personal preferences. Some might prefer a plain-toe and others might enjoy a cap-toe

WEAR THEM WITH: Full-suits just like the Wholecuts, or nice dress pants without the suit jacket. I would also go ahead and say that this is appropriate for daily office wear as well

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Jeans. While it might be okay to wear these with chinos, I wouldn’t recommend it

4. Plain-toe / Cap toe Derbys (Quarter brogueing is okay)

Ah, Derbys! For those that don’t know about oxford shoes, these are definitely THE dress shoe of choice. Not a bad thing at all, for Derbys have their own charm

We’ll still stick to no / quarter-brogueing here though, to keep up with the formality levels

WEAR THEM WITH: a pair of nice dress pants for the office. If you want to add a jacket, think of a blazer rather than a full suit

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Should I repeat this? I think you already know the answer by now

5. Plain-toe / Cap toe Derbys (Half Brogueing is okay)

Wohoo! We’re slowly transitioning to the semi-formal side, y’all B-)

Derbys and half-brogues were always meant to be together, if you think about it. They look like a match made in shoe-heaven (I hope that’s a thing, please, oh please)

WEAR THEM WITH: Chinos to work, or with jeans in the lighter colours. Dress pants/ blazers may look good here as well

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Full suits/tuxedos. We’re moving away from the formal side, so super formal shoes will be a no-no from here

6. Single / Double Monk Strap shoes

If I ever tell you otherwise, call me a liar
‘Cause Monk shoes are my MOST FAVOURITE dress shoes EVER!

Professional and fun-sexy (no idea if that’s a word) at the same time. Perfect combination

No matter the number of straps, they always look amazing – neither is more formal than the other in my opinion

WEAR THEM WITH: Full suits (darker colours), Blazers, Chinos, Jeans. Are you still doubting their awesomeness?

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Tuxedos. Black-tie or white-tie events are definitely not the right occasions to show your edgier side

7. Chelsea boots

Chelsea boots are beautiful , and just as versatile as monk straps

I wish I could tell you that these boots suit everyone, but sadly that’s not the case. They will favour the tall and lean guys more; when confused try them on before buying

WEAR THEM WITH: Blazers, Chinos. I especially like the look of Chelsea boots with denim

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Tuxedos and Full-suits

8. Wingtip Derbys in any colour / Spectator shoes

If monk strap shoes are my favourite, then wingtip derbys (in tan) are a close second. There isn’t anything not to like about these shoes

Spectator shoes are fun too, although might not cater to everyone’s tastes

WEAR THEM WITH: Jeans, Chinos and (sometimes) dress pants if the shoes are in dark colours. The combination of tan wingtips and blue denim looks lovely.
As these are perfectly semi-formal, you can wear them with sports jackets as well

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Tuxedos, Full-suits, Blazers

9. Penny Loafers

A classic will always remain a classic – and nothing else can describe Penny Loafers better.

The captain-cool of semi-formal shoes, you can match penny loafers with a wide variety of relaxed and dressed down outfits

WEAR THEM WITH: Summer Suits, Dress Pants, Jeans, Chinos and Shorts. When wearing loafers with shorts, sockless is the way to go. Also, make sure your dress pants are cut close and fit you well so as to provide a seamless appearance complimented only by Penny Loafers

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Tuxedos, Full-suits (dark coloured, mainly evening wear)

10. Tassel Loafers

The Penny Loafers’ close sibling, the tassel loafers are at the same level of formality. While the penny loafer design is traditional, the tassel loafers are a bit more fashion-forward

They can still be interchangeably worn though i.e. the same outfits will work for both these kinds of loafers

WEAR THEM WITH: Summer Suits, Tailored and Close-Cut Dress Pants, Jeans, Chinos, and Shorts.

DON’T WEAR THEM WITH: Tuxedos, Full-suits (dark coloured, mainly evening wear)

Formal or Semi-Formal?

