Broggers Quarterly: Lace-Ups

Let's get this straight. I'm no professional or snobby style guy to tell you what to wear, but I can at least let you know how to tell shoes apart when you're looking for a nice pair. As part of a mini-series on shoes, I'll start with lace-ups.

Every guy should own a nice pair of lace-ups. Sooner or later you're gonna have to either go to an interview, work in a professional environment, or go on a date somewhere nice. In the case your interview and work environment are casual, I hope you are planning to go on a date sometime in your life.

Don't be fooled by how these shoes suggest a world of "uncomfortable." Either the shoes are of poor quality material and construction (in which case you should look for another pair), or you are getting the wrong size. By now, your feet have stopped growing, and you should know your size. Shoe salespeople aren't just there to hand you boxes. Don't be embarrassed to tell those d-bags to measure your feet if you don't know your size. Different brands may run in slightly different sizes, but expect to be within half a size correct.

Small shoes obviously hurt your feet in the long run. Big shoes make you feel and look like you're a clown, walking around like you have some cramp in your leg. You're gonna walk and be in these for a long time so you better make sure you're comfortable in them. Don't sacrifice looks for comfort. A good pair of shoes will have both.

Sometimes people say they notice your shoes before actually noticing you. I guess you might be looking down at the floor if you're shy and can't look someone in the face.

Or if you're drunk and on the floor.

Lace-Ups (thanks for the pix, GQ)

The Plain Toe: Classic, sleek, no frills. Minimal details means keeping it simple and classy. Dress it up for business wear or dress it down with chinos or jeans. It's a versatile shoe that looks nice without being too formal, but it can be at the same time. Let's stay away from the square-toed ones, though. Unless you like looking like a clown, stick to rounded tips like the one above.



The Wingtip: Versatile? Yes. The stitching gives way for a more casual look, but it can be seen in the office at times. Verdict? Wingtips can be seen in both a casual and corporate setting. In a casual sense, pair them with chinos and jeans on a night out. Wingtips are popular with professionals also because they show that they mean business, but you can wear them casually to mean business as well.

The Cap-Toe: Suit up, my friend. Business casual, at least please. The cap-toe is a common workhorse in the professional environment and for good reason. Ever seen steel-toed boots? Well, this takes a number from that and makes it stylish. The addition of the simple line stitch across the top is to remind you that you're the boss.

The Moc-Toe: Dubbed so because of the stitching that imitates the line of the shoe. Moc toes are what you would say, "srs bizness." I've only seen these worn with suits if not tuxedos. They do look a little out of place when worn casually given the design of them. I'll save these for my future career path and formal occasions. The only time I wore a pair of these was when I was performing in a concert for my orchestra. Yeah, I won't be in these any time soon.

Stay tuned for more next week.