2 essential dress shoe for men

[monet33]

If you had to choose 2 essential dress shoe for men what would it be? I wanted a black and burgundy but not sure what styles to get for each.

Black or Burgundy Captoe?

 

[paxonus]

Brown Cap Toe

Black Tassel Loafer

 

[monet33]

You think brown cap toe is more well rounded shoe compared to black?

 

[paxonus]

You think brown cap toe is more well rounded shoe compared to black?

Yes. You can wear it with anything other than a black suit--which you don't need anyway. The other option would be a burgundy cap toe. The problem with the black cap toe is that it really only works with a suit. If you wear a suit every day, then you can wear a black cap toe with any dark color suit and look fine. If you aren't a daily suit wearer, the black is much less useful--you can't wear it with a sport coat.

 

[monet33]

Thank you paxonus, makes sense since I don't have a black suit(have navy) and would like to wear it with other outfits also. Think the best choice would be a burgundy cap toe

 

[emptym]

I'd go with black and burgundy penny loafers, ideally the Alden/Brooks Brothers unlined shell versions. They'd go well with anything from suits to shorts.

For dedicated wear with suits, I'd probably want black captoed oxfords and burgundy wingtip oxfords.

Imo, captoed oxfords of any kind should only be worn with a suit. I don't like captoed bluchers, except for boots.

 

[ValidusLA]

I think for slot one - brown cap toe is a great a versatile choice.

I think for slot two it depends a lot on someone's style. A lot of people evangelize the tassel loafer, but also frankly a lot of people just don't like tassel loafters. If you have a very high arch and a very high bridge along with a wide foot (like me) then frankly loafers aren't that comfortable.

I think a black or bugundy loafer is an ok choice.
I also think a bugundy wingtip would be a good choice.
Or, if you wear a lot of more casual looks, even a chukka of some sort.

 

[Panama]

Black Oxford with toe cap, and Tan brogue either Oxford or Derby.

 

[johng70]

Brown and Burgundy are the most versatile colors as long as you don't have black pants or suit. If you do, then you need black shoes.
A cap toe is a more formal type of shoe. If you do have a suit, get the cap toe in the color you will wear with the suit. For the other shoe, a short wing is a great, versatile style of shoe.

 

[Mr Tickle]

This thread is a bit confusing to me (I'm new here) because I would never have considered brown cap shoes, tassle loafers, chukkas etc as "dress shoes". In my experience dress shoes means shoes to be worn exclusively with formal wear like a tux, morning suit (wedding attire), black tie evening wear, etc.
Even black toecapped Oxfords would be classed as "formal" rather than "dress" in my experience - something to be worn with everyday-wear (which the business / lounge suit is designed for after all) rather than for a "dress" occasion like a wedding, ceremony, evening event, or whatever.

 

[johng70]

Just a different frame of reference. What you describe as "dress", I think of as "formal". Most men never deal with "formal" unless they're in a wedding (or their HS prom). In today's environment, putting on a tie and jacket is "dressed up".

 

[vdubiv]

FWIW I consider "dress shoes" to be non-athletic/sneakers. Basically anything that can be worn with chino's/suit ect.

I would consider formal wear a Tux.

To answer the original question, I would say whatever you feel comfortable in style wise, not everyone like loafers, or wingtips, or a lot of brogueing.
But as other's have stated, unless you wear a suit everyday, basically stay away from black, it isn't that versatile of a color in the more dressed up/ non-jeans world.

 

[Panama]

This thread is a bit confusing to me (I'm new here) because I would never have considered brown cap shoes, tassle loafers, chukkas etc as "dress shoes". In my experience dress shoes means shoes to be worn exclusively with formal wear like a tux, morning suit (wedding attire), black tie evening wear, etc.
Even black toecapped Oxfords would be classed as "formal" rather than "dress" in my experience - something to be worn with everyday-wear (which the business / lounge suit is designed for after all) rather than for a "dress" occasion like a wedding, ceremony, evening event, or whatever.

A dress shirt is a business not casual shirt in the UK. I would then surmise that dress shoes are the same. I have never worn morning dress, black or white tie, lounge suit especially for these occasions except Royal Ascot where I am banned.