I know that there is a fine line of difference between formal and semi-formal shoes, but hopefully this article helped you understand them. When comparing two shoes: the basic principle is that the shoe with lesser details, thinner profile and darker colour will be more formal

Which shoes do you think are the most versatile for your daily use?

The post 4 Key Differences Between Formal and Semi-Formal Shoes You Need To Know appeared first on The Shoestopper.

I recently took out all my shoes to give them a nice care session.

With social distancing and lockdown due to COVID-19, we’ve all got a little extra time on our hands, so I thought why not use it towards my shoes – they were missing me anyway

While putting them back though, I realized that I instinctively keep my formal and casual shoes separate. The more I looked at them, the more I observed distinct patterns between the two groups

These patterns can quickly help you identify a pair of shoes as formal or casual, which is the first step towards thoughtful and dress-code appropriate style.

The 5 main differences between formal and casual shoes are in their structure, lacing, material, colour, and sole material. Formal shoes are sleek in shape and dark in colour, made out of leather with a distinct heel. On the other hand, casual shoes are bulkier and made out of fabric or leather, with usually a flat rubber sole. Both formal and casual shoes can be laced or laceless – but when present, laces are thicker in casual shoes

Before we get into the differences though, check out the list below.
For your quick reference, I’ve already grouped commonly known shoe styles in their respective categories.

This will be helpful because when you read about those 5 factors later on and compare them with the list, there may be lots of tiny ‘aha!’ moments.

And those are always nice

Formal And Casual Shoes Categorized

Formal shoes are also called dress shoes as they can be worn when ‘dressing up’ – suits, blazers, shirts, trousers, etc. Due to their elegant looks they are the best fit for a business / formal setting where conventions and conformity matter, like the office, weddings, or funerals

Casual shoes, on the other hand, are for more relaxed (informal) occasions where personal expression and comfort are more important: like watching a cricket game or having drinks with your buddies.

Wherever you’re going, it is important to select the right shoes to match the formality of the event. Let this table guide you

Even though a shoe style can broadly be considered either formal or casual, there are certain nuances that can cause ambiguities.

As you can see, loafers are on both sides even though traditionally they are dress shoes. Formality is a spectrum: between two pairs of shoes, there will always be one that is more formal than the other.

For e.g. Oxfords are more formal than Derby shoes but based on the detailing and the material the reverse might also be true.

Keep this in mind when you need to choose between two or more shoes from the same category. More details on formal and semi-formal shoes are covered here

Difference Between Casual And Formal Shoes

These are the 5 factors that decide whether a pair of shoes are formal or casual:

Structure

The first major difference between formal and casual shoes is their structure. Structure means the way the shoes are built, their shape and the overall look

As formal shoes are meant for (obviously) formal occasions, they are compact and sleek in shape. Formality requires shoes to be presentable but not overbearing.

Dressy shoes should also share traits with other dressy clothing items like suits, pants, and shirts – sharp lines and clean edges – so that the overall outfit is much more harmonious and cohesive

To achieve this, dress shoes are constructed over wooden lasts that are specially made to mimic a foot, giving us the streamlined structures that look great and match all other formal wear

You must’ve seen those famous Italian shoes – the chiseled toe and the narrow shape is what makes them such a favourite among sartorial enthusiasts

Contrast this with casual shoes like Sneakers and Espadrilles, which tend to be bulkier in shape with less structure.

Boat shoes are a great example – with a little extra room for comfort around the toes and the soft shape that gives off the perfect relaxed vibe. Just like dress shoes complement formal wear, the soft features of casual shoes complement casual outfits

Lacing and Number of Eyelets

Checking the shoelaces is another method of separating formal and casual shoes. Typically, formal shoes will have thin and round waxed cotton shoelaces to keep up with the subtle look, while casual shoes have thicker laces that may be flat or round

Some people do put on flat laces on formal shoes. While it is indeed okay to do that, it’s the exception and not the norm.

