Men's Style Gift Guide - 1 of 10 Fashion Gifts for Him: Dress Shoes

Gift Idea #1 of 10 for Him: Dress Shoes

A pair of dress shoes can come in handy in ways that many people simply overlook. After all, anyone who works in the professional sector likely wears dress shoes on a daily basis, and probably has lost sight of how important they actually are. The right pair of shoes can help to accent any ensemble, whether it be business-casual or formal in nature. As a result, a pair of dress shoes makes for an excellent holiday gift, and is perfect for fashion-forward men. If you’ve never shopped for men’s dress shoes in the past, consider the following tips to help you find the perfect pair.

What to Look For
The first thing you’ll want to look for in a pair of dress shoes is the material that they’re constructed out of. Leather is preferred. Cow, calf, and pig leather is most is most common, but goat, alligator, and shell cordovan (horse) is also sometimes used. Style is also important, as there are plenty of different routes to take here. Loafers are not quite as popular as they used to be, although they still have a time and place. Oxfords and wing tips are ideal for most formal situations, and are two of the more attractive styles of dress shoes on the market.

Best Piece of 2012
The best piece of 2012 will depend upon which type of dress shoe you’re looking for. If brogues are for you, it’ll be difficult to find a better pair than the leather brogues from Ben Sherman. Featuring a quality construction, elaborate stitching and strong, supportive sole, men of all walks of life can find something to agree upon about this shoe. At under $150, they’re practically a steal considering how high in quality they are. Looking for a high quality pair that will last a lieftime (with proper care and occasional re-soleing), then a pair of Alden or Allen Edmonds are without doubt the two top brands to consider.

How to Wear It
Dress shoes are most often worn in business-casual and formal environments. One can get a lot of mileage out of wearing this type of show in more casual situations, however. The brogues mentioned above, for example, can easily be paired with dark-washed designer jeans for a smart, yet casual ensemble. Try rounding things out with a blazer and graphic tee combination. If you’re going to be wearing dress shoes with formal attire, you’ll want to ensure that your colors match up properly. Clashing colors is all it takes in order for a quality ensemble to fall to pieces, which is just one reason why they should always be avoided.

Your Cheap-Neckties.com Team