Choosing a pair of dress shoes to wear can be confusing at times.

Sure, you could stick to oxfords and always look put together, but there will be situations that don’t require the highest levels of formality.

For men who want to look sharp and stand out, monk strap shoes might be the greatest gift from the shoe gods!

But, can you wear these shoes with formal outfits?
Actually, how formal are monk strap shoes?

Monk strap shoes are semi-formal shoes that can be worn with jeans, chinos, dress pants, as well as full suits. It is an extremely versatile shoe style that works well with casual, business casual as well as formal outfits, with the only exception of white/black-tie.

If you’ve been excited about monk strap shoes but confused about wearing them formally, then you’ve come to the right place. Just keep the below tips in mind and you’ll rock these beauties, every single time

1) Stay clear of three straps

Monk strap shoes are laceless, but they are also not slip-ons.

The peculiar design feature of monk strap shoes is the presence of buckles, which used to fasten the shoe after wearing it. Based on the number of buckles, these shoes can be called as single monk strap, double monk strap or the triple monk strap

Single monk straps are classic.
Double monk straps are awesome.
Triple monk straps are ….. a bit too much!

The entire appearance of three straps makes the upper part of the shoe look very crowded, which is not the look we’re going for when wearing these shoes formally.

Besides, the monk strap shoe style is a statement in itself – despite its fame, you will find more men wearing oxfords or derbys than monk straps.

So, yes, you will stand out when wearing monk strap shoes. No need to overdo it by going for three straps!

This unique shoe style has also found its way to boots – I’m seeing many monk strap boot variations being designed by brands all around.

Three straps in a monk strap boot should be okay, as long as the first strap stays hidden under your pants

2) Choose regular leather over suede

Suede monk straps are a favourite of mine. They take the beauty of these shoes to the next level!

But when it comes to wearing monk strap shoes with formal outfits, regular leather is more appropriate

This is because suede, because of its velvety texture, is considered more casual than leather. Suede monk-straps will look best when worn with jeans (and sometimes chinos)

For suits and dress pants, it is better to go for normal leather. Calfskin monk straps look especially nice with the more formal outfits, but cowskin works just as well.

And – do remember to keep them shined and ready.

When wearing double monk straps, you can also leave the bottom-strap unbuckled to amp up the coolness a little
(Think of it like leaving the second button of your shirt undone *ooh la la* )

3) Tuxedos are a no-no

Among dress shoes, monk straps might just be the most versatile style.
But that does not mean that it can be worn with anything (read: tuxedos)

Tuxedos form a part of black-tie or white-tie dress codes; events or occasions that have these dress codes expect the highest levels of formality

Monk strap shoes do not fit the super dressy aesthetic and so should be avoided whenever you decide to wear a tux

Tuxedos in colours other than black will be slightly less formal than black ones, but it will still not be appropriate to wear monk straps with them

The only time it is okay to pair tuxedos and monk straps together is when you’re wearing the tuxedo casually i.e. a lighter shade jacket with chinos or dress pants in a different colour. I wouldn’t recommend this personally – you’re better off wearing blazers casually than tuxedos – but if it is something that interests you then it’s worth a try

4) Dark colours over light colours

If you wear smart suits regularly, then get a pair of black monk straps first.
For most other people, dark brown monk straps will prove to be more useful for both business and business casual outfits

In general, light colours are considered to be more casual than dark colours.

So, in the context of wearing monk strap shoes formally – dark colours like black, brown, and oxblood will be better than the lighter shades like tan or beige.

Yes, the lighter shades can be more tempting to buy – there have been many times I’ve gotten carried away and clicked ‘Add to cart’ for tan shoes (I LOVE tan shoes, they look SO good!) – but remember that they are also harder to maintain because the scuffs and scratches will be more visible

If you want to be adventurous, you can also go for bold colours like dark green or navy. These are dark enough to still be formal, but bolder than the classics.
Just make sure you are pairing them properly; shoes of these colours will match only with a few items in your closet

5) Always wear crew length socks

Okay, so I’m assuming that because you’re here to understand the do’s and don’ts of wearing monk straps with formal outfits, you *are* going to wear either chinos or dress pants

To that end, you should always wear socks with dressy outfits.

Why?
Because pants rise up whenever you sit, showing a significant portion of your ankle and lower leg.
And because ‘trendy’ pants are becoming shorter and shorter these days
And because nobody wants to see your bare ankles in the office or that business event!

Sockless looks are better suited for non-suited or casual-suited (see what I did there ) occasions

The bottom line: if you’re wearing jeans with or without a blazer/sports coat, go ahead with no-show socks*
For everything else, crew length (or longer) socks are better.

* no-show socks to give the illusion of being sockless, because it’s never advisable to actually go sockless with these shoes

6) Single-breasted jackets over double-breasted jackets

A double-breasted jacket is to a suit, as Ranveer Singh’s looks are to the rest of us: bold, a conversation starter, and not for everybody

What originally was a casual clothing item has now found its way into the dressiest of wardrobes (and movies too: Kingsmen anybody?)

Although double-breasted suits are widely accepted as business outfits, it still is a statement piece, just like our favourite monk strap shoe!

And having two statement pieces in the same outfit can go wrong in many, many ways (especially for beginners) so it is better to opt for single-breasted suit jackets when wanting to wear monk straps formally.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t pull off the two items together; it just takes a certain level of experience in, and experimentation with men’s style

The post 6 Quick Tips To Wear Monk Strap Shoes With Formal Outfits appeared first on The Shoestopper.

