One of the things I always stress to my style students is attention to detail. No matter where you go, make sure you’ve got the right outfit and that you’re always trying to make a statement.

But what about when you’re going out to a beach (either for a walk or to get a tan)? If you’ve never thought about what to wear in such situations… it’s time.

This article will focus particularly on flip-flops, then I’m going to give you some suggestions of what to wear with them.

Yes, you’re absolutely right. There are plenty of summer choices out there, such as sandals, espadrilles, boat shoes and other types of moccasins. But flip-flops are cool and I’ll tell you why.

First off, flip-flops will give you that casual vibe that you should project when going to a casual encounter. Have you ever seen guys go to the beach in leather shoes? Scary, isn’t it? I always pictured them walking with them through sand – FAIL.

Which brings me to my first point about flip-flops:

Where?

Wear them:

- at the beach
- at a family picnic
- at a barbecue
- in an Aquapark

Don’t wear them:

- in restaurants
- when going out to a bar, club or just out

As you can see, flip-flops have a pretty narrow set of situations where they’re appropriate. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be thinking about what what kind to get and how to match them. Which leads us to…

What fabric should my flip-flops be?

This is an easy one. First choice is leather, second choice is rubber.

You would think leather is inappropriate for hot summer days but leather flip-flops are an exception. Leather means quality and a quality flip-flop is what you’re after. Your foot won’t have any trouble breathing because flip-flops have excellent air circulation (due to their construction), so that’s not a problem.

If you can’t find any leather flip-flops and you’re no the run, it’s OK to go for rubber or some other kind of synthetic fabric. These won’t be as durable as leather ones but they will be cheaper.

How to match them with the rest of the outfit?

Before I would purchase my flip-flops, I would have in mind the clothes I’ll be wearing them with. I’d try to have flip-flops complete my avatar in some way.

Example. I have a military khaki polo shirt, a pair of khaki shorts, a beige baseball cap and a pendant that has US Army written on it. Can you guess which avatar I’m wearing? Yep, it’s military.

Now, what flip-flops should I be wearing? If your answer was “the ones in the first picture from this article”, you’re absolutely right.

Say you’re wearing a blue and white t-shirt with blue or white short. It only makes sense to get some flip-flips in those colors. Something like this:

Warning about matching your flip-flops

I know you look at the above picture and you think that blue color stands out a lot. But, when you wear them, all the entire sole will be hidden below your foot so most of the blue color will not be there. This is important to keep in mind when matching them with the rest of your outfit.

Where to get them

There’s always the option to get them right when you’re on your way to the beach, but then you won’t have the luxury of getting exactly what you want. You can find Flip Flops for the Summer at JD in their virtual store, where you can get both the flip-flops in the 2 pictures above and many other fantastic models.

I’ve talked a lot about leather shoes and why they’re the number one option for a stylish outfit. I’ve even taken it one step further and discussed some unusual models, such as monk strap and saddle shoes.

But these leather shoes have one BIG problem: they become uncomfortable after walking in them for a few hours. Now, if it’s autumn or spring, you don’t have much of a choice. But if it’s summer, guess what?

There are a number of summer shoes available and plimsolls are one of them. They’re comfy, they’re trendy and you can get them for less than $50.

Why are plimsolls so great?

Plimsolls, when part of the right outfit, will give you that laid back look that you should project all summer long. While plimsolls are considered a type of athletic shoe, it’s ok to wear them in casual situations.

Matching your plimsolls

Needless to say, you need to match them with the rest of your outfit. Let’s take this model from Very.co.uk:

This will go great with a white canvas belt. Since you’re putting together a casual look, a thick belt is the only way to go.

The secret to matching plimsolls is to repeat the color on the canvas. if they have blue, repeat the blue on your pants or t-shirt. Color repetition is a must when putting together a stylish outfit.

If you get a pair with two colors on them, make sure you repeat both of them in your outfit.

