Shoes and Footwear

A great pair of shoes is very much like an expensive and comfortable bed – an item miscast by many people as a luxury when in reality it is a staple item and should be purchased as such. Much like an expensive and supportive bed will provide the user with health benefits and a better rest – a well-made pair of shoes offers the same benefits to one's health as well as lasting a great deal longer than their shoddier counterparts due to higher quality construction. And in today's era, comfort and style are no longer mutually exclusive.

Dress Shoes

While Aldo, Spring, and Payless Shoesource are probably some of the most common chains in the footwear market – they often do not carry brands of quality and substitute flashy product with little to no construction value. While brand name may mean nothing beyond a cosmetic difference in some realms, in footwear it really does matter a great deal due to the amount of time we all spend on our feet. Some affordable brands a gentleman should search for in a quality dress shoe might be Clark's, Bostonian, or Geox – though some designer brands such as Kenneth Cole are also quite well suited for wear.

With regard to style, a man should always consider colour and styling. Both black and brown are must-have colours in dress shoes or dress boots, black is a better match for a black garment while brown shoes are actually a bit more versatile and are an excellent compliment to navy, grey, brown, and tan suits. Brown is also typically a much better match for denim jeans, and as such are more valuable when considering them for casual wear.

Toe shape is becoming especially varied amongst men's shoes; men are eschewing the omnipresent rounded toe for varieties in square cut and even Italian-cut shoes with aggressively pointed toes. Shorter men should avoid the flashier pointed toe varieties at all costs at the risk of looking like a Christmas elf, or even worse, that you are wearing clown shoes. Square-toed dress boots are becoming increasingly popular and look great both formally and informally.

Sidewalk Surfers, a New Casual Style

An very interesting recent offering in the world of men's casual footwear would have to be Sanuk's product line – an interesting creation that they term the “sidewalk surfer”. Starting with a well made sandal sole with a rugged shoe upper stitched on top, Sanuk offers a sandal that looks like a cool, casual shoe that can be worn with shorts or jeans alike. Supported by such California surfing icons as Donavon Frankenreiter – Sanuks are very much in style and for good reason.

For the winter months, or for those who prefer a warmer shoe, Sanuk also offers a great many styles such as the Low Dawn, Sherlock, or Watson that are lined with shearling, or sheep's wool – in some cases with a tough and weatherproof lug exterior. Younger men who are looking for a neat alternative to flip flops or staid sandals should really look at this product line as they offer dozens of neat, alternative stylings alongside a very positive and personable business model.

Comfort, Quality, Style

The most important thing to remember when purchasing a pair of shoes is that above all else, they should be of a premium construction, fit correctly, and befit the style you are trying to adopt. Cheap shoes may look nice for the first week, but will quickly erode in appearance – and even more importantly, will erode in support and comfort

Most men should own a fair selection of shoes: at least two dress shoes or boots in black and brown, as well as a few pairs of casual shoes and athletic runners for the more active among us. A well-made and stylish pair of shoes will not only show that you take the initiative when it comes to your image, but also when it comes to your health.

Source : http://mensfashion.suite101.com/article.cfm/mens_style_and_fashion_guide_shoes_footwear