As a guy, it’s important to have a variety of shoes, so you can look good on every occasion. When it comes to putting together an outfit, everything starts with the shoes on your feet.
When you’re looking for shoes, it’s important to find the right pair. They need to fit nicely with your pants and look good with the rest of your outfit.
From casual everyday sneakers, designer shoes, and boots for the colder months of the year, these are the types of shoes that every guy needs!
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9 Must-Own Shoes Styles For Men
1. Dress Shoes
When it comes to must-own shoes for men, a pair of dress shoes top the list! Whether it’s for an important business meeting, job interview, wedding, funeral, or other formal event, every guy needs a good pair of dress shoes.
Dress shoes for men come in a few different styles. Depending on your personal preference, you can go with a classic dress shoe look, or for a more trendy style.
A safe bet is a pair of Oxford dress shoes, since they have a classic style and are appropriate for just about any formal occasion. These look great with a suit or dress pants.
If you’re looking for something more unique, you can try Monk Strap dress shoes or Brogueing dress shoes for a trendier look.
Tip: If you’re tucking in your shirt, always match your belt color with the color of your shoes.
Recommended Dress Shoes:
- Clarks Oxford Dress Shoes
- Cole Haan Monk Strap Dress Shoes
- Brogueing Dress Shoes
- Derby Shoes (see over 1,000 positive reviews on Amazon)
2. Casual Sneakers
Casual sneakers are the type of shoes that you can wear on a daily basis. This means that you may wear them to work, out running errands for when you’re grabbing a quick bite to eat.
When you’re choosing casual sneakers, there are a few things that you should note.
The first thing is that you’re going to want a minimalist shoe. Something with neutral colors is versatile, which means you can wear them with various different outfits.
The next thing you’re going to want is a shoe that is easy to put on and off. If it takes you 5 minutes to put on your shoes everyday, then they are not very practical. Instead, you want a pair of shoes that you can quickly put on and lace up.
The last thing you’re going to want to look for in casual sneakers is a shoe that is easy to clean. Having a pair of shoes that is easy to clean will make your sneakers look newer and last for longer.
Tip: Avoid light canvas material shoes as they can be hard to clean!
Recommended Casual Sneakers:
- Lacoste Carnaby Sneakers
- Tommy Hilfiger Liston
- Adidas Stan Smith (see over 8,000 positive reviews on Amazon)
- Steve Madden Fenta
- Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars (choose darker colors)
- Nike Court Vision Low
3. Chelsea Boots
Chelsea boots are the perfect footwear for guys in the spring and fall months of the year. These boots are a staple in men’s fashion and look fantastic with a nice spring or fall jacket.
Chelsea boots can be worn on various occasions, like going on dates, going to work and going out for drinks with your friends. The one time of year that you should never wear Chelsea boots is during the summer.
Adding a pair of Chelsea boots to your wardrobe is a great way to take your personal style to the next level.
Recommended Chelsea Boots:
Alternative: Chukka Boots
If you’re not a fan of Chelsea boots, a solid alternative is the Chukka boot. Like Chelsea boots, the Chukka boot is a great spring and fall boot.
The difference between Chelsea boots and Chukka boots is that Chukka boots have laces. Chelsea boots are intended to fit under your pants, whereas Chukka boots are meant to have your pants stacked on top of them.
Recommended: Chukka Boots (see price on Amazon)
4. Leather Sneaker
There is no shoe that is more attractive, than a leather sneaker. Leather shoes are best for nicer occasions like a date, dinner at a nice restaurant or going to a nice club.
White leather sneakers are some of the best shoes that you can add to your wardrobe. Not only are they very stylish, but they will always make a statement and you will get plenty of compliments.
If there’s a type of shoe that is worth investing in, it’s a good pair of leather shoes. When you get a pair of leather shoes, you will notice that you can wear them on so many different occassions.
Designer brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen are known for their leather shoes. As someone who owns a pair of Gucci shoes, I can say with confidence that it is one of best purchases.
Not only have the shoes stayed in good shape for years, but I still get plenty of compliments on them to this day.
They can be purchased in retail stores as well as on resale websites.
Tip: To get the best look out of your leather sneakers, wear them with loafer socks or ankle socks.
