platform shoe - A style of shoe featuring a thicker sole at the front; the heel is typically high to accommodate the higher height of the sole. Or maybe the sole is higher to accomodate a high heel.
brogue - A heavy, oxford-style shoe featuring pinked and perforated detailing. Many golf shoes are brogue in design.
Some stylish brogues for fall: Affordable and casual Fluevog (shown above), gorgeous Italian oxfords and luxe luxe luxury.
Apparently a writer at the Boston Globe has a problem with clown shoes. I’m partial to flashy, outsized footwear and clowns. I may be doubly offended.
I have no issue with Crocs. I’d rather see cheapish foam shoes covering American feet than cheap plastic flip-flops that bare all. Crocs are a bit weird, to be sure, and they should be worn with extremely casual clothes to places that are extremely casual (the beach, the grocery store, the dog park). I bought a pair of Crocs two years ago with the intention of attaching them to my pack with a carabiner for ready use as slip-on shoes at the end of a long hike. It was on such a journey when I learned Crocs float. Crocs are anti-microbial, which means they won’t stink (unlike other sockless footwear). I am in favor of shoes that can not, will not and do not get stinky.
That said, I saw Crocs Charms for sale and declared them one toke over the line. Too messy.
And I’m totally digging the Crocs ballerina flat-inspired shoe called Prima’s.
ballet flat - A flat shoe with a thin sole that resembles the shoes worn by ballerinas. This style sometimes includes ribbons that wind up the leg to tie in a bow or a strap at the ankle. It is also called a ballerina flat.
Guys, we need to talk. It’s about your shoes.
The rule used to be that a gentleman needed one pair each of black, brown and navy blue shoes, plus a formal pair for tuxedos as well as any resort or athletic needs. That color rule was lost somewhere along the way to Casual Friday, but the numbers hold true.
There are oodles of casual-to-upscale shoes on the market. Of note for the laid-back office dweller is what I call the hybrid. Hybrids are casual shoes with an athletic appeal. You wouldn’t hit the courts in these, but you will look hip at the office or bar if you pair these with jeans or pants.
Unless you’re at the gym, take off the athletic shoes. It’s not a good look, especially if your blaring white kicks are sticking out from dark jeans. A friend of mine went on a few dates with a guy but could not get past his white gym shoes. I don’t blame her.
Now I know you love that one pair of shoes, but don’t wear them every day. Wearing the same shoes is boring, makes them wear out quickly and brings the stink. Make your “most often worn” shoes the ones that have the best construction, seem the most durable and are the most comfortable. It’s OK to buy a second pair in the same style or brand but in a different color.
If you haven’t been measured for shoes for a while, it’s a good idea to do so. Feet can grow bigger or wider as we grow older, and sometimes we don’t realize the reason we hate all our shoes is that they don’t fit right. Keep in mind that feet are smallest in the morning but tend to swell as the day goes on or with lots of walking. Try on shoes at lunchtime for a happy medium.
Dress shoes are important, but if you aren’t wearing a suit every day these are your special occasion shoes. Don’t buy the cheapest dress shoes you can find and don’t wear with a tuxedo the same pair you bought for college graduation, either. These shoes don’t have to be as durable (read: expensive) as the shoes you wear to work or play, but they should be stylish. Trust me, your date will notice.
If you invest in a nice pair of leather shoes, keep up the maintenance and earn return on the investment. Have them polished, change frayed laces and get the soles replaced once they wear thin or become unbalanced. It’s a lot cheaper than a new buying a new pair. Classic, well-made shoes can last a decade or longer.
Realistically, three pairs of everyday shoes (plus athletic or special occasion kicks) is still a good rule. I don’t expect you to go into debt with a new shoe addiction. But when you see shoes you like, buy them. There is something sexy about a well-heeled man.
wedge - A heel that is as wide as the shoe itself and follows the shoe’s contour from the ball of the foot to the heel. The heel may be of any height.