Men are traditionally considered to care less about fashion, or, to sound meaner; maybe we are downright fashion impaired. Although, the scene does seem to be changing at a fast rate. This still does not mean that men crave for a separate wardrobe dedicated entirely to shoes, but it is understood that we men no longer have the luxury of getting away with putting on anything and not caring about 'what's in'.
Let's start with formal wear. If you have an appointment with your boss tomorrow, or have a board meeting or any other 'serious' meeting, opt for a pair of Oxfords to complement your formal attire. The Italian cut shoes with acutely pointed toes has become very popular these days while the ones with rounded toes are on their way out.
As a general rule, the more dressed up you are, the thinner the sole and the shinier the leather should be. But don't get too excited and put on too much shiner! Excess polish, first of all, hides the natural beauty of leather, secondly, it creates a grainy texture on the creases, and lastly, it attracts dust. Just apply a very thin layer of polish, and then let it dry before use.
Wear socks that match the colour of your pants. The pants should be lighter than your shoes; which also means the same with socks. Also, wear a belt that matches the colour of your shoes, or at least close to that.
Colour is a very important aspect when it comes to shoes. Black is the safest bet but looks best with navy, grey and black pants. Save brown shoes for tan, brown, beige, greens and other darker tones. Brown shoes are best when worn with denim pants. Meanwhile, burgundy shoes are suitable for khaki, lighter browns, blue and grey pants- basically you wear them on semiformal events. Lastly, tan is best for pants with lighter earth tones, blue, lighter tan and white.
As for less formal regular office shoes, the most appropriate are loafers (lace-less, semiformal, leather shoes), both black and brown. Loafers are great for casual wear as well. So, if you are planning to spend the whole day at office and then enjoy a night out with friends, the best footwear should be a pair of loafers; they go with almost everything, from suits and formal pants to tee shirts and jeans.
Shoes are of great help if you want to put on a few extra inches to your height. Buy shoes with slightly long heels to create the illusion. The effect will be reinforced when the colour of your shoes will be the same of that of your pants and belt, as the continuous colour flow creates the impression of long legs.
Okay, so now you know a lot about shoes, but where do you buy them? If you are budget wise, you can always go to Elephant Road and easily get a shoe of your choice. However, do remember that you will be wearing them regularly and they will 'carry' you. It's a lot of pressure on them. So, its better you buy shoes from a more reliable place, such as Apex. Shopping malls like Bashundhara City and Rapa Plaza may satisfy that need. Other options would be to buy from fashion stores like Shopper's World, Almas and Mantra.
Brands are vital as quality is a major factor; shoes are not just fashion items but also a necessity in terms of durability and protection. But will you get original brands here? Well, the obvious answer is no. However, you will get a few lesser priced authentic brands of shoes. The fashion houses offer you brands like Pierre Cardin, Fabio and Rudolph to name a few. The cheapest you can get from these stores for a pair is at a price of around Tk 2500. The price goes up to around Tk 20,000. Currently, Shopper's World has quite an extensive collection with many Italian shoes compared to many other fashion houses, while Almas is perhaps an ideal place if you are a Pierre Cardin fan.
You won't get authentic Armani or Gucci. It seems that the fashion houses are relying more on their own name than on the designers'. They provide good quality shoes, but of less popular (and therefore relatively cheaper) designer brands. A few like Mantra runs the extra mile and puts their own logo on many shoes that are made locally.
By M H Haider
Photo: Star Lifestyle Archive