Taking care of your plimsolls

The biggest problem plimsolls have is the white rubber sole, which gets dirty very easily. What I recommend is to wash the sides of the sole with a moist cloth after each wear. if you don’t do this, in time, that white will eventually turn to grey.

photo: http://blog.leffot.com/

We all know that shoes make the man. We discussed shoes in some pretty in-depth articles in the past and we know they’re crucial to any outfit.

But what most men don’t know is that there are a few types of shoes that are out there. They’re entire purpose is to stand out on their own through unusual decorations and colors. Best part: there’s nothing weird or funny about them. They will make you look like a man… a man who knows what he wants.

White brogues

Shoe colors are not that many but, by far, the one that will make you stand out the most is white (note: white is a non-color, by the way, along with black).

Check this pair of white brogues:

photo: http://blog.leffot.com/

If you’re out picking up some ladies in the street, this is perfect to project that confident image women are so much attracted to. White brogues can also work well in clubs but, because of the dim light and the chance of getting stepped on every 5 minutes, I’d avoid wearing them in these venues.

What to wear them with

Go ahead and wear them with a pair of simple jeans – they will be the centerpiece of your attire. I’d avoid wearing them with fancy jeans that are overloaded with cuts and fancy pockets. You’d be mixing a piece of clothing that’s too formal with one that’s too casual – doesn’t work.

Just go for a pair of jeans (they can be blue, black grey, you name it because white goes well with anything).

One thing that I would add to an outfit that has white brogues is a dress shirt. I wouldn’t wear brogues with just jeans and a t-shirt. Shirts are more formal than t-shirt so you’d have a better balance of formal and casual in your outfit.

Saddle shoes

photo: http://blog.leffot.com/

Did you get an a-ha moment when you saw the pair above? They look really really good and Leffot.com assures us they are of the highest quality.

Saddle shoes are casual shoes. If you’re out to relax and have some fun, you should definitely wear them.

While this pair has a mixture of brown and black, which most people don’t like seeing together in the same attire, I think it really stands out. Go ahead and wear brown and black clothes.

Try to match the exact shade of brown in your belt,for instance. In fact, with this pair, you can wear either a black or a brown belt – your choice.

Tassel shoes

photo: http://blog.leffot.com/

Let’s get back to the first picture of the article and discuss that in detail. Tassel shoes may be something you would wear or they may be something you wouldn’t. That’s up to you and your preferences but they’re worth mentioning because they’re somewhat popular.

The two tassels, as you can see, bring a breath of fresh air to an otherwise boring pair of shoes. Match them as you would a normal pair of brown leather shoes.

Bottom line

You can’t go wrong when trying to stand out with shoes.

Some people have a problem with men wearing casual rings.
Some don’t like it when men wear scarves. Too feminine they say.
But when they’ll see you wearing some of the pairs presented above, they’ll have absolutely no reason to say that this is something that women would wear. It’s obviously not the case.

The big benefit: women will give you sexual looks all the time. Wear one of these pairs in the street and you’ll see what I mean.

photo: eatme.fr

Women always look at shoes. I don’t know why but I do know they form a very strong impression of men based on this one thing.

How about we surprise them with our shoes? All men wear lace ups or loafers, brown or black. But there is this one shoe, that has them all:

• it’s more formal than a sneaker
• can come in any color or shade, just like any other shoe
• has an “element of surprise”
• it’s casual but can be worn in business-casual situations
• can be suede or regular leather

You probably didn’t hear of this type of shoe before: the monk strap shoe!

photo: mirunog.ru

Looks great, doesn’t it?

As the name suggests, monk strap shoes were first worn by monks. Roman monks first wore monk strap shoes as early as the 11th century. Because the shoes were durable, all people started wearing them.

The “element of surprise”? Monk strap shoes have a very interesting strap and buckle on the side. This is what the monks used 1000 years ago instead of laces and this is what today’s monk shoes still have. You can think of it as a decorative element because this is what sets this shoe apart from other shoes.

