Finding The Right Dress Shoes

DavidB · 09-29-08, 03:44

Have you ever noticed a man's shoes say about him? I know that every time a bum asks me for money, the first thing I do is look at his shoes. It's amazing the scam artists will take care of every little detail to make you feel sorry for them, except the shoes!

The shoe is an essential piece of a man’s wardrobe, and the dress shoe is the most difficult to match. There are so many different types of dress shoes, for different styles of outfits and occasions, that I thought it would be beneficial to find a few sites with information on how to choose an appropriate dress shoe and match it with your suit.

Enjoy!

AskMen.com - Color matching
Matching Mens Shoes with Suits or Pants by Leroy Mens Fashion Tips | Guide on Mens Clothing
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The Best Men's Shoes - Forbes.com
Mens Shoes Review - Top Picks in Mens Dress Shoes - Best Mens Shoes for Work
Men's Dress Shoes - Top Picks in Men's Dress Shoes

DaGonz · 10-01-08, 06:35

Most of my dress shoes are Rockports or Nunn Bush.

My wife, on the other hand, is the Imelda Marcos of the neighborhood!

evil_c5 · 10-02-08, 04:31

Johnston & Murphy or Cole Haan shoes here, have a couple pair of piloti driving shoes to throw into the mix as well.

jfelbab · 10-02-08, 05:29

Besides making you look better, a great pair of shoes also makes you feel better. Well they do for me, anyway. Finely crafted shoes of the highest grade materials and workmanship, last longer and feel better and are worth every penny.

They make Allen Edmonds not far from here. They are, IMHO, the best quality shoe made, bar none. My favorite styles are:

Business - McAllister

Business - Strand

Business Casual - Nashua

Accumulator · 10-02-08, 10:57

Yeah, J&M and AE for me too. Getting harder to find J&M styles in "B" width though

A good dress shoe will last virtually forever, most of mine are around 20 years old. Just get 'em reheeled/resoled before it's really necessary and use shoe trees. Over time, good footwear isn't all that expensive.

I notice that fewer and fewer men are wearing nice footwear these days

I see businessmen who oughta know better wearing really nasty shoes with their suits all the time.

And note that *women* pay close attention to such stuff

The wives of the above-mentioned businessmen notice (and appreciate) what I'm wearing every time.

Regarding business casual shoes, while I'd never really wear them (or anything else remotely casual) for business, they sure do work great with khakis.

DavidB- Can't say that I agree with all the opinions/advice in those links, but then I'm mighty conservative about this stuff (not to say "stuffy"

).

DavidB · 10-02-08, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

DavidB- Can't say that I agree with all the opinions/advice in those links, but then I'm mighty conservative about this stuff (not to say "stuffy"

).

I didn't write it... I'm just researching it and offering it up.

FWIW, I don't agree, either. I'm also very conservative and prefer classic style men's wear.

milani · 10-02-08, 11:07

I am on my 2nd pair of Florsheim Lexington Straght Tip with Cap Toe (Black). These shoes are great. I wear them daily, and you can even pull them off with the right pair of jeans (however not often

)

Accumulator · 10-02-08, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidB

I didn't write it... I'm just researching it and offering it up..

I know, didn't mean it as a

or

Heh heh, I once called a too-"helpful", newly-met salesman at a high-end men's store on his "trendy" footwear/suiting combo: "but Jim, you're wearing those shoes with that suit; you're not really gonna offer *me* unsolicited advice are you?". Yeah, he was quite

but he and I ended up getting along great and I became one of his best (if most conservative) customers.

User Name · 10-02-08, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

A good dress shoe will last virtually forever, most of mine are around 20 years old. Just get 'em reheeled/resoled before it's really necessary and use shoe trees. Over time, good footwear isn't all that expensive.

I do a TON of walking and if I get 8-12 months out of a shoe I am more than pleased. I am very particular about my shoes and comfort is the most important factor, with looks a close second.

Time and again I find myself wearing either Ecco or Kenneth Cole, simply the most comfortable I've found.

Accumulator · 10-03-08, 09:36

User Name- Maybe I'm just weird, but I've walked some *long* distances in dress shoes, and even *run* long distances in them (not that I'd recommend that, but you do what you gotta do).

While I wear shoes like you mentioned when walking the dogs (and for stuff like doggie school), I find my AE shoes, especially their dress casual styles, to be quite comfortable. Some of those casual AEs are as comfortable as running shoes IME.

And yeah, when my inexpensive shoes (often WalkAbouts or Rockports) wear, I just toss 'em and buy another pair. I seldom even bother treating them, let alone polish 'em. I simply think of them as disposable. Guess that means I see this both ways.

bert31 · 10-03-08, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by User Name

I do a TON of walking and if I get 8-12 months out of a shoe I am more than pleased.

I would be willing to bet money if you take Accumulators advice and put up the investment for some Allen Edmonds or Johnston and Murphy Aristocrafts you would get several years out of them so long as you always put shoe trees in them any time you are not wearing them and treat the leather several times a year. It never ceases to amaze me how long my pair of Allen Edmonds and my pair of Johnston and Murphy's have lasted me over the past 12 years. While I have had to replace the heels and soles several times due to the amount of walking I do, the leather and stitching on these shoes just lasts and lasts. The old Cole Haan, Florsheim and Bostonians were decent shoes but don't compare to AE and J&M Aristocrafts (I would not recommend J&M Optima or Limited, just not the same as the Aristocrafts).

bert31 · 10-03-08, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Yeah, J&M and AE for me too. Getting harder to find J&M styles in "B" width though

I figured the Cleaveland area would be large enough to have a J&M store that could order whatever you need straight from the factory if they don't have your size in stock. Or do you mean J&M as a company isn't offering "B" as a width as a whole in many of their shoes? If so, then you may have to go with Allen Edmonds which is certainly no slouch.

J&M may still have a plant in Tennessee where customers my visit and buy a pair of shoes that are slighly off (the stitching missed in one spot or something) and a deeeeep discount since they won't ship those to stores. I have seen some of these shoes and in numerous cases I could not find the error until it was pointed out to me. I think you mentioned you have some inlaws in Tennessee, may want to give it a look the next time you head down South.