Shoes
Mens Shoes
The cost of mens shoes seems to be continually increasing, and currently it seems difficult to find a good quality pair of mens shoes at a reasonable price.
In essence, a lot of the time you will be paying for a brand name or a label, but does this necessarily mean that the shoes are of a higher quality, and that they will give you better value? Is it possible to look at things from another angle and get a good quality pair of mens shoes at a reasonable price? In this article, we'll examine how to find the best value shoes, and assist with some recommendations.
As an aside worth mentioning before we go any further - know your shoe size! Have your feet measured at the next available opportunity. Not correctly knowing shoe size seems to be a very common factor amongst most men.
Purchasing an incorrectly sized shoe can result in serious long term damage to your feet, and can have substantial repercussions on your posture and spine.
When we are looking at value for mens shoes we are essentially looking at a number of factors, which will be outline below.
1. Durability. This is perhaps not the first thing that will come to mind when considering the purchase of a new pair of mens shoes, however this will be key in providing you with excellent value for money. You'll need a pair of shoes that will not only look good, but will wear well. To fully understand the durability of your shoes, you need to understand the materials that they are made from. This might seem a bit of a hassle, but if it can save you a couple of hundred dollars, believe me it's worth it.
Buy shoes that are full leather, with a strong, thick leather sole. Unless, of course, you're buying trainers or sports shoes. If you're unsure of the composition of the shoe, ask the sales person. The sales person should also be able to give you indications of how durable each shoe is - however, remember that they are there to sell to you so don't rely on everything that they say.
2. Style. Mens shoes with pointy toes? Flat toes? Patterns on the sides? Higher heels? There are a whole range of styles available for mens shoes and some of these can be quite 'out there'. In general, dependant on the situation in which you're going to be wearing the shoe, it's best to purchase an understated, style. You'll need at lease one pair of these in your wardrobe, and will probably find that you'll get the most use out of them. The less radical the shoes are, the more likely they are to stand the test of time - thus providing your with the highest value. However, keep in mind that shoes can often be a reflection of your personality, so if you are comfortable with a shoe that has a little more embellishment on it, feel free to go with it. Remember though, what is in fashion one day is out the next.
3. Colour. Often misjudged, colour is an essential part of choosing any shoes. No, you can’t just wear any colour of mens shoe with any outfit. You’ll need to think carefully about what colour goes with which outfit. As a failsafe, buy black shoes. These will go with just about anything you currently have in your wardrobe. As far as formal mens shoes go, there are basically two other choices, as well as a combination of the three. If you’re buying white shoes, you can wear these with a white suit (if you must) or, they can make a nice contrast with a black suit. Camel shoes should be worn with intermediate colours, such as a grey suit. Hopefully you don’t have any powder blue suits in your wardrobe, so we don’t need to go into what kinds of mens shoes to wear with those.
The above tips should make it a little easier for you to purchase shoes. If you have any more specific questions, please feel free to email us. Some of the better, more reputable online suppliers of mens shoes are listed on this page, please pay them a visit and let us know what you think.