Can you wear them with a suit?

Some wear them, some don’t but everyone agrees monk shoes work best in informal situations. Bottom line: wear your monk-strap shoes with jeans, khakis or chinos.

Single or double buckle?

Monk strap shoes come with a single or a double buckle. Which one you pick, is up to you. Just take not that if you go for double, taking your shoes off or putting them on may take some time – especially if you’re used to loafers.

Regular leather or suede?

This is up to you, if you’re a fan of suede, go ahead. Just remember that while suede is more extravagant, it requires more care.

Caring for your monk shoes

Like any shoe, monk shoes need special care if you want to increase their life span to the max. Polish them every time you wear them and try not wear them for more than 4 or 5 hours.

If you do wear them for a whole day, make sure the following day you wear some other pair of shoes.

If you have suede leather shoes, pay the extra care such shoes need (I’m talking cleaning and avoiding rain and humidity).

Price

Some monk shoes can easily cost you over $500 if you’re not careful, so make sure you find a good deal first. Don’t go for the first brand out there, look at the shoe quality and hunt for discounts.

For instance, these Samuel Windsor shoes will cost you a little over $150:

photo: samuel-windsor.co.uk

It’s amazing how many guys don’t take care of their shoes. You see, shining is not just about making them look good, it’s also about prolonging their lifespan.

if you do the math, you could save up to 50% off your shoes money… simply because… shoes will last you twice as long if you take care of them.

I’ll tell you the proper way to shine your shoes and, at the end, I’ll give you some extra tips about how to keep them lasting longer.

Shining your shoes

Shining your shoes is not complicated, even if you do it the right way. You just need to pay attention to the steps and DON’T SKIP them!

(NOTE: I’m not talking about suede shoes here – these will be addressed in a separate article. I’m talking only about leather shoes, which you can find in an online fashion shop such as that of Very.)

Step 1: remove any dirt from your shoes

Most guys skip this stem thinking that they can cover up the dirt with shoe polish!

This is a big no-no. Dirt can damage leather in time so it needs to be removed first and foremost. Use a slightly damp cloth to do it (an old sock or something).

Do not damp it woo much as you want as little water to penetrate the skin as possible. Water will make its way into the leather and you will soon see small cracks in your shoe. The only time when you should damp your cloth more is if the dirt is very big.

If you do use a damp cloth, make sure the last thing you use during this step is the dry cloth, to remove any excess water from the shoe surface.

Step 2: apply the shoe polish carefully and uniformly

You’re probably familiar with this step. My only concern is that you don’t apply too much shoe polish. Just use enough to give the shoe a nice and clean look.

If you don’t have solid shoe polish (recommended), you can also use:

- liquid shoe polish
- a silicon brush

Only use these if you don’t have any regular shoe polish. These two alternatives don’t do much to protect your shoe from outside factors, which, in turn, does not prolong your shoe’s lifespan.

Step 3: wait 10 minutes, then remove excess shoe polish

Even if you didn’t use too much shoe polish, you should still do this step. Wait at least 10 minutes for the shoe polish to dry and make its way into the shoe. After that, use a dry cloth to remove the excess polish. This step will also give a nice shine to your shoe.

That’s it! YOU now know the proper way to shine shoes.

But I made a promise in the beginning of this article, that I would give you some other tips about making them last longer.

The absolute best secret I can give you is to wear your shoes by rotation. Buy at least 3 pairs of shoes and wear them consecutively. Most guys wear their favorite pair of shoes for months in a row, then they have to buy a new one.

If you rotate the shoes you wear every day, you’ll not only look more stylish (because people will notice you have several pairs) but you’ll actually wear your favorite pair longer (in time).

Here’s my second tip: store the shoes you don’t wear in a separate dry place. I’m talking winter shoes versus rest-of-the-year shoes. Keep them away from humidity if you’re not going to be wearing them for longer periods of time.