When compared with shoes, socks are generally an afterthought – your shoes cover them, after all.

But socks play a very important role in the overall health of your feet and your shoes. In this post, you’ll know exactly how they do that.

Consider this my love letter to the world of socks
(hope I don’t get friendzoned )
(or should it be foot-zoned? *wonders*)

So, why are socks important? Here’s why:

1) Socks are a fashion statement

Well said, Captain obvious *claps*

It’s true though, isn’t it?

From checks and stripes to polka dots and pizza slices, socks these days come in a wide wild variety of patterns and are a unique way to express your style.

They also make great statement pieces because hey, they’re hidden under your pants most of the time so you can get away with bold colours and patterns!

Sure, you can never go wrong with the classics – neutral, solid colours.
But then, classic is a statement too

2) They provide comfort

Can you imagine the feeling of your foot just rubbing across the material of your shoes?
Sounds pretty uncomfortable to me!

Socks to the rescue!

Cotton, wool, silk, performance fabrics – there are quite a few options for sock materials.

Out of these, cashmere and Egyptian cotton are the favourites for absolute comfort. A good pair of cashmere socks can make you feel like a royal prince walking on a lush velvet carpet in his bedroom. In other words, comfort-max!

Note: Cashmere is expensive. If cashmere socks don’t fit your budget, go for Egyptian cotton ones instead. They’re nothing short of amazing!

3) They protect the feet from blisters

This point expands on the previous one – wearing shoes without socks is never a good idea (more on that here) because the tough material of the shoes (especially when they’re new) can rub against your feet and cause friction

The result – blisters, and shoe bites!

Socks minimize the friction between your shoes and the feet, thus dealing with the problem of blisters

They aren’t the one-stop solution for all foot issues though. If your shoe doesn’t fit well, you can still get shoe-bites even while wearing socks. But it’ll be twice as bad if you weren’t wearing any

4) They improve the fit of your shoes

For shoes that are just slightly loose, socks can be a great way to fill that extra space, thus improving the overall fit of your shoes

If you’re using this tactic, the thickness of your socks will depend on how loose the shoes currently are.

Generally, I’ve found that up to a half-size difference in shoe sizes can be bridged by wearing a pair of socks of appropriate thickness

The inverse of this tip holds true as well. For new leather shoes that are slightly tight in the beginning, thin socks can help ease the break-in period by not taking up extra space inside the shoe.

5) Socks prevent smelly feet

The two biggest weapons against smelly shoes and feet are

a) Proper foot care
b) (yes) Socks!

Thanks to the 2,50,000 sweat glands that they have, your feet produce about 250ml of sweat on an average day. That’s like a full glass of Thums-Up, you guys!

And what does all that sweat do? If unchecked, it’s a buffet for bacteria, which in turn causes that bad bad smell

But socks absorb that sweat – to a great extent, thereby cutting down the bacteria’s food supply!

Moral of the story: A pair of fresh socks a day, keeps the smell monster away

6) They regulate temperature

Have you reached out for a pair of socks when your feet are cold?
If you have, then you already know that socks can keep your feet warm, and thus regulate your body temperature

But winter socks aren’t ideal for the summers. Instead, no-show socks work better – they give you all the other benefits of the socks, while still keeping your ankles free and cool

If you prefer regular crew length socks instead of no-show ones but are worried about feeling hot during the summer, make sure that the socks you buy aren’t too thick.
With local brands, this will hardly be a problem because they would manufacture their socks keeping the weather in mind #VocalForLocal!

7) They protect the shoes

Socks not only protect your feet from your shoes, they also protect your shoes from your feet!

Confused? Think long, uncut toenails scraping the inside of the shoe in the absence of socks.

Let’s be real – a LOT of us often don’t bother to keep our toenails groomed. After all, most men’s shoes are closed-toed i.e. we don’t have to show our feet in the open.. so what’s the point, right?

Wrong
I’m a big advocate of keeping your toenails in check, simply because it’s what any well-groomed gentleman would do.

But for the times you do forget to cut them (and we all do), your socks can act (somewhat) like a barrier and protect your shoes

8) Specialty socks like compression socks improve circulation and prevent leg fatigue

Compression socks are knee length socks that are specially designed to apply pressure on your ankles and lower portion of the leg. This pressure, in turn, helps to maintain blood flow and reduce swelling

These socks are generally advised to people with conditions which cause swelling of the leg or the foot, such as varicose veins

Lately, some athletes have also started using compression socks, claiming an increase in their athletic performance.
Since these socks started off as a medical treatment, though, you should always consult your doctor before using them (self-diagnosis, and self-treatment is never a good idea )

Here are some helpful articles, in case you’d like to read more about compression socks:

• How long should I wear compression stockings to improve my circulation?
• What You Need to Know About Compression Socks Before You Buy
• What to Know About Compression Socks and Stockings
• What You Should Know About Compression Socks
  

9) They make it easy to slip into shoes

It’s difficult to slip into brand new shoes.

A shoehorn helps, but unless your heels are as smooth as a newborn baby’s skin, there is bound to be some friction between the material of the shoehorn and the feet

Socks reduce this friction, thereby making your feet slide in easily.
Less struggle for your thumbs and feet, more happiness for your shoes

10) They can help heal cracked heels

Cracked heels are caused by dry and thickened skin.

In most cases, it causes discomfort and pain while standing or walking, but in severe cases, the cracks or fissures can also become infected.

If you already suffer from cracked heels then not wearing any socks with your shoes can often worsen the situation, due to constant contact of the skin with the back of the shoe.

