Shoes maketh the man

There is an old saying that you can tell a Gentleman’s worth by his shoes. During the sixteenth century, if a man was spotted wearing fancy shoes, especially with buckles on them, you knew he was of noble birth. Back then people were judged by their footwear, that may not be applicable now, but your choice of shoes will certainly let us know whether or not you have any style.

But nowadays with the multiple options to choose from, it can be tricky picking just the right one to complete your look. Whether it’s a formal or stylishly casual look you are going for, we’ve got you covered.

Every stylish man needs at least one or two pairs of dress shoes, take your pick from Oxfords through to Brogues.

When it comes to formal occasions, you can’t go wrong with a pair of Oxfords, one of the most classic shoe forms around. Incidentally, the Oxford is also known as a Balmoral. The classic Oxford features a vamp, which is the front section of the shoe where the ball of the foot meets the instep, sewn on top of the eyelets giving the shoe a rather formal classic look.

Another classic take on the Oxford are cap toes. These shoes are capped with an extra layer of leather around the toe creating additional detail. Last on our list are brogues – those holes weren’t originally meant to be decorative; they had a purpose! The holes were supposed to keep bog water from flooding your shoes while walking through the countryside.

With all the styles and brands out there, you still need to make an informed decision. As we all know you should never compromise on quality, especially with a dress shoe. A quality pair of dress shoes like our Jekyll & Hide range made from full-grain leather will last forever. Try either our classic Oxford or plain leather lace-up and while you are at it, don’t forget the classic brogue. The Jekyll & Hide brogues can easily swing from formal to casual and are a must for the winter season ahead.

Another stylish brand you will battle to beat is Florsheim, as they say, they have been crafting the finest men’s shoes since 1892. 120 years later and their promise of superior craftmanship is undisputed. Their classic leather shoes are available in a variety of styles and ooze Lord of the Manor elegance. The Kenmoor lace-up has soft leather uppers and a double leather sole, with its intricate pinking and perfing detail, you will wonder how you managed without them.

Now for that casual look, just because you’re going casual doesn’t mean you need to look any less stylish. Every man needs a pair of sneakers and fortunately, there is an abundance of choice, so you won't battle to find that perfect pair. They may have had their origins on the athletic field but they have come a long way since then!

When it comes to sneakers you can have your pick from advanced cushioned running shoes to those trendy basketball shoes. But let’s not forget the ever so stylish skate and tennis shoe – this style is one of our favourites as it takes any casual look up a notch.

Jekyll & Hide have upped the ante when it comes to the classic sneaker, its simply timeless. The anti-slip rubber soles paired with the full leather sock inner soles make it the perfect addition to your wardrobe. Available in tan, navy or black you won’t regret this purchase.

If you’re looking for something with a bit of flair then our Duca Del Cosmo range was made just for you.

These are the Picassos of the sneaker range, the design and colour combinations epitomise style and we haven’t even reached the craftmanship yet. If you are thinking Italian design, suede, soft leather and attention to detail, you are on the right track.

And to top it all, the Duca Del Cosmo golf shoes are guaranteed to lift anyone’s game but if not, we do guarantee you will be the most stylish out on the course.

Winter is around the corner and there isn’t a wardrobe out there that doesn’t need a new addition of the perfect pair of shoes.