Also, make sure you put something inside each shoe to prevent it from getting deformed. This can happen to a shoe if it’s not worn. Use special wooden shoe shapers.

Remember, the more you take care of your clothes, the more money you save in the long run.

P. S. Remember that http://www.Very.co.uk/ has a wide selection of shoes as it’s one of the biggest online clothing stores in the UK. If you live there, it’s worth a look.

The hip-hop and rocker avatars have many things every guy out there should appreciate. That’s because such outfits tell a story and have a history behind them.

But some things just don’t belong in a man’s wardrobe. Some clothing outfits, apart from standing out in a weird way, don’t communicate anything.

Here’s a few examples:

• t-shirts with big company logos on them (Any Google fans in here? Nah, just kidding)
• men’s skirts (are turning into women THAT fast?)
• crocs (unless you’re a “little man” of age 8 and below)
• shutter shades glasses
• and, of course…. UGG boots

What are UGG boots anyway?

In short, UGG boots are women’s boots “borrowed” by men. They can make a hot babe look stunning as fast as they can make and average man look like he’s going whale hunting. In fact, I think that’s what Ben Affleck is just about to do (not sure why he needs the tie for?)

photo: citythatbreeds.com

They are usually made of sheepskin and have rubber soles (some are made of kangaroo skin).

Where are they coming from?

It’s not clear whether UGG boots first appeared in Australia or New Zeeland – nobody knows for sure.

Why I don’t like them

The reason I hat them is they cannot make a fashion statement. They’re big, chunky and unbalance the entire outfit. Yes, they can attract attention… But is this the kind of attention you want?

There are plenty of clothing items that men borrowed from women. For instance, scarves (scarves were actually first worn by men in Ancient Rome but I’m talking about scarves as a fashion accessory).

Unlike UGG boots, scarves can look fantastic on most guys. They help match the outfits better and, if the contrast is good, they draw the eye towards the face. But my advice about UGG boots…

…don’t buy them!

• Does the thought of wearing a suit make you feel nauseous?
• Do you suddenly feel sick when you have to wear dress pants or khakis?
• Do you think scarves are for women and all men who wear them should go to jail?

If any of them ring true, you’re probably the chill type of guy who puts comfort above all when it comes to clothing.

The thing about wearing sporty outfits or any other type of outfit is that color rules are universal. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a suit or a sporty outfit: color matching is just as easy.

Let’s talk about mens trainers for a moment. They’re comfortable and come in a wide variety of colors and shapes.

I’m sure you know everything about buying them to fit. They have to feel right when you try them on the first time. You have to try on both shoes before you buy to make sure both of them fit perfectly. But how to color coordinate them with the rest of your sporty outfit?

It’s not as hard as it seems. There’s one big secret you need to know about matching your trainers. And that secret is…

…color repetition

The colors that appear on your trainers are obviously not that visible to the human eye. But if you can repeat the exact color and nuance from your trainers in your outfit, the eye will notice this.

For instance, let’s take a look at the pair of Nikes below:

If you can wear a pair of sporty items that have the same yellow in them, you’ve color coordinated your outfit. Sure, the predominant colors in your outfit have to go together but it’s the ones that are less obvious that make ALL the difference.

In our case, you could very well add a pair of black cargo pants to match the black of the Nikes. But if you can include a little yellow (maybe a black t-shirt with small portions of yellow on it) you’ll really look stylish.
It’s not that hard, to look stylish in sporty clothes, is it?

Here’s rapper TI with a great example of color coordination. Notice how the same blue shows up in three places: his sports shoes, his cardigan and his cap.

photo: 4.bp.blogspot.com

That’s it. Now you can wear your trainers and be stylish at the same time. Oh, and if you’re looking for some new trainers to buy, check out very.co.uk for the pair of Nikes shown above and many others.

What’s YOUR answer?