Socks are also a good supplement to the usual over the top applications. Using vaseline (or any petroleum jelly) on your heels, and then covering them up with socks while you sleep is a great way to seal in the moisture and help heal the cracks
(Plus, your bed won’t get stained as well. Double win!)

11) Socks can increase orgasms (what!)

If you’re amused, I’m with you. I had the same reaction when I first read about it, but it’s true!

A study at the University of Groningen used a brain scanner to look into the human brain during sexual activity. They found that both men and women
found it easier to have an orgasm with their socks on..
In the study, 50 per cent of the 24 men and women analyzed managed to achieve an orgasm without wearing socks, but 80 per cent were only successful when they kept their socks on!

In case you’re intrigued about this, check out ABC’s interview with Professor Gert Holstege, who led this study at the university

I’m no scientist, but I’d say that this could have something to do with points 2 and 6: If you comfortable, and warm – and thus relaxed, it would be easier to have an orgasm, no?

12) They are great gifts!

A multipack set of nice, comfy, colourful (or classic) socks can be a great gift for your buddies! With so many benefits, it shows you care for them, which is the entire point of gift-giving

And if they don’t understand, you can always pass them a link to this article Surely they *have* to appreciate socks after reading it

The post 12 Reasons Why Socks Are SO Important (with 1 Shocking Fact!) appeared first on The Shoestopper.

Slip-ons belong to a broad category of shoes.

Any pair of shoes that do not have laces or buckles can be called slip-on shoes. But this is a generic explanation, and it only adds to the confusion.

If you hate having to tie shoelaces after getting ready, but still want to appear professional – what shoes should you wear? Will slip-ons be okay?

Well, let’s find out!

The formality of slip-on shoes will vary as per their type and material. Leather Loafers, as well as Leather slip-ons without a moc toe are formal and can be worn in a professional setting. Other slip-on shoe types, like moccasins, boat shoes, espadrilles, and slip-on sneakers are more casual and should be worn only with casual outfits.

Here’s a list of slip-on shoe types, ranked from the most formal to the least

1. Loafers
2. Leather slip-ons without moc toe or apron toe
3. Moccasins
4. Boat shoes
5. Espadrilles

There’s also some simple and awesome slip-on style advice ahead, so keep reading

1) Loafers

Loafers are the most formal of all the slip-on shoes..

No, wait. Leather loafers are the most formal of all slip-on shoes.
That sounds better *grin*

If Leather were Godzilla and Suede were King Kong, Godzilla would always trump Kong in the ensuing battle of formality.
(Although I’m personally a Kong guy)

And what makes loafers so formal, you might ask? It’s because of their streamlined and clean silhouette – it works with the subtlety of formal outfits and is not jarring or out of place

By the way, loafers themselves are of various types as well: Penny Loafers, Tassel Loafers, Horsebit loafers, and Belgian Loafers. Among these, penny loafers are more formal than the others, but if you are to wear loafers with formal clothes, either of them will do the trick

What to wear loafers with:

• Suits (when the occasion is not very dressy)
• Chinos
• Dress pants
• Slim fit jeans (will look better with suede loafers)
• Shorts (suede loafers only)

What not to wear loafers with:

• A tuxedo (don’t even think about it)

As you can see, loafers are versatile. If you want a pair of slip-on shoes to wear to the office, these are your best bet

2) Leather slip-ons without moc-toe or apron-toe

These shoes are placed in a separate category in this list because they’re formal, yet not loafers.

A defining characteristic of loafers is the moc-toe or apron-toe, formed by a separate strip of leather stitched on the front of the shoe.
In contrast, these slip-ons don’t have that moc-toe / apron-toe – you could say that they look almost like an oxford shoe but without laces.

These shoes are just as appropriate as leather loafers for formal occasions. You can take any outfit with leather penny loafers, interchange them with these shoes and it will still look fine.

What to wear leather slip-ons with:

• Suits (when the occasion is not as dressy, or you are travelling and need to take off your shoes regularly)
• Chinos
• Dress pants

What not to wear leather slip-ons with:

• A tuxedo
• Jeans
• Shorts

3) Moccasins

Moccasins are the casual cousins of Loafers

Both of them share similar characteristics, with the moccasin toe and the decorations on the vamp (tassels, horsebit, etc)

But the biggest difference between the two is that loafers have a defined heel part, but moccasins don’t. Instead, moccasins, or mocs as they are generally called, have a thin flat sole that wraps around the ends of the upper

I actually have a handy post on the difference between loafers, moccasins and boat shoes. Check it out here

Unlike Loafers, Moccasins are casual shoes. They’ll look out-of-place if you wear them in a formal setting

What to wear moccasins with:

• Chinos (cuff them for extra style points!)
• Slim-fit Jeans
• Shorts

What not to wear moccasins with:

• A tuxedo (duh)
• Suits (duh + 1)
• Dress pants

4) Boat shoes

Boat shoes have laces, but they are unique because the run all around the back of the shoe

These are also the only shoes that are okay to wear pre-laced, and that’s exactly what makes them a part of this list.

Case in point: This guide by Sperry, that shows some fun ways to lace boat shoes

Speaking of formality, boat shoes are casual. Definitely not a pair of shoes you can wear to the office. The perfect occasion would be by the pool or even the beach. (It does have the word “boat” in the name, after all!)

