Men might not have the range of options that women have for clothing, but if there’s one place where they can really let their personal style show, it’s footwear. Whether you like to play it safe or take a walk on the wild style, footwear can say a lot about the kind of dude you are.
Neon: Bright green, hot pink, and shocking blue slip-on sneaks are all the rage.
You can get away with this look right now (it hasn’t been around since back in the 80s), so take advantage. A bright shoe can change the entire look of your outfit. A demure all-white outfit gets a jolt from a bright neon green shoe, and a basic t-shirt and jeans outfit can get turned upside down with a burst of color from your footwear.
White: Going in the opposite direction, a simple white shoe, whether it’s a leather white buck (better for formal events), or a clean Keds slip-on, is a classic and a must-have staple for summertime. It will also go great with your white linen suit (which you totally have, right?)
Sandals: The world is very divided over whether or not men should allow their feet to be shown in any way during summer. If even Esquire is advocating for Birkenstocks and slip-ons, we figure it must be OK. But please, do your feet a favor and get a pedicure first.
Sneaker Pastiche: What did Milan’s Fashion Week tell us? That men would –if given the chance — wear a riot of color on their feet. Sneakers that are a crazy smorgasbord of patterns and color—stripes, with zigs and zags - make them a statement piece, rather than something that “goes” with the outfit. They ARE the outfit, so take caution as to how much color you’re wearing all at once.
Classic Canvas, Boat Shoes and Slip-Ons: You might find that one shoe meets all three of these requirements (most boat shoes are slips-ons, but not all slip-ons are boat shoes, for instance). Either way, all three are durable, casual and go with just about everything in a less formal setting. We’ve never met a pair of Vans or Converse we didn’t like.