A question for the shoe mavens, Matt Deckard, et al

[chucklehead]

(For men)
When do I wear pointy shoes? Round toed shoes? & Sqaure toed shoes?
thanks much.

[Marc Chevalier]

You decide. All three types of toes have been popular at various times for various shoes, be they casual or formal. There's no hard and fast rule about this. (Well, maybe one: don't wear extremely pointed or extremely square toed shoes for business or black tie.)


If we're talking about colors, types of leathers, shapes and thicknesses of soles and heels, and shapes of uppers ... all of those are more governed by the "rules." Toe shape, for the most part, is not.


Yours truly,

Mr. Et Al

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[chucklehead]

If we're talking about colors, types of leathers, shapes and thicknesses of soles and heels, and shapes of uppers ... all of those are more governed by the "rules."

what rules are those?

[Marc Chevalier]

Mr. Et Al replies:


Those rules (for whatever they're worth) say that heavy shoes with heavy soles are for the countryside and the weekends, not for business. (The '60s and '70s forgot this rule when legions of middle management types began wearing massively heavy wingtip brogues in the boardroom.)

The rules also say that dress shoes for business and evening should have lighterweight soles, moderate heels, not-too-thick calfskin uppers, and a curved, streamlined (but not overly square or pointy) shape.



Now Chucklehead, could you stop calling me "et al"? Thanks!


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[chucklehead]

Mr. Et Al replies:
Now Chucklehead, could you stop calling me "et al"? Thanks!
.

how about just "al" then?

[Marc Chevalier]

Aw, heck: just call me "Matt Deckard."

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[Orgetorix]

Answer: Wear any of them you like, but go for subtle, not extreme, versions of the various shapes. Extremely square shoes look clunky, very pointed ones look effeminate, and overly round ones can look bulbous. So go with styles that are elegant and vary subtly.

For an example of what I'm talking about, go to British shoemaker Gaziano & Girling's website. On the main page, click "shoes," then "made to order," then "last designs." Look at the shapes of the toes and how they're described vis-a-vis one another. You can see none of them are extreme. These are the sort of styles that have been most common and considered most representative of masculine elegance for decades.

[chucklehead]

thanks for your kind answer. i guess the answer is always go understated.
less is more that kind of thing.

Answer: Wear any of them you like, but go for subtle, not extreme, versions of the various shapes. Extremely square shoes look clunky, very pointed ones look effeminate, and overly round ones can look bulbous. So go with styles that are elegant and vary subtly.

For an example of what I'm talking about, go to British shoemaker Gaziano & Girling's website. On the main page, click "shoes," then "made to order," then "last designs." Look at the shapes of the toes and how they're described vis-a-vis one another. You can see none of them are extreme. These are the sort of styles that have been most common and considered most representative of masculine elegance for decades.

[cookie]

Notice Orgetorix didn't tell you to buy any unless you have the "billete largo".

[Orgetorix]

Notice Orgetorix didn't tell you to buy any unless you have the "billete largo".

Yes, they're quite expensive. I love the look of them, but I doubt I'll ever own any.