Building a shoe collection

[Ambulance Chaser]

Because shoes are one of the most important elements of a wardrobe (if not the most important), I thought I'd get everyone's opinion on what shoes to get when building a shoe collection.  Right now, I have a pair of black split toes, a pair of cordovan cap toes, a pair of black slightly square toed penny loafers, and a pair of tan suede bucks.  Ideally, recommendations should be versatile enough to be worn in several different situations.

 

[Stu]

Well I would stock up on the classics: A pair of wingtips and cap-toes in both black and brown. 2 good pair of black loafers, 2 good pair of brown loafers. A pair of more trendy laceups in both brown and black for those casual elegant, non suit outfits. That's a good starter kit from which to build.

 

[bengal-stripe]

I belive there are three shoe essentials in a men' wardrobe:
black cap toe oxfords,
brown wingtip brogues,
loafers in either black, tan or oxblood (depending on your preference).

You will have the right shoe for every outfit. Buy the best quality you can afford. After that, the sky is the limit and you can brach out in every direction.

 

[GQgeek]

I don't think anyone should go looking to stock up on what are considered essential shoes. There's no point owning shoes that don't go with any of your clothes. Shoes are generally the last thing I buy. Once I've done all my shopping for the season, I'll try and find shoes that look good with the new stuff I got cause somehow the old ones just don't work. Recently I've been buying a pair for almost every pair of pants I own =/