Did you say black leather shoes? If you did… you’re close but not quite there… I have a better option for you. In fact, I have a GREAT option: brogue shoes.

Wearing jeans and a sweater may prove to be … banal. But if you add a pair of brogues, that’s another story! The classy brogues will make your outfit irresistible!

Let me tell you a secret: women actually look at shoes! Women actually judge men (and other women) by their shoes. To us men, this doesn’t make any sense, but that is how things work in women’s world. If you want to make a great first impression, then the brogues are definitely what you need!

The brogues will always give you a sophisticated look and one thing is for sure: you will never have a lack of self-confidence if you’ll feel good in your brogues!

Here’s a gold nugget for you:

Anything that literally “screams” class and can be worn with jeans can make you look like THE stud when you go out. Think sports jackets, scarves, slim ties and, of course, brogue shoes!

The saying “Shoes make the man” is 100% true. As a man, by paying attention to your shoes you show that you pay attention to details. And this is one of the qualities that are most sought after in our modern society.

*Warning!*

Brogues are not for everyone. If you’re the “chill out” type of person, who likes to wear sneakers, you probably won’t feel comfortable wearing brogues on a daily basis. That’s OK. Just keep them for more formal occasions.

But if you want to show class, if you’re the type of guy who likes to wear dress shirts, brogues should be a staple in your wardrobe.

The next question is: how to choose the perfect pair of brogues?

First of all, a pair of shoes, and especially a pair of brogues, never comes alone. You must not choose your brogues without thinking of your entire outfit!

First things first: the color.

The most common brogues’ colors are brown, black, white and white with black.
You sure don’t want to wear the white with black ones, unless you work at the circus

The white ones are too fastidious, so… Let’s talk about the REAL brogues: brown and black!
The brown brogues are perfectly suited for a pair of jeans, a blue shirt and, of course, a brown belt, of the same nuance as the shoes.

Are you looking for a more classy look? You’ve got it! : black brogues, jeans, white shirt, sports black jacket, and a black belt. Now you’re perfect for an outstanding entrance in the most stylish society!

So there you have it: two outfits which will guarantee you’ll look great, combining more styles, so that you can wear them in more than one occasion. Feel free to invent your own outfit with brogues, just keep an eye on the mirror!

I could go on, and on, and ON of ways you can make brogues part of outstanding outfits. The main idea is that if you really want to be stylish, brogue shoes are a must of your wardrobe!

Can I wear my brogues with t-shirts?

Sure. Casual has evolved to a point where it allows wearing brogues with many clothes. As long as you’re wearing dress pants or jeans, it’s perfectly OK to wear a t-shirt.

What not to wear with brogues?

Brogues are formal shoes that go great in casual situations, but there’s a line you don’t want to cross. Please don’t wear them with sporty outfits or shorts.

If style, special and refined are words that define you, make sure you have at least 2 pairs of brogues: one black and one white. This way you’ll be covered for most occasions and outfits.

Shoes are expensive. You don’t get a pair every week and, for this reason, when you decide to take out your wallet, you have to be very well informed. If you bought them and after that you realize they’re a little too small (like a friend of mine recently had this happen), you end up giving them as a gift to someone else. Of course… you need to buy new ones for yourself.

A lot of people think shoes are the most important part of an outfit. The reason? If you’re wearing simple clothes but your shoes look great, you’ll create a much better impression than if you’re very elegant but your shoes are old or dirty.

Your care when choosing your shoes shows your attention to details and sub communicates more about you than you think. Come to think of it, this article is probably the most important one I’ve written so far (except the one about personal hygiene, maybe).

Who is this article not for?

Since the subject of shoes is very vast, I’m only going to be talking about the basics. This article is not for you if:

• you’re looking for your formal meetings
• you want something for your sporting activities
• you want some winter boots

The types of shoes we’ll talk about will be worn in situations such as: going out, at work (business casual), at school, parties, romantic dinners. Since these situations are informal (we’re not talking about business meetings), the shoes are, of course, casual.

