Choosing the right shoes is an important decision that will have a fundamental influence on our look. At first glance, it may seem like a simple task, but it is not so easy if we want to combine elegance and modernity.
Choosing the right footwear can provide the extra touch that any formal look needs, but if we make a mistake, it can ruin the whole outfit.
Choosing the right shoes is an important decision that will have a fundamental influence on our look. At first glance, it may seem like a simple task, but it is not so easy if we want to combine elegance and modernity.
Choosing the right footwear can provide the extra touch that any formal look needs, but if we make a mistake, it can ruin the whole outfit.
In order to combine them in the most appropriate way, we must first know the number of options we have at our disposal:
Without closure:
– Moccasins: Loafers are a fairly common option for dressing up. They are shoes that do not require closure, laces or buckles, but we must know which of the following three models we are using to determine whether it is appropriate or not.
TASSEL: This is the most formal type of loafer, as it has a higher, more closed shape. It is suitable for wearing with suits, but it is much more appropriate to wear them with dress pants or jeans.
PENNY: They are characterized by having a kind of mask as an ornament on the upper part of the tongue. It is a model suitable for wearing with a morning suit, for everyday use, but it is usually used more for looks with jeans, less formal.
BEEFROLL: It is almost identical to the previous model, but more modern and currently the most used.
– Opera Pumps: This is a model specific to tuxedos, characterized by its patent leather slipper shape with a silk bow. This shoe dates back to the 18th century.
– Slippers: This is the other model that is suitable for wearing with a tuxedo, even though they were created as slippers for the aristocracy. This shoe is made of velvet and has luxurious embroidery on the vamp.
The lace-up shoe:
– Prussian seam: This model is considered the most formal, and is characterised by the two flaps that incorporate the laces, sewn onto the front of the shoe along with the tongue. Its use is reserved for occasions that require great formality in dress.
Within this type of sewing we find 4 models:
OXFORD: It is the most formal footwear of all
LEGATE: This model can be considered the closest substitute to the previous one on formal occasions where a morning coat or suit is required.
SEMI-BROGUE:This footwear cannot be combined with a morning coat, although it allows the use of a suit or simply jeans and a shirt.
FULL-BROGUE: This model is the least formal of this couture, it is an elegant model, and it would not be bad to combine it with a suit, but if possible, it is advisable to reserve it for less formal situations.
– English seam: The main difference with this type of stitching is that the flaps are sewn on top of the front part of the shoe, unlike the previous stitching which had a lower seam. The closure is also with laces, but the tongue is an extension of the front part of the shoe and not an added part as in the previous case.
There are three models based on this stitching:
DERBY OR BLUCHER: This model can be considered a more relaxed version of the OXFORD, more comfortable for daily use with a suit.
CROMWELL: This is very similar to the Semi-Brogue, but with English stitching, so it has the same utility, although somewhat more informal.
GRAFTON: This shoe has a more informal shape than the Full-Brogue. It is an elegant but informal shoe, normally combined with jeans and a shirt, and offers a more casual touch.
Buckle shoes:
This type of footwear cannot be combined with a morning coat, so it should not be worn in a very formal situation. As it has buckles, they should be shown off so that the shoe does not look excessively plain.
