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 🙂
