The 5 Essential Men's Dress Shoes For Every Wardrobe

A Minimalist, Core Wardrobe For All Occasions

Flexibility, versatility, ease of wear. The cornerstones of a good wardrobe for the modern man.

Investing in a few good pairs of shoes is just as important as getting clothes that fit. In combination with good grooming and personal hygiene, you can elevate your appearance and confidence to a whole new level.

Ideally, there are 5 dress shoes that you should invest in, depending on your location and social situations. Let's talk about them.

1. A Black Cap-Toe Oxford

If you had to choose one pair of shoes, it would most likely be the Black Oxford.

The Black Oxford has been the cornerstone of a man's wardrobe for 200 years. A formal shoe, combined with a formal color will work for your most important occasions.

It works with pretty much every color, including Navy Blue and Charcoal Grey among others. You can wear it in a Black Tie Event, Wedding, Funeral, Graduation or in a Business Formal/Casual environment.

Even if you don't usually wear suits or formal clothes, there will be an occasion in the future that requires you to look your best.

At The Noble Shoe I always make sure to have Black Oxfords available. My personal pick would be one of the best looking black oxfords out there: The Carlos Santos 9899 Handgrade Black Oxford.

2. A Dark Brown Cap-Toe Oxford or Cap-Toe Derby

Dark Brown is yet another fantastic color that goes with mostly everything (except from black and dark grey).

Depending on your taste and work, you have the freedom of choosing between a Dark Brown Cap-Toe Oxford or Derby. Both will work excellent, though the Derby might be a bit more appropriate for Smart Casual wear.

You can go for the best of both worlds and introduce some broguing or faux broguing, such as the wonderful Carlos Santos 9393 Austerity Brogue.

Alternatively, look no further than the 9899 Handgrade Oxford which is available also in Dark Brown.

3. A Dark Brown Grain/Suede Chukka Boot

Chukka Boots are the most versatile casual shoes out there, helping you dress down or up any smart outfit.

They are stylish, comfortable and easy to wear and an iconic piece of footwear popularized with desert boots.

I would recommend adding some texture with a Dark Brown Scotchgrain Chukka or a Dark Brown Suede version. Both are tough, durable leathers that handle rain very well (even suede!) and will help you look smart and stylish.

There's a variety to choose from but I would recommend starting with the core collection of the Carlos Santos 7991 in Dark Brown Scotchgrain or the Carlos Santos 7991 in Dark Brown Suede.

4. A Pair Of Chelsea Boots

The Beatles wore them, the Stormtroopers wore them, that should say enough!

One of the most stylish, easy to wear and comfortable shoes out there is the Chelsea Boot. You simply cannot go wrong with a pair of these.

You can also choose from a variety of colors depending on your preference or the colors of your wardrobe. Black, Dark Brown or Oxblood is an excellent choice.

At The Noble Shoe you can find 3 excellent options (and even more via the Made to Order Program):

• Carlos Santos 7902 in Dark Brown Patina
• Carlos Santos 9978 in Black Calf
• Carlos Santos CS140 in Black Calf
  

For those looking for a luxury proposal, you can check our Crockett & Jones range of shoes.

5. A Pair of Black/Dark Brown Double Monk Straps

This is a choice that depends entirely on you and can be interchanged with the bonus section.

Monk Strap shoes actually have a history of hundreds of years, all the way back to actual monks. They are comfortable and very easy to wear and put on. Most importantly, they are a very good blend of formal and casual allowing for frequent wear and pairings.

Again, the color depends on your preference but Black and Brown will always be the standout choices. If you are looking for a bit more adventurous colors for your last pick, you can choose our excellent Wine Shadow Color.

Otherwise check out the handsome Carlos Santos 9975 in Black Calf.

Bonus Pick: Penny Loafers

I understand how Monk Straps might not be everyone's cup of tea.

Thankfully, there is an alternative with the classic Penny Loafer. A style of shoe that is more like a slip-on and very popular in warmer climates such as Italy during the summer months.

It's a style that is more about leisure and comfort and less about business. I do not consider it an essential per se, but it is a very welcome addition to a growing wardrobe.

Conclusion

To conclude, you should be slowly building up a versatile, interchangeable wardrobe of colors and clothes that work together seamlessly.

Depending on your lifestyle and work, you can use those 5 recommendations above to build an unbeatable modern wardrobe that will net you a ton of compliments.

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments! What are your go-to shoes?