What to wear boat shoes with:

• Jeans
• Shorts

What not to wear boat shoes with:

• A tuxedo (I think we understand this loud and clear by now)
• Suits
• Dress pants
• Chinos (it could work in some cases, but the style of boat shoes just feels overly casual for a pair of smart pants like chinos)

5) Espadrilles

Espadrilles have recently become my go-to summer shoes – They are coolmand comfortable!

Design-wise, they look like plain slip-ons – fabric upper, hardly any detailing, apart from the characteristic flat jute sole. This combination makes them very interesting to wear.

Besides, they aren’t as famous (yet) as some of the other slip-ons on this list. So if you want to set yourself apart, here’s your chance *wink wink*

Just like boat shoes, espadrilles are also a casual shoe style.

You can wear them to all the same places you would wear a boat shoe.
I also wear my espadrilles quite often while running errands on weekends

ProTip: When wearing Espadrilles, go sockless.
Yes, you heard that right – no socks. Not even no-show ones.
For these beauties, it works!

You can wear espadrilles with the same pants you’d wear with boat shoes

What to wear espadrilles with:

• Jeans (Rolled-up jeans look really cool with Espadrilles)
• Shorts

What not to wear espadrilles with:

• A tuxedo
• Suits
• Dress pants
• Chinos

6) Slip-on sneakers

Slip-on sneakers look just the way they sound – they are sneakers without laces!

I’m sure you’ve worn sneakers before.

So you also know that slip-on sneakers are casual shoes, and wearing them in a formal setting is not very nice…

….Unless you’re a rebel, go ahead then B-)

What to wear slip-on sneakers with:

• Suits (only if the sneakers are white, and you’re bold enough to pull off the sneaker + suit trend)
• Chinos (the overall tone of the outfit will still be casual)
• Jeans (Jeans and sneakers belong together!)
• Shorts

What not to wear slip-on sneakers with:

• A tuxedo (Dear Universe, please let this never become a thing)
• Dress pants

There you go!

I hope you’ll never be clueless about slip-on shoes ever again.

Still have questions? Hit me up, or post a comment!

The post Are Slip-on Shoes Formal? 5 Slip-on Shoe Types, Ranked In Formality appeared first on The Shoestopper.

Imagine this: You’re all dressed up, ready for an exciting day or event – perhaps it’s the first day on a new job, or that one wedding you and your friends were looking forward to.

Crisp shirt, ironed pants, shined leather shoes; you basically look like a million bucks, and feel that way too… that is, until you’ve taken four steps towards the door and … “what’s that sound?” “Are those my feet screaming out of discomfort?!” At this point, you have no other option but to bear that pain, while your feet cry like hungry bird-babies in a Tom and Jerry episode

Sound familiar? That’s because it is. It is very common to associate formal shoes with discomfort (they even did a study on it!)

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Once you know the “why” of the discomfort, it becomes easier to answer the “how” of dealing with it. Below are 6 reasons why formal shoes can feel so uncomfortable.

1. You’re wearing the wrong size

Yes, size matters …… in shoes

If your shoes don’t fit well, they will feel uncomfortable.
Shoes that are too small will be tight and constrict your foot.
Shoes that are too big will have unnecessary space inside

You get the gist, right?

Thankfully, there are a handful of tips that can help you nail the fit of your shoes every time you buy them:

• There should be at least 1/2” of space between longest toe and the front of the shoe
• There should be no pressure on the sides of the feet
• One finger should snugly fit between the back of the foot and that of the shoe

Read my complete shoe fit guide here

When facing shoe discomfort, it would be wise to check for size first
Usually, a good quality formal shoe shoe, that fits well, will solve a large number of discomfort issues

2. The shoes are too narrow for your feet

Joey sure had a hand twin, but in the case of feet, everyone is different.
That applies not only to the length but also to the width of the feet.

With shoe sizes, the length of the feet is taken care of – but what about the foot width?

Some people have really wide feet, some people have narrow feet, and some people are blessed by the Shoe Gods with medium-width feet. The most thoughtful brands account for all three variations by making shoes in different widths.

If your shoes feel uncomfortable even after wearing the right size, then this should be the next thing you check for.

Tip: If the shoes you’re buying don’t offer different widths, then check the toe shape. Round toe shoes will be wider than chisel toe shoes and so should work for people with wide feet

3. The insoles are stiff

In most marketing material for shoes, you’ll find that a lot of emphasis has been put on the insole of the shoes. This is because it is an important factor that decides the overall comfort of the shoe

The insole is the part of the shoe that sits between your feet and the actual sole of the shoe. Since insole is the only part of the shoe that comes in contact with the bottom of your feet, its material, and softness will dictate how comfortable the shoe is while walking

Formal shoes will generally have soft leather insoles. Leather insoles will take the shape of your feet over time and provide for a more optimal experience. Good insoles can make shoes with even the hardest outsoles feel comfortable. It’s like magic!

Many shoes have removable insoles, while others have them stitched inside the shoe. Insoles are also separately sold online – you can try them out to see if it helps.

Note that adding extra insoles to shoes will make them tighter

4. You’re not wearing socks

This one’s obvious.

Think of your skin, in direct contact with the leather of those formal shoes. Now add some sweat. Uncomfortable, no?

Wearing shoes without socks is like eating vada-pav without chutney – you can do it, but you’d rather not.

Not wearing socks also adds to the risk of blisters and shoe bites. If you combine this with all the points that we’ve discussed above, then you’re in for some serious discomfort.

But what about the times you want to rock the sockless look?
The answer lies in no-show socks. They will keep your feet comfortable and your shoes odourless.

Bonus points if the socks you buy are of high-quality material, like Egyptian cotton, or cashmere!

