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Style guide: comparing 2012's latest must-have mens shoes

Now, we know most of you men don’t hyperventilate over a gorgeous pair of shoes like the ladies do but still, wearing the perfect pair of new mens designer shoes adds a spring to your step and can transform you to a million dollars in seconds.

If you’re looking to build up your footwear wardrobe for work or play then look no further than Cafe La Moda. We’ve put together a comprehensive online guide to all things shoes so that you get the best style, color, fit and designers at cheap prices. After doing your fashion homework with our style notes head over to our shopping pages where you can compare pairs of mens shoes. There you'll find the latest deals so that you can unlock your inner dandy without taking out a small loan.

What are 2012’s must-have styles of mens shoes?

Boots Mens boots in black or dark brown can be great office -appropriate shoes and a great transitional item, taking you from season to season. They’re especially great during winter because they offer a bit more protection than other styles. Chelsea boots are a timeless classic that look fantastic with jeans or a skinny suit, desert boots are a great casual shoe and look perfect with chinos or jeans for nonchalant chic while dress boots are the perfect accompaniment to dress  trousers or suits.

Boat/deck shoes The aptly named boat shoe was traditionally designed for walking on the deck of a boat. They’re similar to a moccasin with leather or canvas uppers and a rubber sole with a grip designed to keep you steady on a slipper deck! 

Loafers Loafers are also known as slip ons and feature no fastenings or laces. Loafers are traditionally made of leather and resemble a moccasin but with a wide, flat heel.

Brogues The classic brogue features the trademark perforated detailing on the upper and can come in many styles of boot or shoe. Designers can create different                                                                       patterns on the upper of the shoe to distinguish from other brogues.

Espadrilles The espadrille mens shoe is the perfect choice for summers or vacations and often features a thin canvas upper and trademark soles made of rope (or faux rope). Espadrilles are a great way to inject some personality into a casual summer ensemble with prints and color and will keep your feet cool on those sweltering days. 

Oxford Oxford (or Derby) shoes are similar to a brogue minus the perforated pattern. They’re leather and feature open rather than closed lacing and a non-rubber sole. An Oxford mens shoe for sale will more often than not feature little, if any, embellishment and is a great all-rounder for work and formal situations.

Matching your mens shoes to your clothes

As a general rule stick to shoes that are similar in color or darker than your trousers. Take a look at our color guide before you shop for your new kicks:

The golden fashion rules

• Remember the more formal your attire the more traditional/conservative your shoe should be.
• Think of your socks like a tie and use them as a way to introduce accents of color or new texture into your ensemble. A good bet is to keep the color neutral or dark. 
• A  belt is a good way to bring an outfit together so try and match it to your shoes. This is especially important in work or formal environments.
• In the same way you wouldn’t wear formal trousers with sneakers avoid dressy formal and patent styles of mens shoes with jeans.
• Patent styles of shoe, be it an oxford, boot or loafer, automatically suggest formal and should be reflected accordingly in your clothing.
• Let your top influence what shoe you wear with jeans – t-shirts look great with converse while a shirt would work better with a loafer or deck shoes.

Sizing

Take a look at our shoe size comparison chart to make sure you’re getting the perfect fit from your new purchase and double check the fit with our tips:

• Most of us have one foot that’s bigger than the other so fit your shoes to your bigger foot.
• Choose a shoe that’s shaped like your foot
• Make sure there’s enough space for your longest toe when you stand up in your new shoes
• The ball of your foot should fit comfortably into the widest part of the shoe and your heel should fit snugly in the shoe with minimum slipping. 

Caring for your new mens shoes

Whether you’ve invested in a designer pair or cheap mens shoes, looking after your new purchase is imperative to keep them in tip-top condition for seasons to come. Here are some handy hints for looking after yours:

• Run a cheese grater on the soles of your shoes to give more grip on slippy or wet surfaces (yes, really!). 
• Keep your new shoes on shoe trees to help them maintain their shape. This is a must if you’ve invested in a pair of designer mens shoes. Crumpled up newspaper is a good substitute if you don’t want to spend money on a shoe tree. 
• Spray new leather shoes with a water-repellent protector. 
• Suede shoes also need to be sprayed with a protective spray before wearing. A suede brush will also keep the fabric looking new. 
• If your shoes get wet don’t be tempted to dry them using a hair dryer or fire, stuff them with newspaper and let them dry naturally to prevent them from cracking.
• Lastly, shop away!