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Posts Tagged ‘Loafers’

My grandfather used to say ‘You can always tell a man by his shoes.’ And while many things have changed since grandpa’s day, this remains one of the principles that holds firm in the rule book of men’s style. This doesn’t mean to say that men ought to have an extensive range of shoes for different occasions — thankfully, there’s no need for men to compete with women for equal closet space in this regard. But a few carefully selected items of footwear can set up the average male for most eventualities, leaving him free to spend the rest of his time (and money) on wardrobe items that express his true self.

But even though they may not own up to it, many men feel as clueless about choosing shoes as they do the rest of their clothing, and fall back on a few ‘safe’ items that can easily become bad habits. Here’s a simple shoe shopping guide for the man who’s looking for a confidence boost in the footwear aisle.

A pair of Oxfords: a.k.a low rise leather shoes you can lace up. And while you can find Oxfords in many different styles, I’d narrow it down further: a pair of leather shoes you can polish. The color’s up to you (although grandpa had a thing about never wearing ‘brown in town’) and dress shoes like these can be the stylish complement to anything from a business suit to chinos or jeans.

A pair of loafers: the slip-on partner to Oxfords, these comfortable shoes are sometimes worn as dress shoes for work — although lace-ups are still de rigueur in certain situations. Whether you like them with a plain front, tassels or a Gucci style metal bar, they can also double as casual footwear with or without socks.

A pair of boots: depending on where you live, boots may be a style choice or a winter weather necessity. The right type of brown, black or oxblood colored leather boots can sometimes do duty as dress shoes for work, while tough boots with a rugged tread may suit those who work out of doors or negotiate icy winter conditions.

Casual shoes: your lifestyle dictates your choice. For your leisure wear, choose between athletic shoes, sneakers, boat shoes or sandals for a look that goes with cargo pants or cords, slacks or shorts as you like to wear them. Shoes can match your belt if you wish, or make a bold contrasting statement that lends flair to your attitude.

If you’re already doubting the wisdom of this sage advice, it’s worth conceding that one of the problems of style rules is that there really are no rules, that fashion statements come and go and that one man’s ‘preppy’ is another man’s ‘poseur’. But grandpa usually knew more than he was letting on, and his advice was as much about being practical as it was about looking good. A few good pairs of different shoes, properly looked after, can be the foundation of the average man’s wardrobe and get him ready for work, leisure and all the unexpected situations in between.

Born is a reputed manufacturer of classy, comfortable yet affordable footwear. They have a good range of trendy footwear for men, women and kids. People love Born footwear because Born neither compromises on comfort nor on style. They have different types of shoes, sandals, loafers, flip flops, wedges and clogs to match your different outfits. They use unique techniques to manufacture their boots so that they look good and feel comfortable.

However, there are few things that you should consider before buying a perfect pair of Born shoes for you.

Style

You should decide what kind of footwear you want. If you want to buy footwear to match with a particular outfit, then decide what looks best. Once you have decided whether you want clogs, boots or wedges, you can decide the color you want. You can then see the entire range available in that segment and choose the one that matches best with your outfit.

Budget

Set a budget for yourself to buy your footwear. Once you have decided what kind of boots you want and have a budget set for them, it is easier for you to shortlist shoes out of the wide range available. You can also check the prices of the shoes at different stores to get the best deal.

Size

If you are buying at retail store, then you should try out the pair you want before buying. You should take a walk in the store to check if it fit you well and you are comfortable in them. If you are buying online, then you should carefully check the size of your shoe before you order. It is always advised that you measure your feet during evenings, as feet tend to swell. Always check the return and exchange policy of the online dealer. Just in case the shoes do not fit you properly, you can exchange or return them.

If you keep the above things in mind, you will get a nice pair of comfortable Born shoes at an affordable price.

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Kids have their own sense of style which can be even more individual than adults. Kids have no qualms in mixing styles, patterns and colors in ways that seem to only be harmonious to them. Clothing and shoe manufacturers have finally clued into this and are making offerings that run the gamut of style influences and allow your kid to put their own personal stamp on their look.

One of the best places to see this is in kid’s shoes. Choices for girls used to consists of mary janes, saddle shoes, lace ups, and canvas oxford-style sneakers. Boys’ styles were made up of canvas high top sneakers, lace up shoes and loafers. Shoes, with the exception of dress up shoes like mary janes, were more about function than style.

Today, most of the hottest styles in adult sneakers are available in kids’ sizes. Brands such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Saucony and Sketchers spend a great deal of time and advertising dollars to promote their products to kids. There are specialized shoes for just about any sport your kid could get into, such as running, basketball, baseball, hiking and water sports.

Shoe choices for girls also mirror adult styles. Strappy sandals, funky wedges, cute flats and platform shoes are available for girls at every price point and in all the colors of the rainbow. Boots of varying heights and styles, from sleek riding boots to UGG style boots, can be found for girls of any age.

Boys’ shoes are still available in lace up styles, but now boys have the choice of slip ons, shoes that close with velcro or bungee type straps and rubber clogs. While the range of colors for boys is much more conservative than it is for girls, there are a lot more colors available than the standard black, tan or cordovan. Sneakers are the most popular choice of shoes for boys, which is a reflection of the overall shift toward a more casual style in kids’ clothes.

The days of buying your kid one pair of basic shoes for school are over. To keep your kid happy and fashionable, style is as important as function.

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