Shoes Every Man Should Own

Why is that most people aren't aware of what shoes every man should own?

Why is that men think it's acceptable or attractive to wear clunky sneakers with their suits?

Why is it that men spend so much time on suit jackets, shirts, ties, only to forget about their shoes?

The truth is that shoes are often the most important of an outfit. And while this shouldn't be your primary reason for dressing well, women do notice a man's shoes before, say, his tie (unless his tie is extraordinarily garish). What's more, a pair of well constructed shoes will last you years, maybe even decades, with only minimal upkeep. It makes sense, then, to invest in quality shoes. To do that, though, you need to know what shoes every man should own.

Leather shoes need a day or two after they have been worn before they should be worn again in order to maximize their lifespan. This means you'll have to have at least two pairs of shoes. If you want variety, you'll need more. I think one pair of plain laceups in brown and one in black are essential. Then you'll want some more interesting shoes -- with brogueing, for example -- for less restrictively formal occassions. You'll probably want some casual leather shoes for wearing around town or to a casual office. All this leather can be a bit heavy, so some mens summer shoes will be a nice addition during the warmer months. Let's see where we stand:

• Brown or Cordovan Oxford Laceups
• Black Oxford Laceups
• Cordovan/Brown/Black Brogues or Wingtips
• Casual Leather Shoes such as Penny Loafers
• Summer Shoes

That brings us to five pairs of shoes at a minimum. If you want more variety, you'll need more shoes. However, five pairs will have you covered for most occassions.

Just knowing how many shoes every man should own is just the tip of iceberg -- that's why you should be familiar with some of your options.

These are the basic shoe of your wardrobe. This is your typical plain, black shoe. Wear them with black or dark grey suits. Do not wear them light suits and do not pair them with a dark navy suit. While you don't really need more than one pair if you have a variety of suits, it's best to have two pairs so that you can wear dark suits two days in a row.

The brown counterpart to the black oxford laceup, wear these with lighter suits, such as grey and light grey, and navy suits. These are considered somewhat less formal than black oxfords and usually have more decorative features. Again, two pairs is best, but one is acceptable too. One note: never, ever wear brown shoes with a black suit. Ever.

I love monk strap shoes, and while I have a pair of black monk strap shoes, I got a good deal on them and would recommend getting a brown pair if possible. This is because brown monk straps work best with lighter suits which are often considered more casual than their black or dark grey counterparts. Monk straps fasten with -- as you may have guessed -- straps as opposed to laces and are often more comfortable to wear than oxford laceups. Only one pair is really needed and can be worn casually around town or to the office.

The brogue is a classic oxford decorated with holes punched into the joins and edges. This gives the plain oxford a bit of flair which makes them more interesting and more casual. You can wear these with or without a jacket and its a good idea to alternate them with your monk straps and loafers for wearing around town or in the country.

Penny loafers are probably the most casual leather shoe you can find. I prefer brown loafers because, again, they work better with more casual outfits. Black loafers work with a few casual outfits but you'll get more use out of brown loafers. You can pair these with chinos or jeans around the house or on a warm day. Also, this is a matter of personal taste, but I recommend going sockless with loafers.

1. Men's Summer Shoes

2. Puma Mens Shoes