5 Footwear Styles Every Man Should Own

The most important investment you should make in fashion after your watch should be your shoes. It’s often said that the first time you meet someone, you’re judged on three things, your hair, handshake and footwear.

Whether it’s a job interview or a first date, if you’re hoping for approval from a prospective employer or potential lover, you’re probably not going to succeed if you’re wearing an old dirty pair of sneakers.

1. The Brown Leather Brogue

The brogue is originally from Scotland and Ireland as the go-to shoe for those bound for the turf bogs, the brogue has since become a footwear mainstay for the contemporary gentleman.

What’s so unique about the brogue is its versatility. The traditional punch hole design on this silhouette’s upper – known as brogueing – gives it a distinctive character that other smart shoe styles lack. To capitalise on the brogue’s ease of wear, we would recommend opting for a traditional brown leather style complete with leather or rubber soles.

2. The Black Leather Oxford

One of the originals and undoubtedly one of the best, the Oxford – not to be confused with its close relation the Derby – is the perfect occasion shoe.

What sets the Oxford apart from the Derby is its ‘closed lacing system’, which is an elaborate way of referring to the fact that the bottom of an Oxford’s lacing section is sewn closed, with the eyelet facings stitched underneath the front section of the shoe.

3. The Suede Loafer

Originally designed as a bespoke house shoe for King George VI, the slip-on loafer was also famously the silhouette of choice for the mod movement back in the early 1960’s and is now just as likely to be found on the feet of musician Miles Kane as it is on Prince Charles.

Laceless and featuring an elegant, pared-down design, the loafer is an easy, highly versatile style that has been favoured by royals and rebels alike since the mid-19th century. Similar to the brogue, the loafer is best matched with smart and smart-casual ensembles.

In terms of colour and material, we would suggest a breathable suede style in tan, beige or light brown for maximum wearability throughout the warmer spring/summer months, when it will quickly become your default option.

4. The White Leather Low Top Trainer

Given the prominent rise in the popularity of tailoring in recent years, the sneaker had found itself all but banished to the darkest corner of the wardrobe, or even worse – the gym bag. However, the past few seasons (coinciding with the arrival of sports luxe) have seen a glorious return to form for the trainer.

More and more, we’re seeing the style dominate the runway, the streets and even the red carpet – all thanks in no small part to game-changers like Kanye West giving sneakers their official seal of approval.

5. The Leather Lace-Up Boot

Since the noughties’ workwear revival, the number of boot types on offer has multiplied at an astounding rate. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker about to scale Ben Nevis or a fresh-faced upstart with backcombed hair and a penchant for spray-on skinny jeans, there is a style out there for you.

For something classic that offers particularly good cost per wear, we would go for a pair of rugged leather lace-up boots, ideally with rubber soles for resilience and to keep you sure-footed during inclement weather. A style like this will transcend trends as well as lend itself to dressing up or down – teaming equally well with tailoring during the working week as with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt at the weekend.