Men’s Formal Shoes: How to Spice Up Your Collection

There is a style of men’s formal shoes for each formal occasion: when you’re meeting important clients for the first time, the Monday morning board meeting, the Wednesday morning departmental review, the Friday evening business dinner, the Saturday evening cocktail etc. Even if you shop shoes just for the office, knowing the wide variety of formal shoes and how to wear them makes for an exciting and stylish shoe collection. The variety will stand you out. So, go on and be the Mr. Hotlegs in your office by picking styles from the review of formal shoes below:

1. OXFORDS

You may be vaguely aware that a style of formal shoes is called Oxfords, but can’t tell how they look. Just remember this: “V” is for Oxfords – the Quarters (the “flaps” of the shoes that you lace together) form a V shape. This is the distinct feature of Oxfords – a closed lacing system that forms a narrow V shape. Oxfords are the holy grail of men’s formal shoes. Every gentleman should have a pair or two. And it’s critical you know how to lace them appropriately. See how in this short video.

 $608.89 BUY

$482.04 BUY

$608.89 BUY

Browse and buy designer Oxfords on Harrods or Selfridges 

2. DERBY

Derbies are very versatile. If you want to appear a bit relaxed, Derbies are perfectly acceptable with a tuxedo or business suit. They are more fashion-flexible than Oxfords. So, you could equally wear them with chinos or denims. To be frank, turning up in Derbies at non-formal events such as your old school alumni reunion, a concert at Eko Hotel or the opening of an art exhibition is a subtle but brutally effective way to show that man pass man.

$619.82  BUY

$777.60 BUY

$552.21 BUY

$552.21 BUY

Browse and shop designer Derby shoes at Selfridges and Harrods

3. BROGUES

Brogues are marked by the process of “broguing” i.e. adorning shoes with exquisite perforations. More formal styles such as Oxfords and Derbies are sometimes confused with Brogues, when they have perforations. Brogues are also versatile but are less formal than Derbies. They go well with everything from suits to shorts and everywhere from church to board meetings. But a very important note of warning: the busier the adornments the less formal your Brogues become. So, those Brogues that you can wear on shorts have no business in any office.

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$ 323.22 BUY

4. LOAFERS

Now, this is a trickier one. Loafers are very comfortable, relaxed and stylish. But they are not yet fully accepted as shoes for offices or formal occasions. Loafers come in a variety of options: penny, tassels and horsebit loafers are the most popular loafer styles. In our view, penny loafers are the most formal because they are the least adorned. Here are some tips for wearing loafers for formal occasions:

• avoid velvet or suede materials;
• avoid metal or multi-colour horsebit;
• go for black.

If you can afford it, buy from leading brands such as Church’s, Edward Green or Cheaney. Their loafers tend to have sturdier soles and thicker leathers, making them look very distinguished. Their look easily suggests how much you have spent on them – only insolent people will suggest you are not being formal while you are wearing such high-quality loafers. If you have splurged on high-end loafers, don’t give haters an opportunity to rain on your parade. There are important details about how you should wear your loafers. It is better to wear half-socks. Make sure your trousers are not too long: the length should rest just on your ankle. Your trousers should never drape on your beautiful loafers. The point of loafers is allowing the beauty to be seen all-round.

$ 396.77 BUY

$ 394.55 BUY

$ 657.58 BUY

$ 691.01 BUY

Read more about wearing loafers to work:

“…if a junior banker showed up on Wall Street wearing Gucci loafers…he wouldn’t be underdressed—he’d be dressing above his station.Only the top men at the bank wear those.”

5. MONK STRAPS

In our view, Monk Straps compete with Derbies for the most stylish formal shoes, though it’s a bit more formal. (We know a gentleman who wore nothing but gorgeous Monk Straps while he was the Chairman of Ecobank Nigeria Limited). In contrast to the other formal styles, Monk straps are fastened by buckles rather than laces. Choosing between a gold or silver buckle is a matter of choice. If you are buying for the office, go for single leather straps. Double Monk Straps, which are louder, are more suitable for weddings, church etc. Monk straps, either single or double-buckled, in our view should not be worn with buba and sokoto or south-south. Loafers go better with these Nigerian styles.

$1281.72 BUY

$769.03 BUY

$635.28 BUY

$724.45 BUY