There are so many different types of luxury shoes that are worth trying, but the best of them depends on being best for what? The nature of the occasion, the season, and the impression you want to make are the determiners of the best shoes.
In this article, you will learn about these types and what is the best for each context and occasion.
Types of Dress Shoes
For formal occasions, there are many types of shoes; each one has its iconic style that you can go for and so are casual occasions. The list below will help you determine what's best for you.
1. Formal Dress Shoes
1.1. Oxfords
The joker, the most well-liked style of dress shoes, Oxfords are straightforward, slim shoes with built-in laces.
All gentlemen should own a pair of oxfords because of their sophisticated style. Despite coming in a variety of neutral colors, black and brown shoes are the ones that are most frequently worn.
The Cap Toe Oxford, for example, can be worn to a wedding or in town.
1.2. Dress Boots
It is a common misconception that boots should be worn with casual attire, however, this is not totally true. Boots with an ankle-length shaft have a formal, vintage look.
Chelsea and lace-up boots are the ones that go well with business attire. The reason why they are good in the formal context is that they are very comfortable shoes.
Styling Tip: Use basic, plain boots for semiformal events like a Sunday lunch with clients, a weekend outdoor meeting with office colleagues; or any formal event outside the office wherein a full-formal suit would not be appropriate. They are the right custom shoes for such a mission.
1.3. Formal Pumps
Formal pumps, commonly referred to as opera pumps, are loafer-like dress shoes made from black patent leather that are the ideal substitute for oxfords.
These fancy shoes often have a sparkling texture and go perfectly with formal black-tie clothing.
Styling Tip: As for black-tie events, formal pumps go well with tuxedos and business suits.
1.4. Monk straps
For those seeking unusual shoes, Monk straps are the perfect selection. Instead of laces, these shoes have buckling straps.
They come in single-clasp and double-clasp styles, and the clasps are often silver, brass, or gold in color. They make quality custom-made shoes as well.
Styling Tip: Monk straps attract attention, so it is advised to wear them to special events and office functions. Make sure that the color of the clasp matches the color of your belt buckle, tie bar, cuff links, and a wristwatch.
1.5. Horsebit Loafers
The most dressy loafers are known for a distinct feature in their design, a snaffle or metal bar in the vamp's middle. This style was introduced in 1963 and has since become a popular feature in formal loafers worn with suits.
Before these loafers, it was not a common practice to wear formal loafers with suits outside the United States. Black leather Horsebit loafers are a popular option to wear with a suit. They are not typically considered formal enough for black or white tie events but pair well with a sharp work suit. The design of these shoes sets them apart from other customized shoes.
Styling Tip: These shoes go in several different styles ranging from jeans casual style to semiformal beige pants for white or black loafers and white or black pants for white or beige loafers.
2. Casual Dress Shoes
2.1. Loafers
Loafers are the ideal footwear for business travel since they are cozy, fashionable, and simple to put on and take off. Most loafers, especially those in light colors, are causal. They are incredible shoes for casual occasions.
Styling Tip: You can wear them with black dress pants and a plain shirt. Or you can wear them with a blazer to add a semiformal touch to the outfit.
2.2. Suede Driver Shoes
Driving loafers or suedes are more on the informal side, giving jeans and even shorts-style points. Look no further if you want a shoe that is simple to put on without socks. They are the pair of shoes that will make you feel free and comfortable the most.
Styling Tip: You can wear them with a black leather jacket and a beige undershirt, with black jeans. They will give you the casual stylish look you're looking for.
3. Semi-Formal Dress Shoes
3.1. Belgian Loafers
Tassel loafers are slightly more formal cousins to Belgian loafers. They may be identified by the little bow on the front. These classy loafers still possess the same soft sole that they had when they were first created as indoor slippers.
On Belgian loafers, the stitching seems to be immaculate. This is because of the precise "turned" process they were manufactured using, which involved sewing them inside-out before turning them right side out after they were done.
Styling Tip: They are more suitable for different dress shirts and blazers. You can wear a black Belgian loafer on a black dress shirt and pants, and try to avoid making the socks visible.
4. Smart Casual Dress Shoes
4.1. Penny Loafers
The Penny Loafer has a trendy beef roll, stacked heel, and a smooth, authentic hand-sewn leather top. Penny loafers provide style to any outfit, whether you dress them up with a sport coat or dress them down with some jeans.
Styling Tip: You can wear them on blue jeans and a shirt as well as you can wear them on a classic smart casual.
4.2. Brogues
Your look may benefit from the addition of brogues. Just keep in mind that you would select suede instead of good brown calf leather, maybe in a shade like blue or gray that is a little less traditional.
Styling Tip: This one is always the best for a classic formal look. You can see them in a classic formal suit as well as wedding and special occasion suits.
5. Versatile Dress Shoes
5.1. Wingtip Oxfords
The Wingtip Oxford has a traditional wingtip design with a sleeker, more modern profile. It is timeless but modern. With everything from your finest suit to your favorite jeans, the flexible style can be matched.
5.2. Leather Driver Shoes
Drivers stand out for their distinctive feature that highlights the elegance of their rich leather top, especially those made of leather. With a sole that is completely cushioned and soft linings, it is versatile enough for work or the weekend.
Styling Tip: You can wear them on dark jeans and a light blazer as well as you can wear them on a dark leather jacket for a casual look.
5.3. Saddle Shoes
These shoes are the ideal way to give any outfit a dash of personality. They look fantastic with both casual and formal outfits thanks to their distinctive two-color design, which is a timeless classic.
The saddle-shaped component that spans the lacing region gives these flexible shoes their name.
Styling Tip: They're heavily practical, and you can wear them hiking if you like. So, you can style them with blue jeans and a light t-shirt.
5.4. Moccasins
Timeless slip-on loafers. They are practical icons that you can wear in different smart casual styles as they don't tend to serve one side more than the other.
Styling Tip: You can wear black ones on navy blue jeans and a tucked-in light shirt.
5.5. Tassel Loafers
Tasseled loafers, which were first created as Wholecut shoes in the 1950s, are customizable, durable, and traditional styles that never go out of style.
Styling Tip: Tassel loafers go perfectly with chinos and a blazer. In black or oxblood, they’re on the same level of formality as a navy blazer with gray trousers.
Dress Shoes’ Lacing Systems
Some styles of dress shoes can be confusing and puzzling to many readers because the primary distinction between them is often their lacing mechanism.
Lacing systems may be divided into two categories: closed-lacing systems and open-lacing systems.
Derby's refer to open-lacing systems, whereas Oxfords speak about closed-lacing systems. As a result, it's possible to discover Derbys that are also Brogues.
Last Remarks
Whatever the style that you're going for, you will easily find the right shoes that match that style. You can save that article to read it again when you're styling a specific outfit; it can be a good guide.
And you can also check out ADORSI's collections for these different types of shoes to get the difference between them more clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you resole luxury shoes?
The stitching technique, in this case, decides whether dress shoes can be resoled or not.
Therefore, you must ensure that your shoes are Goodyear welted if you desire to have resoleable footwear, especially since you won't be able to swap out your worn-out soles for new ones if your shoes are glued, for instance.
2. Do you wear loafers with socks or not?
Once again, the choice rests on the client and the event for which he is dressing up or down.
Men vary in their preferences: some prefer to go sockless; others prefer to wear no-show socks, for example.
Our advice is that if you're aiming for a semiformal look with your loafers, make sure your socks are not visible. If you want a more formal look, you can wear dress socks.