5. Your shoes are new!

The biggest reason your dress shoes are uncomfortable is also the most common one – you simply haven’t worn them enough yet!

An important factor behind the comfort of any pair of shoes is its flexibility. Shoes that are more flexible will be more comfortable.

Formal shoes are mostly made of leather, which is initially stiff and inflexible. This means that many types of leather shoes will not be comfortable right out of the box – the leather needs some time to get accustomed to your feet.

We call this process “breaking in your shoes”

Shoe break-in period varies from shoe to shoe. It depends on:

1. The thickness and material of the sole
2. The thickness of the leather upper
3. The method of construction

The thickness and material of the sole:

Leather and rubber are two of the most commonly used materials for making shoe soles. The difference in material plays a part in the flexibility of the shoe, and thus, also affects the break-in period

Rubber is naturally flexible, so rubber-soled shoes will be comfortable right away. If they aren’t, you shouldn’t buy them.

Leather soles, on the other hand, will be stiff in the beginning. But this stiffness should go away in time, depending on the thickness of the sole.

• Thin soles should have a very low break-in period (1 to 3 days of wear)
• Thick soles will take as long as 4 weeks (sometimes even more) to become fully comfortable. This seems like a daunting period, but patience does pay off – because thick-soled shoes will provide support like no other, which, in my experience, takes comfort to the next level

The thickness of the leather upper

Leather upper thickness and sole thickness often go hand in hand, and impact the shoe break-in period similarly

Shoes made of thin leather uppers will be comfortable right out of the box and take hardly a day’s wear to break-in.

Thick leather uppers will be hard and stiff in the beginning. Shoes made of such hard leathers will take quite some time to break in to them

The method of construction

The 3 common methods of shoe construction are Cementing, Blake-Stitching and GoodYear welting

Knowing what construction method has been used to make the shoe will generally give one the best estimates about the shoe break in period.

Here’s why:

• Cemented/Glued shoes will most likely have rubber soles and thin leather, so they should need no time to break-in
• Blake Stitched shoes are not intended to be overly stiff, so break-in times will be really low for these shoes. It can take between 2 days to 2 weeks of wear for Blake stitched shoes to become comfortable, depending on the thickness of the leather and the sole
• Goodyear welted shoes, being the gold standard of shoe quality are made with the maximum support and durability in mind. For this, GoodYear welted construction will combine high quality stiff leather with stiff soles. Due to the nature of its construction, these shoes will take the longest to break-in, anywhere between 2 weeks to 5 weeks of wear

Below is a quick reference table for shoe break-in estimates, based on what we discussed above

Note that boots will require a longer break-in period than low ankle shoes, irrespective of the construction method used.

Summary

As you can see, all the issues that make a pair of formal shoes uncomfortable can be fixed

If you’ve only worn sneakers and sports shoes your entire life, then yes, it will take time for you to get used to leather shoes.

But that patience is ultimately rewarded – the gates of comfort-heaven soon welcome you with open feet
(I know, I know, the expression has ‘arms’ in it.. but ‘feet’ make more sense here )

Formal shoes don’t have to be uncomfortable. They can be one of the most comfortable shoes in your closet. They certainly are, in mine

The post Top 5 Reasons Why Your Formal Shoes Feel So Uncomfortable appeared first on The Shoestopper.

With so many different men’s shoe types, it can get confusing to differentiate between them. In addition to the actual style itself, you also have to consider how formal or casual the shoes are, and which ones to wear when.

Thankfully, there are only a handful of parameters that can be used to compare two shoe styles. And all of them are equally important when it comes to two dress shoe styles that are so different from each other – loafers and oxfords

The primary difference between loafers and oxfords is that loafers are laceless slip-on shoes with a moc toe design, and oxfords are laced shoes with a closed lacing system. Depending on the material, loafers can be semi-formal or casual, while oxfords are always formal – even if they’re made out of suede.

Below are some extra (’cause who doesn’t like extra – yeh dil maange more, right? :D) details on these 5 differences

1) The Lacing

The first point of difference between loafers and oxfords is also the most obvious one: the lacing

Loafers:

Loafers are laceless shoes, which makes them easy to slip on and off. In general, all loafers are slip-on shoes, but not all slip-on shoes can be called loafers.

If the absence of laces, what do loafers have in their place? This answer to this question leads us to the different types of loafers, namely the Penny Loafer, the Tassel Loafer, the Horse-Bit Loafer, and the Belgian Loafer

Each type has a different decoration instead of laces

• The Penny Loafer has a strip of leather across the vamp, with a slit in the center. It is said that this slit was used to keep pennies (one in each shoe), which gave the loafer its peculiar name
• The Tassel Loafer has decorative tassels
• The Horse-bit Loafer has a strip of leather similar to the Penny Loafer, but with a metal horse-bit attachment instead of the slit. This loafer was first designed by the famous designer Gucci, which is why it is also called the Gucci loafer (and still remains a hot selling shoe)
• The Belgian Loafer has a small bow on top

Oxfords:

Oxford shoes are always lace-ups, and their most distinguished feature is the closed lacing system.

In closed-laced shoes like oxfords, the facing (the part of the shoe with eyelets) is sewn under the vamp (the front to the middle portion of the shoe upper)

Unlike open-laced shoes, this feature leaves no opening around the facing i.e. you can hardly see any part of the tongue that’s below the facing, and hence the name “closed lacing”

The closed lacing system makes the silhouette of oxfords sleeker than other shoes.

