We like to stress the basics most of the time – the white dress shirt, the navy suit, and the black oxford shoe.
Gentlemen, we’re setting the rule book aside for a moment. Today’s about something different.
We’re going to talk about what you should look at once you've bought the black Oxfords. Custom made men's shoes that are going to get you jealous looks.
We’re going to talk about five quality dress shoe styles that will command attention.
5. Hand-Painted Oxford Brogues
4. Leather Tennis Shoes
3. Double Monk Strap Dress Boots
2. The ‘48 By Rhett Butler
1. The ‘48 By Holden Caulfield
Counting down from five, let’s get started.
5. Hand-Painted Oxford Brogues
Comfortable with your plain brown shoes?
We all recognize the classic Oxford brogue and its origins – the shoe shape coming from rebellious Oxford University students anxious to ditch boots in the 19th century, the brogues from Scots who needed to get through bogs with breathable footwear.
It’s time to take it up a notch. Hand-painted brogues yield a uniquely rugged finish. These custom made men's shoes will serve the artistically-inclined among you well.
Their outward aggression is tempered by their adherence to what makes a classic oxford great. The broguing and silhouette are unchanged.
It’s a great way to step out of your comfort zone without taking a leap.
4. Leather Tennis Shoes
If you want to combine sneakers and classic style, these shoes are the way to go. Dress sneakers are ideal for wearing in an ultra-casual setting where you still want to send a message of style.
If you want to opt for an even dressier look, some dress sneakers even come with broguing – snazzy, huh?
Pair it with a bold color – a blue patina is sure to draw eyes.
3. Double Monk Strap Dress Boots
These shoes go back to the 15th century when monks sought a way to make their daily toils a bit easier. The monk strap was the result. Though they started with a single buckle, double monk straps are common in modern iterations.
What happens when you combine monk straps with dress boots?
The result isn’t the Frankenstein of shoes as you’d imagine, but something astonishing that leaves most other shoes in the dust.
These monk strap boots make for a robust counterpart to the finer elegance often associated with the classic variant.
Want to go crazy? Try a brightly-colored suede such as green on these custom made men's shoes.
2. The '48 By Rhett Butler
We’re going back to the old-school Oxford silhouette with these, but that doesn’t make them boring by any means.
These double monk strap leather dress shoes sport a two-toned look in brown and green, and with full broguing to boot.
The design skillfully blends three separate features of casualwear without being ostentatious. In fact, it’s flattering – loud enough to command the attention of a room, but subtle enough to wear anywhere (outside of the office of course).
1. The '48 By Holden Caufield
Most guys are familiar with the classic Chelsea boot. This beauty began as a 19th-century British riding boot. The signature elastic band served to make it easy to slip on. Since then, it's evolved into a casual menswear staple.
This brilliant design takes the classic Chelsea boot to the next level. It’s no wonder why it’s number one on our list.
They come in black leather for a more formal look but are accented beautifully by bright green on the elastic strips on the sides and yellow lining. Full broguing is the cherry on the cake on these custom made men's shoes.
Need to let everyone know you want to push the envelope on elegance? Look no further.
Summary – Men's Shoes
We've covered some of the most impactful shoes in menswear:
- Hand-painted Oxford brogues add another layer to an otherwise classic shoe.
- Leather tennis shoes are an excellent compromise for men who like the ultra-casual lifestyle.
- Double monk dress boots combine two staples of casual footwear to create something spectacular.
- The ‘48 By Rhett Butler brings two-toned green and brown leather and brogues with a double monk strap to make an attention-grabbing shoe style with few rivals.
- The ‘48 By Holden Caulfield accents the classic Chelsea boot with green and yellow. Together with full broguing, it truly is a showstopper.
Once you've played safe with the foundational basics, try your hand at any of these and become a man to be remembered.
