If you have no other shoes at least make sure you have some of these.
1 – Black Chelsea Boots – One of the most versatile items of footwear around. Black Chelsea Boots can effortlessly pair with anything from casual to full on smart dress codes. This adaptability is only one benefit of these shoes however. They can also add a rock and roll vibe to any outfit due to the sheer cool factor they possess. As well as adding this cool factor they cut the perfect balance between smart and casual. Adding formality to the most casual of looks whilst also providing levity and contrast when worn with formal items.
2 – White Minimalist Sneakers – Since Common Projects brought the humble white trainer to the fore they have been a wardrobe must have. They are such a versatile item that looks incredible with anything and everything. They can make a suit more casual or add a sophisticated angle to the most casual of looks. The key is to get a pair made of luxurious materials with a solid construction. A good pair can mould to your feet and be one of the most comfortable shoes you can own. A plain white pair needs to be kept in excellent condition but as long as you do this it matches perfectly with anything from office wear to weekend outfits.
3 – Converse High Tops – Everyone needs a great pair of throwback sneakers in there closet so why not go back as far as sneakers go, converse high tops. Dating from the beginning of the 20th century the Converse All-Star is among the most iconic items of footwear of all time. They have now been updated to exist in multitudes of colourways and collaborations, notable the collaboration with Comme Des Garçons. The Shoes are incredibly versatile particularly in my preferred white colourway and provide an excellent retro touch to an outfit. After all a throwback to when times were simpler is never a bad thing.
4 – Winter Boots – Now as fun as it is to dress with practicality at the back of your mind eventually reality comes calling. It does that sadly often these days and when it does it’s best to be prepared with a pair of boots that are both stylish and practical. A brown of black lace up pair in leather with a thick sole would always be my ideal choice in winter. This would make them versatile and incredibly stylish. However this still gives you lots of room to play around and put your own stamp on things. A chunkier than normal sole or a shinier leather can alter this type of shoe to your own personal style. However you wish to work it a practical and stylish winter boot is a must- there’s nothing stylish about falling on your ass.
5 – Loafers – Moving swiftly away from the winter boot to the far daintier loafers. Now my personal favourite type of loafer is the horsebit loafer most commonly associated with Gucci. Now, their loafers are a thing of beauty a item that can be worn smart or casual and have true versatility – something of a theme on this list. A true loafer can be worn with anything from suits to shorts and even jeans and look damn good whilst doing it. Now if you are less of a fan of horsebits there are also penny and tassel loafers. These are less formal than the horsebit loafers and nearly as versatile with G.H Bass’s ‘weejuns’ another notable name in the loafers game. The penny loafers tend to be chunkier than the horsebits so bear that in mind when making your decision. As well as in summer loafers, in leather at least, can be worn very effectively in autumn and spring too. Wear them with a pair of socks if the temperature falls too low and watch them reinvigorate your outfits by giving them a fresh preppy spin.
6 – Casual Trainers – Now these are the real workhorses of your footwear collection. You know the shoes I mean, the versatile fallback shoes that could go with any casual outfit and can be thrown on for anything from a stylish outfit to walking round the city to wearing to uni. A shoe this important and likely to be worn this much needs to be comfortable and it needs to be any colour other than white. After all you should already own one box fresh pair of shoes and who wants the effort of that multiple times. A colour such as navy, blue, red or black is far better suited to the kind of mileage you’d be getting out of these shoes. Every company no matter how high end make shoes to fill this category but in my opinion the best would be a pair of Adidas Campuses or Vans Old Skool. Timeless silhouettes in a variety of colour ways so you can get exactly the colour you want. A shoe like this is a mans best friend. Not your favourite shoe in your wardrobe but the one your most attached to.
7 – Espadrilles – A far more stylish alternative to flip flops espadrilles are what you wear when you might need to leave the beach. Although traditionally just beach shoes espadrilles now have enough durability to venture beyond the sands. Perfect for a coaster city where you might be at the beach one minute then walking into shops and bars the next. They have a inherently casual vibe and yet look far more sophisticated than flip flops or slides. The perfect shoe for the summer.
8 – Black Derby’s – Sometimes work just gets in the way. However with a pair of black Derby’s you’ll be able to seamlessly transition from work to the weekend. This is a type of shoe that is perfectly suited to both work and off duty outfits and one pair can carry you from 9-5 to the club all in a day. A Derby is less stuffy than its cousin the Oxford shoe and thus works perfectly with denim, chino or suits and so should be your go to suit shoe due to its extra versatility. For more formal occasions you should reach for something more formal but in today’s climate the time for full formal dress is becoming rarer and rarer.
Here we have it the shoes you NEED to have in one form or another. As you may of noticed and because this is a relatively short list versatility is key with shoes. Almost all of these would work under a suit or under jeans and that is the beauty of it by having fewer shoes which can be worn with everything else in your wardrobe you will get more use out of them and keep your rotation and outfits looking fresh.
That Stylish Guy 