2) The Toe

Loafers:

Loafers have an additional piece of leather, smaller in size than the vamp, attached to the front portion of the shoe. This gives the appearance of a seam or stitch, starting from one end of the tongue and running all along the shape of the toe to the other end

Based on the size of this leather piece, this shape is called either the Apron Toe or the moccasin toe (“Moc-toe”)

You can read all the differences between the most common types of slip-on shoes here

Oxfords:

Oxfords do not have moc toes or apron toes, but they can instead be grouped based on the other presence or absence of a toe cap

• Cap toes have a small piece of leather stitched on the toe of the shoe, giving it the appearance of a “cap”
• Plain-toe shoes have no toe caps.
  Some men prefer plain toe oxfords over cap toes because of their cleaner look.
• Wingtips are similar to cap toes, but instead of a straight line, the ends of the toe caps are winged with brogueing present along the seems and on the toe

3) Formality

The formality of loafers and oxfords differs based on the material they’re made of, but oxfords will always more formal than loafers

Loafers:

Even though loafers come in the general category of dress shoes, they lie on the semi-formal end of the formality scale.

Because of their design and the lace-less structure, loafers will be inappropriate for very dressy occasions. However, they can work with a suit under the right conditions. Think of them as a business casual or smart casual element of your wardrobe; for any situations that accept such a dress code, loafers will do just fine

The only exception to the semi-formal standard is suede. Suede loafers are the most casual of dress shoes, and so are ideal for casual outfits but not dressy ones

Oxfords:

As mentioned earlier, oxfords sit on the top of the formality scale; they’re the dressiest dress shoes ever!

Their closed lacing system and streamlined design make oxford shoes perfect for any dressy occasion, no matter if you’re wearing a tuxedo, a suit, or just a pair of dress pants with a shirt.

Suede oxfords, though rare, are still made, and should be worn carefully. Suede takes the formality of oxfords down a notch, but dark coloured suede oxfords can still work with a suit as a statement piece (provided the rest of your outfit is balanced)

4) Brogueing

Brogueing refers to the art of adding holes/perforations in shoes in the form of intricate and beautiful patterns. When shoemakers first started doing this, it had a functional purpose, but now is purely decorative

Loafers:

Brogued Loafers are very rare, but a quick google search shows that they do exist.

With the moc toe and other decorative elements, I’d say that there isn’t any space left for brogueing! One way would be to go for a wingtip instead of the moc toe, but then the shoe can’t technically be called a loafer *shrugs*

Oxfords:

Brogueing on oxford shoes is so common that there’s an actual Hollywood movie dialogue dedicated to it: “Oxfords, not brogues!” (if you know, you know )

Needless to say, you will find every second or third oxford shoe on the market with some kind of brogueing.

Based on the extent of the design, these can be categorized into 3 main types

• Quarter brogues, which have perforations present only along the seams on the upper of the shoe
• Semi brogues or half brogues, which have a design on the toe of the shoe in addition to the brogueing along the seams. These are usually cap-toes
• Full brogues or wingtips, where the ends of the cap-toe are winged with brogueing all along them

5) Construction

The construction of a shoe refers to the way a shoe’s upper is attached to the sole. This plays an important part in the durability and flexibility of the shoe.

Although there are many different methods that are used by manufacturers for their shoes, the most common methods of construction are cementing, Blake Stitching, and Goodyear Welting

• Cementing is a process where the sole is stuck to the upper of the shoe. This is the cheapest, but the least durable method
• In Blake Stitched shoes, there is a single line of stitching that attaches the shoe’s upper to its sole. Blake Stitched shoes are light and flexible; a lot of good-quality brands around the world use blake stitching as their preferred method of shoe construction
• Goodyear welting is the gold standard of shoe construction. The process involves the use of a welt – a strip of leather that runs along the circumference of the outsole and is used to hold the upper, insole, and outsole together.
  Goodyear Welted shoes have two running stitches- one joins the welt to the insole and the upper and the second joins the welt to the outsole.

Phew – that sounds complex, I know. But it’s necessary to at least be aware of these three techniques before we move further

Loafers:

The most commonly available loafers on the market will be either cemented or Blake-stitched.

Goodyear welting, although very sturdy, makes a shoe heavy and less flexible. Because of this, it is not a preferred option for loafers, which are known for being laid back and casual

Oxfords:

All three construction methods are used for oxford shoes, including goodyear welting. Actually, Goodyear welted oxfords are a yardstick for the highest quality of men’s shoes.

Blake stitched oxfords are just as good, but cemented oxfords are generally not recommended due to their low durability

Recommended Wearing: Choosing between Oxfords and Loafers

Congratulations, you’ve reached the end (almost :P)
I’m hoping most of your confusions regarding these two styles are clear by now, but there is one piece of information that is left to be discussed – how do you decide whether to wear oxfords or loafers?

I like to keep the process simple, and let the other items in my outfit make help me make the decision:

Loafers:

Wear them with:

• Suits (when the occasion is not very formal)
• Chinos
• Dress pants
• Slim fit jeans (will look better with suede loafers)
• Shorts (suede loafers only)

Don’t wear them with

• A tuxedo (don’t even think about it)

Oxfords:

Wear them with:

• Tuxedos (oh yeaaah!)
• Suits (Suits and oxfords are a match made in style heaven)
• Dress Pants
• Chinos

Don’t wear them with

• Jeans (not even if the shoes the made of suede)
• Shorts

As you can see, both oxfords and loafers can be worn with dress pants and chinos. If wearing either of these pants, you can decide the shoes based on the level of formality that the situation demands – Remember, oxfords will always be more formal than loafers

The post Loafers vs Oxfords: 5 Main Differences You Need To Know appeared first on The Shoestopper.

