The Shoe Manual

The top part of you may be stunningly well turned out, but do not turn a blind eye to the lower section. If your shoes make the wrong impression, who will care about the rest of you?

The shoes every man needs

The Black Shoe
Consider this your must-have safe-in-all-situations standby. You cannot go wrong with these shoes, regardless of the accompanying attire. For use at somber burials or job interviews, and everything in between.

The Brown Shoe
Less sophisticated, true, but that does not lessen its value. Brown shoes go well with navy blue or dark brown suits. Light brown shoes are more suitable with semiformal attire.

Loafers
They say that, for Americans, loafers are the official dress shoe. Even if you are not from the U.S., you can borrow the style, especially if you, like a friend of mine, continually say that you prefer to use English (Americanized, of course) over your mother tongue of Indonesian. Versatile, and can be used for dress-up or dress-down occasions.

Sneakers
Time to relax; sneakers are not just for a workout. By sneakers I mean canvas models, which pair well with jeans, bermudas or casual jackets.

The Evening Shoe
You need evening shoes like women require their trusty pair of Manolos. That is especially true if you rub shoulders with the well-heeled. Pick out a shiny lacquered pair or go for very unique ones to be worn with black-tie, which resembles a ballet shoe with a ribbon on the front. For the truly daring, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton offer golden formal shoes.

Classic Bucks
Wear with jeans or khakis; these shoes rank as a semi dress-up alternative to sneakers.

+ Samuel Mulia

Home