When putting together an outfit, most people don’t pay much attention to the shoes they pick. After all, shoes are such a small part of the overall look that it doesn’t really matter which shoes you wear, right?
While this is something that many people believe, it’s not true; in reality, the shoes you pick can make or break any outfit, especially one that’s for a specific event. That’s why we’ve put together a list of tips that you can follow to make sure that you choose the right men’s shoes for any occasion.
Choose shoes that make you feel confident
Let’s start with the obvious: you need to pick shoes that you like. And to take it a step further, you need to choose shoes that make you feel good.
Many people think of shoe-related fashion as being mainly for women, but the truth is that men can find just as much joy in fashion, and their shoes can play a big part in that. If bold shoes make you feel confident, have a pair of bold shoes for any occasion. And if elevator shoes give you a boost of confidence, make sure to stock up on them as well!
Choose shoes in a variety of styles
If you want to make sure that you always have the perfect shoes ready for any occasion, you should opt to fill your shoe closet with a variety of different styles of shoes – from casual flip flops and slippers to gym shoes and other sneakers, and also fancier shoes that you can wear with a suit.
Of course, you need to consider your lifestyle when doing this. Someone who works in an office will likely have multiple pairs of formal shoes, whereas someone who works from home may prefer having lots of comfortable footwear options and one formal style.
Choose shoes that fit the season
So, you have an amazing pair of shoes, which means you may think that you’re all set for any occasion, even if that’s not the case.
You also need to consider which season the event is taking place. For example, if it’s in the winter, you may want to give your open-toed shoes a miss, no matter how comfortable they may be, and opt for a pair of boots. Some people even size up for their winter shoes so that they can wear thick, fuzzy socks with their shoes.
Choose shoes that are comfortable
We know that some people think that beauty is pain, but we tend to disagree. After all, no shoe is worth any discomfort or pain, no matter how stylish it may be.
Therefore, you should always try shoes on to make sure that they are comfortable. Naturally, it’s also a good idea to get your feet measured so that you can ensure you always get the right side. While some shoes may take some time before they are ‘walked in’ and comfortable, if you feel like a shoe hurts significantly when you wear it, it’s not a good sign.
Choose shoes that are appropriate for the event
Different shoes are good for different events, just as with any outfit. So, wearing your fanciest shoes to a casual barbeque with friends may not be the best idea.
Similarly, wearing sneakers to a wedding also isn’t appropriate – although most wedding couples will be more focused on your wedding gift than your shoes, you still need to make sure that all aspects of your outfit adhere to the dress code, and that includes your shoes.
Choose shoes in the right color
When you buy shoes, you need to make sure that you will be able to seamlessly wear them with the other items in your wardrobe.
For men’s shoes, a good idea to help you determine shoe color is to look at which color accessories you tend to gravitate towards – for example, if your belt and wallet are both brown, then brown shoes are a good option. This is mostly applicable to formal shoes since it doesn’t really matter what color your sneakers are.
Choose shoes that fit into your price budget
Budgeting for shoes is tricky. On the one hand, most men don’t want to spend thousands on a pair of designer shoes when a generic brand will do the trick.
On the other hand, it’s important to have quality shoes that will offer your feet the support that they need and also last a long time. If possible, try to find shoes that won’t break the bank, but also aren’t so cheap that they only last a few months. To learn more about how much you should be budgeting for clothes, give this post a read.
Choose shoes that you already have
If possible, you should avoid rushing out to buy a new pair of shoes every time you have an event coming up. Instead, have a look around your closet to see which shoes you already own that will be appropriate for the said event.
Of course, this isn’t always possible – sometimes, you will have no other option than to buy new shoes – but most of the time, if you have a well-stocked selection of shoes as mentioned above, you won’t need to head out and buy new shoes unless your current shoes break or are so tattered that you can’t wear them anymore.
In conclusion
This may seem like a lot of information about something as simple as shoes, but as mentioned, shoes play a big role for a lot of men.
Most men would agree that they want to feel comfortable and confident no matter the occasion, and the right pair of shoes can help you achieve this. That being said, if you don’t care much about shoes or fashion, feel free to wear whatever you want! And even if you are looking for some tips on choosing the right pair of shoes, try not to overthink things too much.