Loafers and socks is a topic with many different opinions

Some people swear by wearing loafers without socks – while others repeatedly defend their argument that not wearing socks is just a trend that needs to go away as soon as possible, period.

With the jury still out on this, I prefer taking the middle-ground.

The gist: Wear what you want, and don’t wear what you don’t want

It is completely okay to wear socks with your loafers – sharp and stylish men have been doing it for a long time. Even if you prefer going sockless, the recommended approach would be to wear loafer/no-show socks that make it look like you aren’t wearing any socks. The trick to picking socks for loafers it to ensure that your entire outfit has a single standout colour at a time, be it your socks or something else. You can also stick to neutral colours and plain socks for a conservative look, and keep all the large patterns for casual wear

What Are Loafers?

So, you already know what loafers are? Well done B-)

Nevertheless, there’s one major point that I wanted to put across, so let’s talk about it –

Simply put, a loafer is a kind of slip-on shoe that has

• A separate sole and a distinct heel
• A moc toe or apron toe

Moc toes are made by a separate piece of material that is stitched on the upper of the shoe and extends till the toe. In contrast, this piece stops before your toes in an apron toe

Moc toes are a primary feature of moccasin shoes – which are another style of similar shoes. But loafers exist with both types of toes. If you’d like to read about the detailed difference between moccasins and loafers, I have a post about it here

All loafers are slip-on shoes but all slip-on shoes are not loafers.

Anything without a moc or apron toe (like this shoe below) cannot be considered a loafer (although the ideas and tips about socks would be fairly similar)

Types of Loafers

Loafers have a long and rich history and have evolved into different styles.

The categorization is generally done based on the decorative element on the vamp of the shoe. Loafers can be divided into four types: the penny loafer, the tassel loafer, the Gucci loafer, and the Belgian loafer

Penny Loafer

Penny loafers are one of the most commonly known loafers today, and by far my favourite of all the four types

These shoes are characterized by a separate piece of leather (called a saddle) that is placed across the vamp of the shoe – with a diamond-shaped cutout.

Stories say that these loafers got their peculiar name thanks to prep school students in mid-20th century America, who used to insert pennies in the diamond cutout of their loafers. Whether it was a fashion statement or for a functional purpose (two pennies were sufficient for a telephone call at that time) – we cannot say, but the name quickly caught on and that’s how most of the world knows these shoes today

Tassel Loafer

While Penny Loafers have their signature and classic saddle, Tassel loafers go more preppy with two tassels that are stitched on the vamp

I must admit, tassel loafers are not for everybody. I certainly did not like them earlier, but they seem to have grown on me recently

These loafers, due to their decorative tassels, are more casual than penny loafers

Gucci (or Horsebit) Loafer

Like the name states, these loafers were introduced by the iconic Italian designer Gucci

These loafers have a saddle-like piece like penny loafers, but instead of the diamond cutout, Gucci added a metal strap on the saddle. The strap resembled the shape of a horse’s snaffle i.e. the bit mouthpiece for the horse used while riding. It was this metal strap that gave the shoe its alternative name: the Horse-bit Loafer

At the same formality level as a penny loafer, gucci loafers are acceptable to be worn with suits

Belgian Loafer

Belgian Loafers are another popular loafer style, and the most casual of all.

These loafers, also called as Belgian shoes, have no saddles or tassels but a small distinctive bow on top. The apron toe looks a little different too, with a contrasting trim along its edges and the shoe – usually in the colour of the bow.

Belgian loafers come in many different colours and material, with suede being one of the popular choices

These loafers are best worn casually with cotton pants, or a pair of chinos or jeans

No Socks vs Loafer Socks: An Important Difference

Generally, it is recommended that you always wear socks with a pair of dress shoes, unless you are okay with –

• Damage to your shoes because of all the foot sweat
• Smelly shoes and feet
• Blisters

I’m sure none of us want that. So the underlying meaning behind the terms ‘sockless look’ or ‘no socks look’ is to actually wear socks that make it look like you’re aren’t wearing any socks.

Loafer socks (also called as no-show socks) come to the rescue here. They hide inside the shoes allowing you to keep up with the trendy look, while still providing all the benefits of socks B-)

So, even when you don’t want to look like you’re wearing socks, you can (and should) wear (no show) socks!

If you’d rather go literally sockless instead of pretending about it, then make sure you read through to the end of the article. I have a few tips for you to know when it’s okay to not wear any socks with loafers

Top 5 Tips To Wear Socks With Loafers

Below are some specific tips for wearing socks with loafers. I also have a detailed guide on wearing socks with formal shoes that talks about the general sock wearing rules

#1: Neutral Solids Always Look Wonderful

As compared to other dress shoes styles, a loafer is low shoe. This means that the lower part of your ankles are open instead of being covered by the shoe.

This also means, that more of your socks would be visible with a pair of loafers, even when you’re standing up.

Showing your socks in this manner can be uncomfortable in the beginning, which is one of the reasons you might wonder if it is okay to wear socks with loafers

However this also presents us with a unique opportunity to be thoughtful about our sock choices with loafers, and solid socks do wonderfully well in that regard.

Solid coloured socks are a great starting point as you’re figuring out your own tastes and preferences, and once you’ve mastered them – you can always play around with colours and patterns (more on that later)

Go for neutral colours like dark blue, black, brown, gray, deep red.

