Mens Shoes
The first tip while trying on a new pair of shoes regardless of whether it is a shoe or sneakers is to find a tile area in the store and walk on that. Most of the shoe stores have carpet, but this carpet gives the false illusion of comfort. So, go over to the hardest surface you can find, test them out there and that will give you a more realistic idea of the comfort of those shoes. When trying on shoes, wear the same style of socks that you plan to wear with the shoes after buying them. Be clear about what purpose you are buying shoes for. Decide on the formality of an event and whether they look appropriate for the occasion. If the shoes are for daily wear, then focus on comfort.
Invest in quality
Not every man can afford to spend hundreds of dollars on his shoes; however, many of those who can instead choose to waste money elsewhere and buy new inferior shoes every few years. This is never a winning strategy, as low quality footwear is held together with glue and made with cheap raw materials such as cardboard and paper that does not age well. You can save money in the long term by buying more expensive shoes that last for decades.
Color Rules for Shoes, Socks, and Belt
- Your shoes should be darker than your pants. The darker your suit, the darker your shoes. This simple rule will keep your choice appropriate for formal, business, and casual outfits. Get a pair or two of black shoes, they will go with any choice but navy pants, in which case you need dark brown or black Bordeaux (reddish-brown). You can wear brown shoes with brown pants, but they should be darker than the pants.
- Match your socks to your shoes. They should be a nice bridge between your shoes and your pants rather than a contrasting color.
- Your shoes should match your belt. Don't pair a brown belt with black shoes or vice versa.
Shoe Appearance Rules
Your dress shoes should always be shined and looking good. Know how to shine your shoes, and if you can't do it, find a professional shoe shiner.
Length in Inches to U.S. Shoe Size Conversion
Length in Inches | U.S. Shoe Size |
9.31 | 6 |
9.5 | 6.5 |
9.69 | 7 |
9.81 | 7.5 |
10 | 8 |
10.19 | 8.5 |
10.31 | 9 |
10.5 | 9.5 |
10.69 | 10 |
10.81 | 10.5 |
11 | 11 |
11.19 | 11.5 |
11.31 | 12 |
11.5 | 12.5 |
11.69 | 13 |
11.81 | 13.5 |
12 | 14 |
12.19 | 14.5 |
12.61 | 15 |
Width in Inches to Shoe Width Conversion, by U.S. Shoe Size
U.S. Shoe Size | C (Narrow) | D (Standard) | E (Wide) |
6 | 3.3″ | 3.5″ | 3.7″ |
6.5 | 3.3″ | 3.6″ | 3.8″ |
7 | 3.4″ | 3.6″ | 3.8″ |
7.5 | 3.4″ | 3.7″ | 3.9″ |
8 | 3.5″ | 3.8″ | 3.9″ |
8.5 | 3.6″ | 3.8″ | 4.0″ |
9 | 3.6″ | 3.9″ | 4.1″ |
9.5 | 3.7″ | 3.9″ | 4.1″ |
10 | 3.8″ | 4.0″ | 4.2″ |
10.5 | 3.8″ | 4.1″ | 4.3″ |
11 | 3.9″ | 4.1″ | 4.3″ |
11.5 | 3.9″ | 4.2″ | 4.4″ |
12 | 4.0″ | 4.3″ | 4.4″ |
12.5 | 4.1″ | 4.3″ | 4.5″ |
13 | 4.1″ | 4.4″ | 4.6″ |
13.5 | 4.2″ | 4.4″ | 4.8″ |
14 | 4.2″ | 4.5″ | 4.9″ |
14.5 | 4.3″ | 4.6″ | 4.9″ |
15 | 4.3″ | 4.6″ | 5.0″ |