There are a few markers from a man’s personality and appearance that display confidence: a straight back, combed hair, a well-fitting set of clothes. But above all else, a brisk, unhurried gait exudes composure and confidence. The main ingredient in such a stride is what is under his feet — his pair of shoes. A pair of polished black leather shoes for the boardroom meeting, to high-ankle Jordans to the party at the club, shoes are a statement in themselves. A Times Magazine poll found out that, on average, an adult male in America owns up to twelve pairs of shoes.
The most basic point to keep in mind is that what you have on your body has to go along with what is on your feet; a mismatched outfit is the last thing you want. So here is a swift rundown of the different styles of shoes to help with your shoe game right.
FORMALS
Be it for your presentation at the office or the wedding of your best mate, a pair of formal shoes is the order of the day. An Oxford or Derby is your first choice in this category. While they generally come with a rounded toe, you can also pick squared toes if that is what you are looking for. Another great option is a pair of Brogues. Known for the ornamental perforations along the head, they are stylish and can be your go-to pair on festive occasions.
Matching the color of your formal outfit to your shoes is of paramount importance. A general rule-of-thumb that you can follow is that darker outfits go well with darker shoes, while lighter dresses can handle any shade of shoes.
CASUALS
Casual wear encompasses shoes to wear to an evening stroll, ball games, and backyard dinners. The most popular style in this category has to be the sneaker. They can come in more of a canvas design to sportier styles and everything in between. The number of brands you could go for in this category is truly vast, with the most popular being the big three; Nike, Adidas, and Puma. Since sneakers will most probably become your daily drivers, pick something easy to clean and hard to stain to get the most out of your pair.
WORKING SHOES
These shoes are what you would wear while you work on your car or build some new furniture, something hard to protect you as you work. Usual work shoes are ankle boots made out of thick, heavy-duty leather. They can sometimes even be all-weather boots to use on your ranch or backyard garden. Here again, you would be wise to buy a dark and easy-to-wash pair of boots as they will inevitably get dirty.
Shoes are accessories to your outfit, and like most accessories, the range of prices you can expect to pay is vast. You can start your hunt for your pair at TrueGether, one of the best alternatives to eBay. At TrueGether, you can find an extensive collection of shoes, new or broken-in, at reasonable prices to match your get-up for any occasion.
