College Student: Desire for new wardrobe, no idea where to start

[tryingtolearn17]

Hello Everyone,

I am a college student in MA, USA. I am currently looking to improve my entire wardrobe. I dress prep, mostly polo sneakers, nice jeans, and banana republic/jcrew t shirts. I would like to find some brown and black shoes that I can wear to school w/o looking to dressy. I mostly wear blue jeans and khakis, I figured I could match the shoes according to my shirt. Any advice would be appreciated. I would like to spend $100-$250 on shoes. Shirts..cheaper the better.

Thank you

 

[4characters]

Clean cut well made Tees, button-ups, slacks, jeans, etc...
http://www.flintandtinderusa.com/mens-shop/
White's boots are a bit more than $250, but they end up to be a good value...
http://www.bakershoe.com/boots-shoes.cfm/brand/whites-boots/
or this site has new White's boots for about $275
http://www.ebay.com/sch/whitesriver...h=item485afbf196&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
Don't get navy! Get black or brown.



Just my college wordrobe anyway...

 

[hoodyear]

http://www.styleforum.net/a/how-do-i-look-cool

 

[Distorbiant]

lol 4characters you can't stop sharing those boots can you

 

[4characters]

yea, I'm a little proud...


This company sells stuff that fits the college budget:
https://www.weargustin.com/store

 

[meso]

I like those boots too but blue footwear is difficult to work with... not for a first pair for sure...

 

[Joffrey]

I was out of college but my first pair of nice but casual shoes were dark brown suede boots from Barneys Coop. Great quality and purchased on sale for about $150. I haven't been able to come across them on sale in a while but you may want to keep an eye out on their website for markdowns. IN the good old days (2-3 years ago) you could come across some great items on the buy/sell subforums here.

 

[OliverGauffe]

Just how preppy are we talking? If you want something that will be versatile enough for any occasion, I would go for some of the models that are high quality but look a bit worn, it gives a good impression of authenticity, world traveller-ish if you will. Sounds like money isn't much of an issue for you, so you've actually got loads of choices. For most people your age that budget for shoes is a dream. Have a look at these shoes, kind of the look I'm trying to describe.

 

[tryingtolearn17]

Thank you all very much for your help! I was thinking about getting a tan pair of bucks to start. Would something like this work with jeans? http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/...Up=true&utm_source=GooglePLA&utm_medium=43275

 

[meso]

http://www.styleforum.net/t/164402/ask-a-question-get-an-answer-ask-all-quick-questions-here

 

[johng70]

Here's my take - suede scuffs easy and the soles on those shoes don't look like something I'd want to wear in bad weather. A lot depends on how much you're walking around and what seasons you want to wear the shoes in. If you can stretch a bit, the Allen Edmonds Wilbert is on sale for $240. Very stylish and the rubber sole is more suitable to rain/light snow with it's tred. I'm betting if you checked you could get a pair of seconds for even less. For a lot of outdoor wear, rubber soles still make a lot of sense.
http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/producti_SF1951_1_40000000001_-1

 

[mixProtocol]

+1 to what johng said. I recently bought the discontinued Allen Edmonds Cascade in brown (seen here), which is basically the boot version of the Wilbert -- Seconds price from an AE outlet is $159. Either of these will take a good shine while still staying casual.

 

[billythekid]

+1 on the previous two. I'd probably go a little dressier though. Those wont go with a suit later--get something you can wear with nice jeans and a suit. Definitely not the blue shoes.

 

[4characters]

I like those boots too but blue footwear is difficult to work with... not for a first pair for sure...

Definitely not the blue shoes.

As a clarification I wasn’t suggesting getting White's boots in navy CXL I was suggesting White’s boots as a whole. I’d prefer to think I have the only boots in this specific configuration.

This may be a better example:

or even the Wolverine 1K Mile:

or Chippewa

 

[johng70]

I have to respectfully disagree with a couple posts.
1) the advice to buy shoes that go with a suit and jeans? I'm sorry, but that doesn't work well as far as I'm concerned. Either the shoes look bad with a suit or look way to formal for jeans. Don't try to buy shoes that work with both jeans and a suit. Especially when you don't even know yet what purpose the suit will serve if/when you buy one. For example, if your future career does not require a suit - and most do not, you'll be wearing it for weddings and funerals - so once a year or so. You can buy a perfectly good pair of J&M or Coles for $120 that will last you a decade and look good wearing them a couple times a year - AND they will fit comfortably right off (cheaper leather). But, they will look much more appropriate for a suit than trying to bridge a pair of shoes between the suit and your jeans.

2) White's boots. I have a pair and like them very much. BUT, spending $400 on a pair of boots when you're in college is a bit overkill. That's a ton of cash to spend on a single pair of footwear. Consider spending that when you have the rest of your wardrobe built up. Not as your first pair of decent shoes. You may find that you do not actually like wearing boots all the time. And, make no mistake, they are work boots in form factor. They're fairly comfortable for work boots but they're still work boots.

Whatever you decide, I would caution against getting something too outrageous in color or style. Just because people notice your footwear doesn't always mean they notice it in a positive way.

Best of luck in your choice.