Besides, flat laces that are sold for formal shoes will still be thinner than those used on casual shoes – simply because the eyelets are smaller

Talking about eyelets, their number makes a difference in the formality as well. Formal shoes usually have 5-6 pairs of eyelets (when laced) but for casual shoes there is no general trend

Some casual shoes like Chukka boots and boat shoes have 2-3 eyelet pairs, whereas sneakers and boots may have 6 or more pairs of eyelets.

On both formal and casual sides, we also have shoes with no lacing system – Loafers, Chelsea boots, Espadrilles, etc. In this case, the rest of the tips can be referred to consider them in the right group

Material

Formal shoes will be made only out of leather. Faux leather or Vegan leather works too – as long it is leather or looks like leather and satisfies all the other criteria you can say that the shoes are formal

Many shoes come in suede as well. Although suede is made from leather, in my opinion, its texture makes it lean towards the casual side.
I wouldn’t wear a pair of suede loafers or brogues with formal pants; I’d rather match them with denim or dress it down further with shorts

Casual shoes could be either in fabric, leather, or some variation of leather (suede / nubuck). Shoes like sneakers, when made in leather, can move up the formality scale (still on the casual side though)

Colour

Dress shoes come in dark colours, most of the bright and vibrant shades are reserved for casual shoes

The reasoning behind this is the same – we need formal shoes to be subtle while still being presentable.

Common colour options for formal shoes are black, medium to dark brown and oxblood. Light brown / Tan is a debatable – personally I love a good tan colour on shoe and would still consider it as a formal shoe, although a little lower on the spectrum after all the dark colours

On the other hand, casual shoes can get as vibrant as possible. There are oranges, blues, yellows, reds, turquoises; the list of colours is endless. I own a pair of dark red sneakers and they’re one of my favourites – would totally recommend you to have a fun colour in your shoe closet to mix it up

And yes, dark colours work for casual shoes as well. Black sneakers are a famous example loved by so many people. Navy blue suede Chukka boots are another great choice for a casual shoe in a darker shade

The colour white deserves a special mention in this section – spectator shoes are two-toned formal shoes that are iconic for the dark – white combination.

When used on its own though, white is a casual colour – cue classic white sneakers

Soles

Just like the upper material, traditionally formal shoes will have leather soles while casual shoes have rubber soles

This is not a distinct point of difference though i.e. All formal shoe styles listed in the above table can also be made with rubber soles. Usually, the choice of sole material depends on other factors like durability, comfort, weather resistance, etc.

However, one constant and clear difference I’ve found between dress shoes and casual shoes is the type and look of sole rather than its material.

Formal shoes almost always will have a separate heel part on the sole, whereas casual shoes have flat soles (or with a slight heel drop, but not a clear heel part)

Chukka boots and other casual boots are the exceptions here as their soles can, at times, be similar to that of dress shoes

The soles differ in the width as well. Thicker and chunkier soles are more common for casual shoes and formal shoes will have thinner soles. In fact, shoemakers even try to make the part of the sole that extends beyond the sides as thin as possible

[BONUS] Shoes That Work As Both Formal And Casual

By now you might’ve realized that even though there are clear differences between formal and casual shoes, there is some overlap as well.

This overlap gives way to a neutral zone of sorts where some shoes could either be casual or formal based on the rest of the outfit.

It is interesting to see how this versatility comes into play. if you take the less formal dress shoes and the dressier casual shoes and combine them, you get another group of shoes that can work for both situations

Obviously, they won’t be appropriate for black tie or other super formal events. But otherwise, you could use this to your advantage

Here are some options:

Tan Wingtip Derbies

The tan colour and wingtip brogueing moves these shoes closer to the lower end on the formal side.

Pair them with dark denim or chinos – Blue goes wonderfully with tan and is my favourite combination

Or wear these with dress pants with a tucked in dress shirt during the day to have the perfect balanced look of relaxed but professional

White Sneakers

Ah, White Sneakers are such a classic.

