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Infographic - Guide to Men’s Dress Shoes
This infographic presents an easy guide to read guide to men’s dress shoes.
To complete a formal look, dress shoes are essential. To wear a suit and tie with any old shoes is to do a disservice by lessening the stylishness and impact of the look. Our guide will help you to understand which types of shoes will emphasise, rather than downplay, your style.
Formal Boots
While you might not realise it, you can pair your suit with a pair of boots. Three different styles of boot are appropriate for formal dress
The Styles
•Dress Boots
Very similar to an oxford, the only difference is a higher ankle. Historically, they were a work boot, but over the course of the last century, the role has reversed.
Features: this style of boot requires a winged or capped toe. These are types of perforation around the toe.
Occasion: Dress boots are suitable for formal eveningwear or business meetings.
•Chelsea Boots
A boot that dates to the Victorian era, they made popular by the Chelsea boys of the 1960s.
Features: elasticated strip at the ankles and a plain toe – no laces.
Occasion: because of the lack of laces, this is a semi-formal choice of boot suiting semi-casual events, such as a day at the races.
•Chukka Boots
This is a relatively rare style of shoe with an interesting history. Back in the day, they were a type of post-sport shoe worn by polo players. Polo is a sport of the upper classes, and as such, this shoe is relatively upmarket, although it has casual feel.
Features: a plain toe and three-eyelet lacing, it has a relatively loose fit, lending to the air of casualness.
Occasion: these boots are suitable for business casual, parties, and semi-formal events.
Formal Shoes
Shoes tend to be the footwear of choice when wearing a suit, and as you can imagine, there is slightly more choice here.
The Styles
•The Oxford
Named after the prestigious university, you can be sure that this is one of the most popular styles of formal footwear for men.
Features: a little complicated here, because with this style of men formal shoes, you can choose from a range of toes, including plain, capped toe, and wingtips. Oxfords have laces attached to two tabs (one on each side).
Occasion: Oxfords are suitable for formal events – both business and entertainment, as well as dates.
•The Derby
This style is similar to an Oxford but less formal. The top of the shoe has a larger opening than the Oxford and the toe is slightly more bulbous.
Features: similar to the Oxford, they have the two tabs and lacing. However, the tabs form part of the upper shoe that wraps around the ankle. With Oxfords, the tabs are an addition sewn to the shoe. For the toes, you can choose between wingtips, plain toes, and capped toes.
Occasion: slightly less formal than the Oxford, the Derby is suitable for semi-casual and casual situations.
•The Loafer
Loafers are a recent addition to the dress shoe collective, appearing in the formal sections of footwear shops from the 1960s onwards.
Features: this is a slip on shoe, so a good choice of men's comfort shoes. There’s often a decorative feature where the laces should be. These features may be tassels, pennies, or bits.
Occasion: because they are a comfort shoe, they suit casual/semi-formal environments.
•The Monk Strap
A stylish and relatively rare style, these are great for those of you with a keen sense of fashion.
Features: Rather than laces, you will find a strap and buckle – either a single or a double buckle.
Occasion: perfect for many occasions, including work, the theatre, and dinner dates.
Infographic - Guide to Men’s Dress Shoes
This infographic presents an easy guide to read guide to men’s dress shoes.
To complete a formal look, dress shoes are essential. To wear a suit and tie with any old shoes is to do a disservice by lessening the stylishness and impact of the look. Our guide will help you to understand which types of shoes will emphasise, rather than downplay, your style.
Formal Boots
While you might not realise it, you can pair your suit with a pair of boots. Three different styles of boot are appropriate for formal dress
The Styles
•Dress Boots
Very similar to an oxford, the only difference is a higher ankle. Historically, they were a work boot, but over the course of the last century, the role has reversed.
Features: this style of boot requires a winged or capped toe. These are types of perforation around the toe.
Occasion: Dress boots are suitable for formal eveningwear or business meetings.
•Chelsea Boots
A boot that dates to the Victorian era, they made popular by the Chelsea boys of the 1960s.
Features: elasticated strip at the ankles and a plain toe – no laces.
Occasion: because of the lack of laces, this is a semi-formal choice of boot suiting semi-casual events, such as a day at the races.
•Chukka Boots
This is a relatively rare style of shoe with an interesting history. Back in the day, they were a type of post-sport shoe worn by polo players. Polo is a sport of the upper classes, and as such, this shoe is relatively upmarket, although it has casual feel.
Features: a plain toe and three-eyelet lacing, it has a relatively loose fit, lending to the air of casualness.
Occasion: these boots are suitable for business casual, parties, and semi-formal events.
Formal Shoes
Shoes tend to be the footwear of choice when wearing a suit, and as you can imagine, there is slightly more choice here.
The Styles
•The Oxford
Named after the prestigious university, you can be sure that this is one of the most popular styles of formal footwear for men.
Features: a little complicated here, because with this style of men formal shoes, you can choose from a range of toes, including plain, capped toe, and wingtips. Oxfords have laces attached to two tabs (one on each side).
Occasion: Oxfords are suitable for formal events – both business and entertainment, as well as dates.
•The Derby
This style is similar to an Oxford but less formal. The top of the shoe has a larger opening than the Oxford and the toe is slightly more bulbous.
Features: similar to the Oxford, they have the two tabs and lacing. However, the tabs form part of the upper shoe that wraps around the ankle. With Oxfords, the tabs are an addition sewn to the shoe. For the toes, you can choose between wingtips, plain toes, and capped toes.
Occasion: slightly less formal than the Oxford, the Derby is suitable for semi-casual and casual situations.
•The Loafer
Loafers are a recent addition to the dress shoe collective, appearing in the formal sections of footwear shops from the 1960s onwards.
Features: this is a slip on shoe, so a good choice of men's comfort shoes. There’s often a decorative feature where the laces should be. These features may be tassels, pennies, or bits.
Occasion: because they are a comfort shoe, they suit casual/semi-formal environments.
•The Monk Strap
A stylish and relatively rare style, these are great for those of you with a keen sense of fashion.
Features: Rather than laces, you will find a strap and buckle – either a single or a double buckle.
Occasion: perfect for many occasions, including work, the theatre, and dinner dates.