Shoes maketh the man

FASHION: Men's footwear trends are embracing colour and a move to a more relaxed approach, finds ROSEMARY Mac CABE

WHAT DO YOUR shoes say about you? And no, we’re not talking about the size – a time has come to move on from such base matters towards observations of a more philosophical nature. If shoes maketh the man – and according to Donna Sozio, author of Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers, they just might – it may be worth asking what your battered Converse say about you, where your deck shoes (a throwback to your rugby-playing, secondary-school days) fit in the grand scheme of your life and, crucially, what to pair with your slim-fit trousers to avoid being slagged by your local friendly five-a-siders.

A mere 10 years ago, men in business were expected to wear leather “dress shoes” to every meeting – they simply screamed (or so they were told) elegance and made the wearer appear slick, suave and in control. But we’ve moved on from a trend that seemed to last from the era of Don Draper to that of Donald Trump, and latest trends in men’s footwear have seen not only the embracing of colour but a move from smooth, shiny leather to a softer, more relaxed approach, with suede becoming the fabric du jour for men’s footwear.

For the coming summer season, suede makes sense and allows a thoroughly buttoned-up look, such as a suit or slacks’n’shirts combo, to take a slight breather. It’s the men’s version of the slept-on blow-dry – a “done” look that has had a chance to relax into itself.

Looking after your suede should be your first concern: protector spray should be used before each and every outing, and the fabric should be regularly brushed to maintain its soft texture.

Navy-blue loafers (€115 by Tommy Hilfiger) are a great choice for the more conservative gent who wishes to dip a toe in the waters of fashion without losing the run of himself entirely; their traditional design will be comforting, while navy is not too far from the conservative black of the office-working elite.

A brown pair (€160 from Office) offers a respectful nod towards seasonal espadrilles with their roped strip above the sole, while, again, the colour is conservative enough not to draw too many questioning glances from passersby.

If suits and ties are your daily wardrobe of choice – or, perhaps, of necessity – a nice way of dressing down your formalwear is available in the form of a pair of desert boots – soft, suede lace-up shoes with a thin sole. These boots (€38 from Next) won’t break the bank, and look as good with a suit as they will with a pair of slim-fit jeans or chinos (please, boys, relegate your bootcut jeans to the 1990s pile, along with that geometric-print sweater your mother bought you and your Brylcreem). Don’t be afraid to go sockless – there are very few outfits that won’t easily be ruined with the addition of some argyle socks.

There will always be men who, far from being unafraid to make a statement, are, in fact, determined to do so – and for you, the world of footwear is your proverbial oyster. You could test the waters with a colour-blocked look such that at right, from New Look, which combines brightly coloured slacks (€24.99) with a more traditional short-sleeved shirt (€11.99) and at-first-glance casual trainers (€24.99) for a very boyish, almost playful, aesthetic.

Summer, of course, will always point towards one particular pair of shoes: the sandal (or, if men’s magazines are to be believed, the “mandal” – let’s not have it catch on). Don’t wear yours with socks, even if you believe yourself to be playing the irony card, and please, look into getting a pedicure. They won’t paint your toenails fuchsia but will just make them fresh-air ready. These bandage-strap sandals (€100 by Kurt Geiger at Brown Thomas) are utilitarian enough to be unthreatening, while the pop of baby blue makes them a slightly more fun option than the trusty Birkenstock.

The mistake so many of us make is to consider the shoe the finishing point of the outfit when, in fact, dressing from the bottom up can make a world of difference. This summer, put your best foot forward.