Suited But Not Booted Learn How To Pick The Right Formal Shoe For You At Masdingscom

It's a typical situation, and one that a lot of men find themselves in all too regularly. You've nailed the suit to a tee. You've picked the best shirt and tie combo going, and even cherry picked your accessories to create the most complete look the world has EVER seen. But wait. Something's missing. You weren't honestly thinking about just chucking on your work shoes with that suit were you? Here at Masdings.com, we've got a huge range of designer footwear, perfectly suited to your look no matter what the occasion- need a few words of advice on which shape to wear with what suit? Want to know if tan and navy really do go? Read on, and find a few words of wisdom to help you really nail your formal look this season.

The right shoe for the job

The title says it all. Make sure that the shoe you go for is up to the job- this includes both comfort and style. There's no point in wearing a pair of shoes that look good, but you can't walk in, is there?

Dressing for a sharp look

If you're wearing a standard tapered fit 2 or 3 button fastened suit, you'll have a well tailored, sharp silhouette. Make sure your shoes match this and go for a style with slight point; but don't take it too far- no one wants to go out in a pair of winkle pickers. Try a Ted Baker Bly5 shoe for a classic slip on, or opt for the Ted Baker Patrii shoe if you'd rather have a lace. Both give a sleek shape to your foot, and offer a flush leather finish. Fancy something with a similar shape but a touch more detail? The Ted Baker Nenoi gives the same profile but offers a brogue and punching detail. Wearing shoes with added details is very much a personal choice, however, this can often look more effective on a look that uses a shirt and tie combination to add some interest. On a similar look, but with less detailing, is the Lacuzzo half brogue. This leather/suede mix shoe gives a touch of extra texture to your look, and works perfectly with greys and blacks. Finally, for a slim fitting suit, try the Ted Baker Cirek shoe. Finished entirely in suede, this shoe features classic brogue detailing as well as a patterned sole. This shoe can work in two ways; as a great contrast against darker colours, like navy and dark grey, or as a tonal shade when put with a light grey.

Keeping it classic

Every now and then, it's nice to take a step away from the standard 3 piece suit and venture into something a little more classic-for those of you discovering the joys of a Double Breasted suit, you may well have also found the joys of finding shoes to match it… Unlike a sharper cut suit, a Double Breasted suit jacket gives more of a wider fit on the body, meaning that a pointed shoe just won't look right. Try the Base Barcelona brogue as a more than able accomplice to your Double Breasted suit. The chunkier sole unit and classic brogue styling tie in perfectly with this iconic style. Don't be tricked into thinking a classic chunky brogue is just for this style of suit though. They are especially useful for lads with broader chests, or anyone just opting for a more classic style.

Colour myths

Shoe colours always have, and always will divide opinion, however, if you stick to this golden rule, you can't go too far wrong: Nothing will ever be as smart as a pair of well polished black shoes. As far as anything else goes, it can be case of mix and match. Try different colours with your outfit. Go for tan with a light grey, try a dark brown with a navy. Remember as well, you will get more wear out of a tan or brown shoe by wearing them more casually with indigo denim.

Ryan J Gray