Stylist Advice

3 Shoes to Add to Your Collection

Your Best Foot Forward

Long gone are the days when men shy away from talking about their shoe collection. In fact, recent polls have shown that, on average, men own about 12 pairs of shoes! That's not to say you need to spend a fortune on your steppers, but a bit of careful consideration and a moderate investment can really set the tone for impressions you want to make. To make your life easier (sooooo Mr. Draper), we’ve put together a quick list of must have additions to your 2018 shoe game.

The Monk Strap

As the name applies, these kickers were originally designed as a dressier option of the sandals 15th century European monks used to wear back in the day.  Since our devoted brothers adorned these classics, they’ve gone on to become the hallmark of a fashion-forward, but still classically-inclined sartorialist gentlemen.

The monkstrap are like the step brother of the oxford and loafer shoe. They’re a slip on, like a loafer, but includes a tongue like that of an oxford. You can find arrange of styles varying from one, two or even three buckles, but we recommend two tops – you’re feet are not going anywhere. While monkstraps  have a unique style that can seem to take over a look, they’re actually surprisingly versatile. They can dress up your denim and, at the same time, dress down your formal trousers. Feel free to change up the vibe by experimenting with different straps and material. Check out our stylist’s recommended outfit below with the Van Gils suede double monk.

The Penny Loafer

Applicable at both weddings and for work, loafers, when worn with the right outfits, can give you that “I’m a man with taste, but note trying too hard” vibe. They are irresistibly smart and can be dressed up or down; easily working with most outfits.

Navy suede penny loafers are a good option to start with if you’re thinking about adding loafers to your footwear arsenal. Navy being a neutral color, will give you almost limitless styling options across wardrobe. They go great with cuffed jean and chinos and don’t look half-bad with a nice pair of shorts either.  We recommend wearing the loafers with no-show socks to avoid the pain and stench that comes from going sock-less. 

Here we have paired a crisp oxford button-down shirt with grey, cotton cardigan and a pair of slim fit navy slacks to compliment our favorite suede penny loafers from this season.

Side note on distinguishing between Loafers, driving shoes and Moccasins…
From our experience, loafers, in general, often gets confused with the moccasin and the driving shoe. So we wanted to take a quick time out to shed some light on what makes a loafer, well…..a loafer!  For starters, loafers have, both, a separate sole and heal which are not a part of a moccasin. And, unlike moccasins and driving shoes, loafers typically do not have embroidery or other types of decoration on the uppers of the shoe. They are always lace-less and expose the ankle. 

Minimalist Sneakers

I’m not sure if we’ve said this word enough yet, but the key theme in this editorial is versatility. And nothing is more versatile than a pair of classic white sneakers. They're perfect for some offices, the bar, the weekend, hell, even the wedding if you’ve got the permission!

When it comes to casual shoes, little do more than a pair or low-top white sneakers to elevate an outfit. They’re construction is simple, so we won’t get into the deets.  Instead, let’s focus on the best ways to pull them off without looking like you’re still in high school. Because they’re clean and classy, they’ll look great with a lot of your casual threads, as well as, the more dressier ones. 

Pair them with a slim fit navy blazer, mid-wash jeans and plain white V-neck t-shirt and you’ve got yourself a trendy outfit!