Lets talk men’s shoes. Some research I’ve done over the last couple weeks has opened my eyes. Previously, I assumed a lot of men were just apathetic when it came to fashion. I no longer believe this is the case.
I have spent the last couple weeks trying to find a Men’s Spring 2009 style guide with very little success. I have found things claiming to be style guides, but 9 out of 10 ended up being photographs of one specific designers spring runway show. This is neither diverse, nor particularly helpful. Where is the men’s version of the ‘get this celebrity look for cheap’ that I love so much from fashion magazines? I didn’t find a single shoe recommended to the fashion conscious man for under $400.
The second obstacle standing in the way of fashionable men is the selection. I know there are good looking men’s shoes out there. I have seen men wearing shoes I did not think were ugly. I did not realize they were so incredibly hard to find. I know a suprising number of men who like to shop and browse through product endlessly, but even so they are the minority. Most of the men I know like their shopping to be efficient and satisfying. Even if a man already knows whether he’s a trainer, boat shoe, or wing tip kind of guy; the process of sifting through to find a good one is ridiculous. I know there are ugly women’s shoes out there, but the quantity of attractive women’s shoes is much higher.
I am now going to do something I never thought I would do. I am going to attempt to put together a very basic, rudimentary guide to men’s shoes for the Spring. My qualifications are sparse (or non-existent), being limited to the fact that I look at shoes all day every day, like visually pleasing things, and have a fairly no-nonsense approach to shopping. With that said, here goes nothing.
The Number 1 rule to remember when picking out a pair of shoes (and with anything to do with anything, really) is to go with your gut. If someone tells you something is smoking hot right now, and you can’t stand it… Don’t wear it. If you do not feel good in it, it is unlikely you will look good in it. Also, the shoe really could be a guaranteed win in the fashionable column but if it does not suit your personal style, its not the shoe for you.
Hanging Out
I have spent the last couple weeks trying to find a Men’s Spring 2009 style guide with very little success. I have found things claiming to be style guides, but 9 out of 10 ended up being photographs of one specific designers spring runway show. This is neither diverse, nor particularly helpful. Where is the men’s version of the ‘get this celebrity look for cheap’ that I love so much from fashion magazines? I didn’t find a single shoe recommended to the fashion conscious man for under $400.
The second obstacle standing in the way of fashionable men is the selection. I know there are good looking men’s shoes out there. I have seen men wearing shoes I did not think were ugly. I did not realize they were so incredibly hard to find. I know a suprising number of men who like to shop and browse through product endlessly, but even so they are the minority. Most of the men I know like their shopping to be efficient and satisfying. Even if a man already knows whether he’s a trainer, boat shoe, or wing tip kind of guy; the process of sifting through to find a good one is ridiculous. I know there are ugly women’s shoes out there, but the quantity of attractive women’s shoes is much higher.
I am now going to do something I never thought I would do. I am going to attempt to put together a very basic, rudimentary guide to men’s shoes for the Spring. My qualifications are sparse (or non-existent), being limited to the fact that I look at shoes all day every day, like visually pleasing things, and have a fairly no-nonsense approach to shopping. With that said, here goes nothing.
The Number 1 rule to remember when picking out a pair of shoes (and with anything to do with anything, really) is to go with your gut. If someone tells you something is smoking hot right now, and you can’t stand it… Don’t wear it. If you do not feel good in it, it is unlikely you will look good in it. Also, the shoe really could be a guaranteed win in the fashionable column but if it does not suit your personal style, its not the shoe for you.
Hanging Out
The first and most frequent social setting a man needs shoes for is the casual one. Here in California, that can mean anything. Flip-flops are common. I have seen a few guys pull off slippers (not recommended for fashion beginners). You basic skate or casual athletic shoe will cover a lot of bases as well. My recomendations would be the Converse Chuck Taylor (loads of colors to choose from), any Reef Leather Sandal, the DC villian (or Loaf from Simple for you green guys), and the Teva Tamur for the outdoorsy type who might just need to climb a mountain on a moments notice. The nice thing about casual attire is that you get to let more of your personality hang out. The rules for casual are very flexible.
9 to 5
What is and isn't acceptable for work obviously varies depending on what you do, but I generally consider 'work' shoes to be footwear that is appropriate to wear to an interview. Interview shoes can also double for appropriate footwear in those tricky not quite formal but definitely not casual occasions like dinner out with your significant other's parents. The 'Business' from Ecco is a classic and a safe bet. They're not going to stand out and make an outfit, but they also won't stand out and give a bad impression either. The Born Jackson is closer to the casual end of things, but still a very nice looking shoe. The Clark's Unstructured Un Seal is also a great option that has a lot of hidden comfort features. If you're not sure how formal or professional a situation is, always go more formal rather than less.Pimpin'
There comes a time in every mans life when he wants to look like a playboy. This is the trickiest thing to pull off, and requires some advanced knowledge of your personal style and what sets you off the best. When in doubt, ask a woman or gay man you can count on to tell it to you straight. Shoes for pimpin' have to be fantastic, and is acceptable if they are a little over the top. The Steve Madden Serpant and Novo are a good starting indicator of the attitude these kind of shoe needs to possess, but by no means encompass the whole genre.
Those three social settings cover most of the occasions a man will run into. I haven't covered the Formal setting, because honestly... if you've proven to be unfit to dress yourself, whoever invited you will probably assign someone to steer you in the right direction. In the extreme unliklihood that they do not, sales girls who work in formal menswear are very well equipped to put you into something respectable and attractive (with healthy commission returns).
Thats it for today. I hope it was helpful, and if not helpful at least entertaining.
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