They will complement any outfit that you put together so you wouldn’t have to worry much about matching.

Now, I also have a few words of caution here:

• White socks are neutral too – but avoid them like the plague, or covid-19 (or both?)
  Sure, you’ll stand out if you wear white socks, just not in the manner I’d want you to
• Most of the colours mentioned above will go well with each other – except for black and brown. That means no black socks with brown shoes, unless you’re wearing Belgian loafers with black trim along its edges – that one doesn’t look so bad

You can also pick and put contrasting neutrals together – like light gray socks with black shoes, or stick to combining close shades together – like deep red socks with brown shoes.

With black shoes, any pair of socks will be a contrast – so pay special attention when your wear those. Navy or black socks will be the safest best with black shoes, as they will be mostly reserved for formal occasions

#2: Match Socks With Your Pants or Loafers For A Seamless And Conservative Look

Matching socks with your pants is always a safe and stylist bet, and especially well with loafers

It is very easy to go overboard with socks when wearing them with any kind of loafer, so this tip intentionally keeps the entire outfit toned down and conservative.

And if you are heading to an event that is supposed to be formal – then choosing your sock colours becomes ever more important to be respectful of the dress code. Wearing socks in the same colour as your pant provides for a seamless look, not attracting any extra attention towards your feet. Subtlety is always nice

To add some interest, you can also go for socks with small traditional patterns or ribbed socks as long as the overall shade of those socks is close to the pants

But what should you do if you love trousers in bold and unique colours? (Red pants, I see you ;))

The answer is the same. Matching your socks becomes even more important then because your pants would already be the one visually interesting detail about your outfit. Be mindful of wearing such pants for dressy occasions – I’d stick to dark/neutral colours

Another idea is to match socks with your loafers instead, which is a different take on sock matching but still conservative.

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I’m sure a lot of us have already been doing this unintentionally for years, knowing how there is always a confusion whether to match your socks with your shoes or your pants. (Now you know the answer – both work *grin*)

The only caveat here is to have at least some contrast between your pants and shoes/socks. Blue pants, blue socks, and blue shoes would be a bit too much, don’t you think?

#3: If The Rest Of Your Outfit Is Neutral, A Pop Of Colour Is Okay

This is an extension of the previous two points: we’re keeping the solids but going for a non-neutral colour instead.

If you want to be a little more adventurous, add a pop of contrasting colour via your socks! Your socks will stand out, but if the rest of your outfit has neutral tones it looks very good

I’ve got a few pairs of bold socks especially for this – orange, yellow, sky blue, purple, even pink. Here are a few different ideas on how you could wear these

• Yellow socks + blue pants + tan loafers + beige jacket or light shirt.
  It’s a combination with a bold sock choice, sure, but still not overbearing
• Orange socks + khaki chinos + dark brown loafers.

If you noticed, we’re following a part of all the previous tips here. These combinations are

1. Solid – when buying bright coloured socks I prefer to find solid ones without any patterns (ribbed ones are okay). The colour speaks for itself and such socks do not require any extra detail to make them interesting
   
2. Closely matched with either pants (orange socks and khakis) or shoes (yellow socks and tan shoes)
   You don’t always have to match your socks this way, but it helps to make the entire decision a whole lot easier

If you’d like to go bolder, you can also add an accessory in a similar colour: it could be a pocket square, tie, bracelet, or a watch

But if you’re not comfortable with such socks – that is okay too! There are so many different socks out there, and I’m sure some of the other tips would work for you

#4: Reserve The Bold Patterns For More Casual Wears

For all those occasions where you can go casual, it is time to have some fun with your socks (I’m a BIG supporter of fun socks)

You can safely bring out your bolder socks and add some personal flair to your outfits – wide stripes, checks, big polka dots – all will do. Do keep it balanced – usually, a single bold or interesting piece in an outfit is a good idea, keeping the rest of it toned down.

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In terms of socks, this could mean big blue polka dot socks with brown penny loafers, olive chinos, and a button-down white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Or if you’re going for a fun pattern, you could wear it with a pair of tassel or Belgian loafers, dark wash denim and a nice polo shirt in neutral colours

Loafers are somewhere between formal and casual, which makes it easier to wear them with a variety of socks.

Black loafers are the only exception; since black is a formal colour wearing bright or preppy socks with them will look a bit off. Other than that, feel free to experiment when you’re wearing loafers casually – there is not much that could go wrong.

With laid back outfits, no-show socks are a great option as well.

These loafer socks come in many cool patterns and colours – but since they’re going to be hidden inside your shoes anyway it doesn’t matter which ones you choose – unless your shoes are going to be off for extended periods of time (like at prayer meetings or pujas)

In such cases, the same tips of pattern matching apply

#5: The One Time With Loafers You Should Always Pretend To Go Sockless

This post is about socks with loafers, but if you’re wearing shorts then you should definitely pretend to go sockless

No-show socks are the perfect, and only appropriate pairing with loafers and shorts. While ankle length socks are acceptable too, they are better suited for athletic and sports use and not for something as casual as shorts and loafers

When Can You Wear Loafers Without Socks?

Go Ahead And Sock Them!

Loafers are the perfect shoes for a simple, sharp relaxed style, and you can take them to the next level by adding a personal flair with the help of socks.

Whether they are no-show or calf-length, the right type of socks will keep your feet and shoes healthy, while also helping you create many different and stylish looks.

When compliments start flying your way, do let me know

The post Here’s How You Totally Can Wear Socks With Loafers appeared first on The Shoestopper.

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.