College is over, and the real world is calling. You’re building a career, making an income, and are on the verge of building an entirely new network of friends and colleagues. Appearances matter, and shoes in particular are noticed surprisingly often. So if you thought you could get away with those cheap looking black leather shoes you bought for your fraternity formal, think again.
Buying dress shoes can be a daunting process, but as a young professional, it isn’t too hard to avoid making these 7 obvious mistakes.
1. Avoid Excessive Stitching and Brogues
Brogues are those little perforation patterns you see on some dress shoes. Unless you want to look like a 60 year old on purpose, stay away from shoes with Brogues or excessive stitching. While some wearers manage to take the overly intricate detail of these shoes and pair them with socks and outfits that give off a hip modern look, it’s a completely unnecessary and risky level of effort. Don’t risk Brogues, even quarter Brogues and be cognizant about excessive stitching as well.
2. Square Toed Shoes
The square toed shoe tombstone reads some date in 2012. It’s not universally hated, and some designers have managed to pull it off, but generally speaking, the square toed shoe has largely become a common component of a fashion train wreck. Whether there is any rhyme or reason squared toed shoes have become the butt of many a fashion joke isn’t particularly relevant: The square toed shoe is officially a fashion faux pas and should be avoided.
3. Rubber Soles
Rubber soles have their place, but if you’re looking for an all purpose dress shoe, steer of rubber soles. While they are more durable, they are considerably less formal and elegant. Furthermore, rubber soled shoes often protrude excessively which brings us to Faux Pas number 4:
4. Shoes Without Tight Soles
One of the easiest dress shoe mistakes to make is buying a shoe with too big a sole. In addition, soles that protrude too far outwards from the shoe and around the toe cap make a shoe look cheap and amateurish. Many dress shoes will have a sole that protrudes a small amount as a thicker sole increases longevity, but there’s little point in a long lasting ugly shoe you shouldn’t be wearing in the first place! The shoes pictured below are a good example of a tight soled shoe:
5. High Heels
Dress shoes aren’t intended for a 70s disco party, so don’t pick shoes that would fit into one. Heel height should be around 1″ and never exceed 1.5″. Not only does an excessively high heel look unprofessional, it can impact the fit of your pants. The extra height gained by a high heeled shoe just isn’t worth it.
6. Non Leather Materials
Leave crocodile skin for attention seeking B-list celebrities. As a young professional, you want to appear professional. Leather material is not only the most versatile for a variety of occasions, it’s the most professional. Furthermore, avoid unusual colors: dark browns and blacks are the most useful and can be worn with the largest variety of suits and pants. Don’t venture out to reptile skins or even suede until you have a solid leather option on your shoe rack. This isn’t to say there is never a place for Reptile skin, but don’t show up to an interview with a pair of shoes like these unless you’re auditioning for an 80s hair metal band:
7. Uncomfortable Shoes
Your shoes can look great, but if they are uncomfortable, you won’t want to wear them, much less walk in them. Appearances matter, but looking uncomfortable isn’t a great look either. Make sure shoes you wear fit snugly but not too tightly, aren’t painful on the heel or the toes, and ideally don’t require a shoehorn to squeeze into them. Always evaluate comfort with both shoes on. Most people have slightly different sized feet!
Don’t Ignore Your Personal Touch
While we hope this article helps you choose the right dress shoe, we don’t think anyone shouldn’t leave their own personal touch on their fashion purchases. Fortunately, the world of dress shoes is broad enough to give you ample maneuvering room to express your own individuality and style without compromising well established fashion guidelines.
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