Hybrid sneaker-dress shoes

[tedwin]

So, I read this article: http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashio...-sneakers.html and it says to avoid shoes that try to combine a sneaker and dress shoe.

The shoe shown in the article is a Skecher's brand shoe that looks kind of like a dress shoe, but I'm assuming has the cushioning of a sneaker or something like that.

The article isn't very specific, so I'd like some other opinions. Would you consider something like this(above) to be a hybrid sneaker and thus something to avoid?

 

[inimitable]

This isn't a hybrid as it could never pass for a dress shoe. I think it is more of an active sneaker.

Still, best avoided in any case.

 

[cmacey]

Looks nothing like a dress shoe but everything like a walking shoe...on the trail, it might work; with a suit = complete failure.

 

[Matt S]

No, that shoe is 100% sneaker. I think they mean shoes like the Cole Haan dress shoes with Nike Air soles or dress shoes with thick rubber soles. Sneakers are for athletic use.

 

[mack11211]

The shoe above is fugly. Some Italian brands manage a hybrid that euro and/or middle-aged guys can wear well. I've seen it in solid colors from brands like Certo or two-tones like this one from Grisport. These are things you might wear with casual cotton trousers, maybe even a blazer if you're one of these dudes. If you're in Anytown USA you'll look weird because they will lack context. But the styling is good.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Its a brown sneaker with astroturf cleats.

 

[andrew96]

That's a walking shoe. In no way is it "dress" anything. The closest thing to a hybrid I know of that is decent is a driving moc.

 

[MyOtherLife]

Originally Posted by inimitable

This isn't a hybrid as it could never pass for a dress shoe. I think it is more of an active sneaker. Still, best avoided in any case.

+1

 

[chet31]

Some sneakers look much more like dress shoes than this particular pair. I think with the right pair, you could get away with wearing them w/ dress clothes in a casual/fun situation.

 

[acidboy]

I think its better for op to avoid askmen altogether

 

[tedwin]

Originally Posted by acidboy

I think its better for op to avoid askmen altogether
lol, really? they seem like they know what they're talking about sometimes.

btw, thanks for all the advice guys.

 

[Douglas]

I struggled with this for a long time. As someone who travels a lot and wanted something to wear with slacks or jeans and would be fine/comfortable for a long city walk or weekend lounging, such a hybrid shoe seemed like a holy grail of sorts. Unfortunately, like the grail itself, I think that such a beast does not exist. There is no such thing as a shoe that bridges this gap. In the end, I decided that it was because the only kind of shoe that looks good with slacks is a shoe with a normal leather sole, or at least the look of a leather sole (perhaps with dainite or even crepe). Sneakers have glued rubber soles, and lots of obvious padding, end of story. The closest I've found are things like chukka boots with crepe soles. Unfortunately, some of them are ugly in both contexts. (e.g. Clark's Desert Boots. They are fugly.) I think BB had some though that were passable. Alternatively you can consider some of the sleeker dress sneakers (e.g. the Santoni Himalaya, pictured below) but they are also sort of fugly in both contexts as well... though perhaps you may find them passable for your needs.

The Cole-Haan suggestion is not horrible either. I used to have a pair I rather liked pre-SF.

But once you get used to the idea of how a real dress shoe is supposed to look, compromise becomes essentially impossible.

 

[retozimmermann]

A high quality shoe will be very comfortable if it fits you well. You could easily walk around cities for hours and hours without having to resort to a sports shoe like the one above. That shoe has its uses, no question, but never ever under any circumstances does it pass as something wearable even in only slightly formal or elegant or "dressy" context.

How about finding a shoe from a good shoemaker / shoe manufacturer, and then selecting a model on the same last that can be used for casual and somewhat formal cloathing, such as a suede derby, or some sort of loafer?

 

[dbc]

Originally Posted by tedwin

So, I read this article: http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashio...-sneakers.html and it says to avoid shoes that try to combine a sneaker and dress shoe.

The shoe shown in the article is a Skecher's brand shoe that looks kind of like a dress shoe, but I'm assuming has the cushioning of a sneaker or something like that.

The article isn't very specific, so I'd like some other opinions. Would you consider something like this(above) to be a hybrid sneaker and thus something to avoid?

Looks fugly

 

[pvrhye]

Low top Docs are the closest thing I'd consider a hybrid and wearable.