I realized the true potential of white sneakers only recently; once I got over the initial overwhelm (due to the stark contrast of white with other colours) I’ve been using them more and more

If you could only have one sneaker for life, it should be white

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Wear these with any casual outfit – including shorts – white goes with everything

Or show-off your trendy side by wearing white sneakers and a t-shirt with a blazer to dress it down. I haven’t tried this look yet so I don’t have any opinions on it, but the idea definitely seems interesting

Leather Penny Loafers

Another classic. If you could only have one loafer for life, then…… you know what I mean

Note that I have mentioned leather loafers and not seude. Suede Penny Loafers, although gorgeous, may not go with many work outfits

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Leather, on the other hand, will obviously match well with dress pants. And for those casual times, go for that sockless look and rock these with a pair of jeans or chinos

Understand The Rules, Then Go Break Them

Style rules are laid out to guide us when confused, so it is important to completely understand these differences first.

With a good working knowledge of which shoes can be categorized as formal or casual, you can then begin to experiment with what you like.

You’ll never know if it works unless you’ve tried it; some of the most inspirational style bloggers I follow have recommended breaking the rules once in a while (only if you know what you’re doing)

Maybe you’ll start the next style trend

The post 5 Simple Differences Between Casual And Formal Shoes appeared first on The Shoestopper.

For a major part of the first 24 years of my life, I wore rubber-soled shoes. To be precise, rubber-soled square toe shoes (ugh)

So when I got into shoes, thinking about the soles was not even an afterthought – they had to be rubber, of course! Well, turns out I was wrong.
There are actually many different sole materials to choose from while buying a pair of formal shoes. Leather, Rubber, PU, EVA, and more…

With so many options, it can get confusing to choose one over the other, but it’s not a very hard choice if you follow the guidelines laid out in this post

The best sole material for formal shoes depends on the work environment, mode of transport, and budget. Leather sole shoes are best for office-goers who drive or use public transport to get to work, whereas rubber and PU soles are better suited for outdoor usage.

How to Choose the Best Sole for Formal Shoes

The answer to these simple questions will help you pick the right type of sole material for your formal shoes

#1: Where Do You Work?

Do you work indoors or outdoors? For the major part of your day, do you walk on carpets and floors, or pavements and rough ground?

If it’s the former, then leather soles are a great option for you – they look cleaner and are more professional for the office environment. For outdoors: rubber and other synthetic soles will be better as they will have more traction on rough surfaces

Additionally: if you’re going to be on your feet for extended period of time then PU (being light and flexible) is a very good option too.

PSA: New leather soles can be very slippery on smooth floors. I can’t count the number of times I’ve almost landed on my rear only to balance myself at the last moment. Over time, this gets better with the leather surface being rubbed against the ground/floor.
Some brands also attach strips of rubber on the bottom of their leather soles to help with this – lookout for those

But definitely don’t attempt to sprint in these

#2: How Do You Get To Work?

While the location of your work is important, the mode of transport you take to get to it also plays a role in choosing the best sole material for your dress shoes

If you have to walk a lot to get to work, then rubber/ PU/EVA soles will be of better value to you as they would be easier to walk over long distances. Besides, these are also naturally waterproof (which leather isn’t) so water won’t seep in through the rubber soles during the monsoon/winter

Also, EVA soles are insulating, so it’s great for cold places

On the other side, if you mostly use public transport – then a pair of good quality leather-soled dress shoes will be comfortable enough to reach the workplace.
And there are always leather weather-proofing methods, in case you ever have to face the rains/snow during your commute

Note: Since we are discussing formal shoes, I’m assuming that the shoe upper is of a breathable material and so breathability is not a factor considered for choosing soles. Natural Leather will always be more breathable than rubber or other synthetic materials

#3: How Often Do You Like To Change Shoes?

