7 Shoes Every Man Needs

To answer your first question, Yes. I own way more than 7 pairs of shoes. Working for Merrell Footwear has made paying full price for a pair of shoes extremely difficult. As an avid purger of possession, a look through my closet got me thinking about what shoes I would keep around if I were forced to consolidate. I created a list below containing the 7 types of shoes I believe every man needs in his closet.

Driver Mocs

My Pair: Born’s Marcus Driver Mocs

These are the bread and butter of shoes. Any man can look stylish and casual on-the-go in these bad puppies. I honestly go through a pair of these a year with how much use they get at work and when I travel. They are easy to pack if you need to store them and fast to slip on!

 

 

 

Brown Leather Cap-toes

My Pair: Johnston & Murphy Conard Cap Toe

The brown leather cap toe is a gold standard in the business world. These shoes look great with dress pants and slacks alike. I tend to wear these with funky socks, nice khaki pants, and a plaid button down for my business casual outfits.

 

 

Business Casual Boots

My Pair: Crevo Boots

Boots might be my favorite of the bunch. Boots are synonymous with fall, football, flannel, Cider mills, and my Levi’s. I personally like to have boots I can wear out to the bar and to the office. Crevo and Timberland are my favorite boot brands, but there are plenty of good bargain brands out there as well.

 

 

 

Black Dress Wingtips

My Pair: Hush Puppies Style Brogue

These are your black-tie, special occasions, I want to look like James Bond shoes. These could be either cap-toe or wingtips. I just choose to live life on the wild side. Although these shoes aren’t the workhorse of the group, they are your formal go-to’s.

 

 

Athletic shoes

My Pair: Brooks Launch 2’s

These are your workout, extra-curricular, active lifestyle shoes. I normally go for Nike or Asics when it comes to active footwear, but having friends in the shoe business I tried out Brooks Launch 2’s. I have to tell you I LOVE these shoes. Super light, form to my feet, and are great for mid to long distance runs. They come in some pretty awesome colors as well.

 

 

Sporty Casual

My Pair: New Balance 574 Sweatshirt

For casual sporty comfort look no further than this shoe category. I love my New Balances in both comfort and appearance. You can wear these with jeans or sweatpants, for long walks or hang out at the bar. My other favorite brands in this category are Van’s and Nike.

 

Summer Boat Shoes

My Pair: Sebago Boat Shoes

This is the oldest pair of shoes in the group, and I actually need to buy a more summery pair. Black isn’t always the best color for shoes that you normally slip out of and let sit in the hot sun. I personally prefer the staple brown Sperry’s, but don’t be afraid to get wild. Wear these on a boat, to the beach, or a casual stroll through the city and look stylish with ease.

 

Let me know if you agree, disagree, or have suggestions by commenting or tweeting me @evbtuesdays. Shoes help the world get around, and I hope you spread the word of my 7 must have shoes if you enjoyed this article.

Keep it casual until next Tuesday!

EVB