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Be mindful of the colours of your bride |
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You can be immaculately dressed but there is a point where it can all go wrong … Your shoes. Footwear can compliment or destroy the look you are trying to achieve with so many facets, wrong colour, wrong style, wrong material to name just a few. Many things have to taken into consideration like heel height and sole thickness, not forgetting accessories.
Like suit cuts, men’s shoes are influenced by three major procedures, British, Italian and American.
The British shoes are very conventional, sticking to time honoured practices. The Italian shoes like the suits are very streamlined and sophisticated. American men’s shoes are conservative but in a sturdy, stocky fashion. However over time shoe manufacturers have made shoes for the overseas market which has meant a mixture of these influences in the resulting shoe. |
Men’s Dress Shoe Tips
- The glossier the shoe the more dressy it appears
- Always match your shoes with the belt you are wearing
- The finer the heel and sole the more dressy it appears
- Ideally select a shoe colour that matches or is darker than the pants
- Match your socks or coordinate with other accessories
- Avoid wearing a thick, chunky shoe style with narrow leg pants
- The darker the shoe the more formal it appears
- Slip-ons are less formal than lace-ups
- Balmoral closed lacing is considered more dressy than open laced
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Two general styles are suitable for men’s dress shoe needs, Oxfords or Slip-Ons. However, there are other styles worth looking into, depending on your type of wedding, including sandals or even barefoot for beach weddings if you wish. |
OXFORDS |
| Bluchers |
Lace-ups which are cut below the ankle are an exceptionally dressy shoe, suitable for any formal attire. Choose from “Open–Laced Bluchers” which is a segmented style. |
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| Balmorals |
or “Closed-Laced Balmorals” which is a smoother variety with the appearance that it was all made in one section.
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OTHER CONSIDERATIONS |
| Slip-Ons |
A moccasin design shoe, which can be found in different varieties, with various adornments (fringes, tassels etc) or in plain fashions. This shoe has a proportioned, broad heel which is usually fairly flat. Generally younger men look good in the lower cut types |
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| Ankle Boot |
| A design worth considering which can be extremely stylish and flattering for dress shoe needs. We are talking here about the sleek variety made of fine leather or suitable alternative, rising just above the ankle with a slightly tapered heel and preferably a side zip.. |
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Shoe Shopping Tips For Men
While Ladies love to shop many men find it a daunting task, one which they rather get over with as soon as possible. However, take care; it is equally as important for men to choose wisely to ensure lasting satisfaction for their wedding day and beyond.
- Keep in mind the colour scheme of your attire
- Keep in mind the occasion for which you are buying
- Fit for comfort as well as for style
- Leather is better for dress shoes
- Examine the grain of the shoe, although blemishes are characteristic of leather it should generally be smooth and supple
- Examine the linings, men’s shoes have a lot of lines of stitching and edges which would prove uncomfortable if not correctly finished.
- Inspect the seams for loose ends
- Check the sole stitching for smoothness and correct sole channel recession. Exposed stitching will wear quickly
- Make sure the heels are supportive but with the correct height and thickness to balance and compliment your attire.
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| SHOE COLOUR |
SUIT/PANTS COLOUR GUIDE |
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Black |
Grey |
Wine |
White |
Earth |
Khaki |
Green |
Tan |
Navy |
Blue |
| BLACK |
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| GREY |
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| BURGUNDY |
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| CAMEL |
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| TAN |
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| BROWN |
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| WHITE |
Generally it is said that white goes with everything but be careful in your use. White shoes with a black suit is not suitable for the average business environment but may work for a dressy affair; if your feet are above a certain size or the suit/pants fit is slender, white with black attire may give you a "bigfoot" look.
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| Please note that the success of your colour selection is also largely dependant on your choice of accessories and any tones or highlights which may exist in the suit fabric. |
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