Okay, this might be controversial. Some people prefer having new shoes every few years or so.
Me? I like to buy the greatest quality of shoes I can afford and use them for as long as a can. With time, good shoes develop character which makes them more beautiful

It’s a matter of personal choice, so I won’t debate if you like to throw away shoes within a few years. Although, I would highly recommend you to at least consider the later

The frequency of changing formal shoes is an important factor in deciding the soles because if you discard old shoes often, then you’re better off buying rubber-soled / PU ones as they’ll be cheaper (more on that in #5)

Even EVA, in this case, would be a good fit. Soles made out of EVA will be very comfortable, light, and ultra-cushioned. Yes, over time they will get compressed, but by then you would’ve worn them enough and would be looking to change anyway

For leather soles, Goodyear Welting and Blake Stitching are the most common methods used to attach them to the shoe. These methods make the shoes easy to resole, so you’d be losing out on a big chunk of their value if you don’t use them to their fullest

Pro Tip: A good compromise here would be to look for shoe brands that offer rubber sole in Goodyear Welt / Blake Stitch construction methods. That way if you do decide to keep them for longer – resoling might just be possible when required

#4: How Much Are You Willing To Spend?

I’ll just go ahead and say it – good shoes are an investment. If taken care of, they’ll last decades

And leather soles are a mark of quality for dress shoes as they denote the care and effort undergone in making them. Unlike rubber or other synthetic soles, leather soles cannot be simply stuck onto the shoes. They have to be welted, which is a processing of attaching them to the upper of the shoes

All of this naturally makes shoes with leather soles expensive. Whereas everything else will generally be cheaper, and so the shoes cheaper as well

Your budget is probably the most important question that you should answer at this stage.

If you can afford to buy formal shoes with leather soles, go for it!
If not, there are some great quality pairs in rubber soles as well

#5: Click Clack Click !?

Yes, we’re talking about the heel-clicking sound that leather soles make when they hit the floor. I’m a big fan of the sound, but I’ve been told many people don’t like it. Rubber soles would be the best for such folks

For others who prefer leather soles but don’t like the click: find a brand that attaches those rubber strips on the heel (as in #1).

For everyone else like me, click away B-)

[BONUS] How To Identify Different Sole Materials

When online shopping, most brands will mention the type of soles that they use on their shoes. If they don’t, you can always drop an email and check with them. I can’t say if the big brands will get back with a response, but small business owners usually do – and often provide the best service

When shopping in stores / malls though, you will have to rely on the store attendant or use your own judgement. Here are some tips:

How To Identify Leather Soles

Leather soles would be smooth and shiny when new, and you should be able to feel that by running your hand over the soles

I also like to use something I call the knock test – basically knocking different parts of the sole with my forefinger and observing the resultant sound. Leather soles will have a loud, almost wooden knock

There’s another way to double check this: Shoes with leather soles mostly will have a rubber strip on the heel to prevent slippage. Use this feature by knocking on the heel and then the rest of the sole. If it sounds different, you may have your answer

How To Identify Rubber Soles

Rubber Soles will have a very distinct look and so it shouldn’t be very difficult to identify. They will have a matte texture and rubbery smell
(I’m sure you know how rubber smells, right?)

Rubber soles will give off a softer knock than leather. It is as if the material is absorbing most of the sound

How To Identify PU Soles

PU soles are soft, flexible and have good bend performance. If the shoes bend well then they’re likely to be made of PU soles. I don’t think stores will allow you to bend their shoes (especially formal) though, unless it’s a feature that they’re marketing

PU will not be smooth like leather. Your hand should not slip and slide when you place it over a PU leather

Leather or Rubber?

Leather is elegant, more durable and lasts much longer than rubber. On the other hand, rubber is waterproof, inexpensive with zero break-in period. The trick is to choose which is more appropriate for your environment

Have you decided on the best sole material for your formal shoes?

If you have some confusions or questions, feel free to send me an email or drop a comment below

I would love to hear your thoughts

The post Answer These 5 Questions To Choose the Best Sole for Formal Shoes appeared first on The Shoestopper.