Five Types of Men' Shoes and What to Wear With Each

You spring for the best suit you can afford or some new clothes for that important social event and you blow the entire look by wearing the wrong pair of shoes. You may think that nobody cares about what you have on your feet but the right or the wrong shoes can turn a $1,000 suit into a colossal waist of money.

When deciding on a new pair of dress shoes, unless your a committed vegan, leather is the only way to go. It's also important to make sure you have the right belt to go along with your new shoes. Ideally your belt, also leather, should match the color of your shoes. You don't want to match up those great new dark brown oxfords with an oxblood or heaven forbid a black belt.

Do you know what the various styles are called and what goes with what? Here's a list of popular styles for men, what they look like and what to wear with each different style of men's shoe.

1. Oxfords

   

   Oxfords refer to any lace-up shoes that don't cover your ankle. You can find many different varieties and colors from which to choose.

   Black oxfords work great for semi-formal events and work perfectly with a pinstriped suit. It is hard to go wrong with a black pair of oxfords and a business suit.

   Brown oxfords fit nicely with everything from tweed or light suits and sport jackets to jeans or business casual khakis. Oxblood is another color that can really make a light suit shine. Oxblood is a very deep red, just don't forget to make sure you've got an oxblood belt to go with them.

2. Wingtips

   

   Wingtips are really just a special sort of oxford since they are typically lace-up shoes that don't cover your ankle, with the difference being the design of the toe. When viewed from above this toe cap style is “W” shaped and looks similar to a bird with extended wings, which is why the style is called “wingtips."

   This style is a classic when paired with a crisp white shirt, dark tie, business suit and to really make the look, suspenders rather than a belt. Well shined, black leather wingtips are a perfect conservative choice for a job interview, while a pair of brown suede wingtips are a nice way to dress up a pair of casual kakis.

3. The Derby

   

   Another type of shoe, very similar to the oxford is the derby. The difference between the two is simple, oxfords are typically closed laced, while the derby is open laced.

   Derby shoes are available in many different colors, including black, various shades of brown and even white.

   Derby shoes have an interesting history and are sometimes known as a Blücher, after 18th century Prussian general Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The general commissioned a boot with side pieces that lapped over the front to improve the footwear of his soldiers. His design was adopted by armies all across Europe, becoming a very popular sporting or hunting boot style in the middle of the nineteenth century.

4. Cap Toes

   

   Cap toes are another type of decorated oxford. What distinguishes a cap-toe shoe from a standard oxford is the additional band of leather covering the toe.

   The cap provides some extra flair and make these shoes go great with some upscale, stylish clothing.

5. Moc Toes

   

   Moc toes resemble moccasins and that's where the moc in moc toe comes from. These shoes can be quite comfortable and stylish and work best with casual clothing, perfect for being paired with jeans or kakis.