Recommended Leather Sneakers:
- Cole Haan Grand Crosscourt (see price on Amazon)
- Jousen Leather Shoes
- Saint Laurent Court Classic
- Gucci Ace Sneaker
- Alexander McQueen Court Trainer
- Common Projects Achilles Low-Top
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5. Penny Loafers
Since penny loafers were invented in the 1930’s, they have remained a big part of men’s fashion and a staple in many guys wardrobes. If you’re wearing a suit, a great way to improve your look is by throwing on a pair of loafers.
There are a few styles of loafers like the Driving Loafers, Tassel Loafers and Horsebit Loafers. However, there is no style more versatile than penny loafers.
If you’re debating on which style to choose, it really comes down to personal preference. Personally, I like the Driving Loafers, however there are so many other great options that will look nice with a suit.
Tip: If you plan on wearing penny loafers with dress pants, make sure your dress pants fit right above your ankles. This is the best way to show off your shoes and it gives the optimal look for penny loafers.
Recommended Penny Loafers:
- Dockers Penny Loafers
- Bruno Marc Driving Loafers
- Stacy Adams Tassel Loafers
- Bruno Marc Horsebit Loafers (Great Price)
6. Dress Boots
If you live in a climate that gets heavy rain and snow, then you’re going to want to add some dress boots to your wardrobe. On a day with harsh weather conditions, the last thing any of us want is to ruin our nicer shoes or get our feet wet.
Dress boots are the perfect way to keep your feet warm and dry, all while looking stylish and trendy.
One of the biggest brands to popularize dress boots is Dr. Martens. Dr. Martens is a brand known for it’s unisex style of leather boots.
Another brand that is known for making leather boots is Timberland. Timberland boots are durable, reliable and well suited for all weather conditions.
Leather boots look amazing with a nice pair of denim jeans or a pair of relaxed fit pants. Wearing a nice peacoat or a trench coat is the perfect way to complete this outfit.
Recommended Dress Boots:
7. Boat Shoes
If you live in a warmer climate or a climate that gets warm summers, than you’re going to want a pair of boat shoes. Boat shoes are the perfect type of footwear to pair up with some shorts and a button-up t-shirt on a hot day.
As someone who just recently started wearing boat shoes, I’ll be the first to say that these are a serious game changer. I love the look of my tan leather Sperry’s, especially when I’m on vacation.
I always felt like running shoes and casual sneakers just didn’t look great with shorts, which is why I tried boat shoes. Boat shoes are the perfect balance of comfort, style and they look great on a hot summer day or on vacation.
Recommended Boat Shoes:
8. Running Shoes
As a guy, there is no pair of shoes that is more important to have, than a good pair of running shoes. Whether you wear them to play sports, workout or just for running errands, you need a good pair of running shoes.
Sneaker brands like Nike, Adidas and New Balance have done a great job at designing comfortable and nice looking running shoes.
Now more than ever, running shoes can be worn on so many different occassions. Even workplaces have begun allowing their employees to come in to work wearing a nice pair of trainers.
Tip: Take the time to clean your running shoes every month to extend the lifetime of your shoes.
Recommended Running Shoes:
- Adidas Ultraboost (see price on Amazon)
- New Balance 550
- New Balance 996
- Nike Air Force 1
- ON Cloudnova
9. Slides
The final style of footwear that every guy needs for his wardrobe, is a good pair of slides. Slides, also referred to as sandals, are an essential for anybody who lives in a climate that gets warm weather.
You’ll also want slides for vacations or even if you go to an indoor pool closer to home.
In a perfect world, wearing slides out to dinner would be fashionable. However, it just isn’t. Slides may be more comfortable than shoes, but they will never look as good.
If you’re walking outdoors, feel free to wear slides. However, if you’re indoors it’s better to go with a pair of casual shoes, boat shoes or running shoes.
Recommended Slides and Sandals:
- Lacoste Slides
- Nike Slides
- Birkenstocks
- Gucci Slides
- Crocs
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Final Thoughts on The Best Types of Shoes Every Man Should Own
As a guy, having a pair of shoes to go with different outfits is a good idea. Not having the right shoes for interviews, meeting and other fun occasions is frustrating.
It’s best to get a few basic shoes, so you’ll always have a pair of shoes you like and feel comfortable in.
In this post, I shared 9 different styles of shoes every man should own.
What style of shoes is your favorite? Please let me know in the comments below.