The shoes that you wear

There's probably no piece of your wardrobe that is as important as your shoes. You could have the most expensive designer suit and completely ruin it by the shoes that you have on your feet. That does not necessarily mean that you need to stock up on all those designer shoes out there. However it does mean that you have to buy good : that is (a) you have to be selective as to the coloring and style, so that you get the maximum number of combinations with the attires you already have, (b) shoes have to be functional, sturdy, well-made and comfortable above all, and (c) they have to be good looking. So if you ask me whether it is worth spending the extra more, I would say yes; not in every case though, and definitely not every time.

Let's discuss some more reasons. You don't want to wear a cheaper pair of shoes to an interview, business meeting or formal event. You don't want to do the same when going out on an important date. She will be scrutinizing you from top to bottom ; especially the bottom part.

But why does the designer ask for the extra cash ? Well, apart from the reason that he does because he can, and knowns that he can, since he does have customers (repeatedly), and after you take out all the marketing and image building expenses (that actually get you to the door of the shop), as well as the extraordinary sales margins that all outfitters demand, you end up with a pair of shoes that are really well-made. They are made from the finest quality leather, which makes the shoes light and flexible, yet sturdy. Designer shoes also have features such as specially designed heels to reduce pressure on a man's heel, non-slip soles, added room in the toe box for comfort and anti-sweat soles to reduce sweating and prevent foot odor. So they are actually very good (apart from stylish).

What I would alternatively suggest is to explore the option of having your shoes hand-made to fit the style and size you wish. Before dismissing the thought as way too expensive, I would like to point you again to the facts of the previous paragraph. Unless your maker is not an internationally known artisan ^[1], what you are going to pay will be solely for materials, time and craftsmanship ; nothing more, and certainly nothing less. Investing in quality custom shoes will complete a stylish look. Plus, these shoes can be relied on for years and pay for themselves over time.

And as the old saying goes, “A good pair of shoes is never cheap and a cheap pair of shoes is never good.”

The question, of course, is why a man should choose to wear anything other than Rockports or sneakers. For one thing, a well-made shoe can, and should be, extremely comfortable. For another, a well-made shoe sends the rest of the world a signal about the wearer. More than any other article of clothing, shoes can influence how others view us, not to mention how we view ourselves. There's a reason, after all, why mothers traditionally advise their daughters to first look at a man's shoes. ^[2]

Shoes complete the outfit. They are a necessity ; not an accessory. Shoe styles seem to exemplify trends and they are a dead giveaway as to how little or much you are up-to-date with your appearance. Shoes are your time to shine (or matte), depending on the outfit.

Here are some "do’s" and "don’ts" for footwear :

DO match the silhouette of your outfit. Slimmer pants warrant slimmer soles.

DON’T wear bowling shoes unless you’re bowling ; no exceptions.

DO wear brown shoes with dark and light suits alike for business or for a less formal celebration.

DON’T forget to polish your dress shoes once every 4-5 wears.

DO buy shoes snug, but not tight. Leather and other natural materials tend to stretch over time and form to your foot.

DON’T buy poorly (not necessarily cheaply) made shoes. They will affect your posture and cause you to become more tired, and will eventually stress your back

Black shoes are extremely versatile, but are you sure you are not always picking black is because you are afraid of choosing the wrong color shoes for your clothing ?

Here are a few pointers on which shoe colors go best with certain clothing colors. 

Black shoes: nearly anything except pastels and some earth tones -- but even then, if black is repeated elsewhere in the outfit, black shoes can be a dynamic choice.

Brown shoes: shades of tan, brown, beige, orange, greens, and darker earth tones.

Tan/Light Brown shoes: lighter earth tones, blue, beige, lighter tan or white.

Cream/Taupe shoes: whites, light neutrals, and pastels.

White shoes: light neutrals, brights, and pastels.

Silver shoes: pastels, as well as with white, black, blues and purples.

Gray shoes: blacks, blues, grays, reds, as well as some purples and yellows.

Gold shoes: greens, reds, browns, and they usually look good with black and white as well.

Even less common shoe colors are simple to match to your clothing. If a color is present in your outfit, you can repeat it in your shoes. If the shoe color isn't in your outfit, you can rely on matching "values" (deep with deep, light with light, etc.), and other color theory rules. Complementary colors (those that are opposite of each other on the color wheel) will create an bold contrast when paired together, while colors that are next to each other will create a more harmonious look. ^[3]

^[1] England’s Crockett & Jones handmade leather shoes have been kicking around since 1524 and are renowned worldwide. “Our shoes are made from the finest raw materials and go through more than 240 separate procedures -- from the selection of the hide to insulating the sole with cork during a hand-construction process,” says the company’s export director, Robin Guinness. “It takes about eight weeks to make a single pair.” You can’t walk into any mall to pick them up, but the company does have retail outlets around the world, including New York City in the U.S. You can also place customized orders online or via their catalogue. Premium pairs range from $725 to $825. If you’re feeling particularly flush, they’ll make you a made-to-measure pair for $1,150 and up.

(read the whole article) Ref. http://www.styleandtechformen.com/style/shoes/affordable_handmade_leather_shoes/index.html#axzz2AswUnUao

^[2] Ref. http://www.forbes.com/2004/02/25/cx_ns_0225conn.html

^[3] Ref. http://shoes.about.com/od/shoe_tips_advice/ss/shoes_clothing.htm