Need formal/semi formal shoe advice
Hi everyone!
Planning a wardrobe overhaul after not buying many stuff for years.
I have recently ordered my first suit (3pc) - getting it stitched from this fabric, a shade of gray - I don't have any normal/formal shoes to go along. I just have a pair of new balance running shoes lol
Are black or tan shoes recommended for this? And should it be an oxford or a derby? Any other suggestions? I'd love it if there's a bit more space at the toebox for comfort but I'm not sure if that's even possible.
Also when are loafers recommended to use? A friend of mine told me to get a loafer as well - but not sure when and when not to use it
Thanks!
5 Replies
My thoughts are:
For formal use as a 3 piece suit, get a pair of black cap-toe Oxfords
If you want slightly less formal option then loafers can be a great way to do that (drop the vest to make it a 2 piece), and maybe a pair of dark brown penny loafers or similar. Black loafers are also good but might be nice to have brown as an alternative option to the black oxfords
For specific suggestions you probably wanna give a rough location / country and your upper budget limit
Out of curiosity - how long do oxfords last?
The last time I wore them was when I was in school over a decade ago and they were cheap so they would tear from the creases after a couple of years, is that normal or was that because of the low quality?
basically I'm not sure how much I should be spending on shoes - if they would last a long time, I'm okay with spending 250-300$ on the shoe to go with formal 3 piece suit and maybe 100-150$ on the loafers? is this a work-able budget?
My current location is India - I plan to move to US next year but if I can shop and get stuff here cheap before I move there, that's what I plan to do (same with the bespoke suit)
That sounds like a fine budget, and yeah you should be able to get ones that last longer than a couple of years in that range!
I'll wait and let some others chip in with brand recs then since my knowledge is mostly UK shopping :)
Sure, thanks for your feedback!
Loake, a UK traditional shoe maker, make a fair bit of their footwear in India to a high standard. If you can find them at local prices it might be a good option.