I’ll take this opportunity to post up pictures of my own shoes. Don’t worry if you don’t like some of them: we each have our own style and taste.

Basic advice before you buy

There are a few things you need to know before you buy a pair of shoes.

Shoes are not something to be cheap about. A pair of good leather shoes will last a lot longer than an imitation leather shoes (not to mention they look better). As long as you take good care of them, you’ll increase their lifespan enormously. Thus, you’ll have only to gain in the long run.

Another thing is the moment you buy. When you try on shoes, especially leather ones, it’s VERY important they’re not too small and that you feel comfortable in them. Don’t take advice from the salesperson such as “don’t worry, they’ll loosen up in time”. This depends a lot on how they were actually made so it’s not guaranteed to happen.

Try on both shoes before you buy because your left foot is not the same size as your right one. If you’re only looking around you don’t have to do this. But if you’re ready to buy, don’t skip this step!

Loafers

The first option for casual shoes that you can wear on a daily basis are loafers. On the formality scale they’re somewhere between business shoes (usually worn with a suit) and sport shoes. So they’re great if you want a classy yet relaxed look.

The first time loafers appeared, the reactions were terrible. People were not used to seeing shoes that didn’t have any laces, so they thought they’re extremely weird. In time, because they’re very comfortable and easy to put on, they were accepted but only in informal situations.

The above pair is something that I wear on weekends a lot and sometimes at work. IT’s made of leatehr, looks very good and it takes me a couple of seconds to put on. I make sure I don’t wear it two days in a row to increase its lifespan.

But not all loafers are necessarily stylish. My pair as a few things I want you to look at.

First of all, the toe box is pretty narrow at the end. This is something I actually impose as a rule to everyone: choose shoes with an elongated top. The sole is thin and low. The frame is thin as well. Make sure you look for these the next time you buy a pair of loafers!

Boat Shoes

Loafers are in style right now but there’s a pair of shoes that has laces that’s even more stylish. You’ll start feeling relaxed from the first second you put them on. That’s right, I’m talking about boat shoes!

Even though they were used exclusively by sailors, boat shoes started to become fashionable in the 80s and are still holding on today.

Also known as deck shoes, they’re made of canvas, the sole is made of rubber. Their advantage is that they’re very comfortable and cheaper.

The pair above can be worn both with leans and shorts. It has both white and blue so you can repeat these colors in your outfit. Of course, if you want to make an outfit that stands out, you can even wear them with a shirt and sports jacket. The combinations are limitless.

Sneakers

If you’re the sporty type or you just don’t like leather shoes, you can be stylish wearing sneakers. Here we need to make an important distinction: day-to-day sneakers are not the same with what you wear during sporting activities.

You don’t want to make a big mistake such as buying expensive soccer sneakers, that are specially designed to give you best performance when playing that sport. You’ll only end up paying extra for features you don’t need, such as extra resistance, a specially designed sole or toe box etc.

So, if you want stylish sneakers, go for those that only imitate sport-line shoes.

The shape of the sneaker should be aerodynamic… it just looks better! The sole should be low and thin. Sounds like the same advice I gave for loafers, right?

Don’t go for cheap counterfeit sneakers because they won’t last long. In the long run you’ll end up paying more for cheap shoes than for more expensive ones. When it comes to shoes, quality comes at a price.

When it comes to sneakers, you have plenty models to choose from. Take a look at the pair below. I’ve had it for over a year now and still looks great. Canvas sneakers come in a wider variety of colors than leather ones. This means you have more options when you want to match them with your outfit.

Ready to choose?

Now that I gave you some ideas of what stylish shoes you can get, all you have to do is start searching for you ideal pair. Pick the one that matches the most clothes in your wardrobe. ideally you’ll want to get at least a pair of each of the shoes I presented in this article (except for sneakers if you’re not the type).

Until next time,

George