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Looking for advice on shoes

johnalia

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Moi,

The first pair is a derby (shoe with open lacing) which is a much better option than the more classic oxford with closed lacing when it comes to pairing with semi casual outfits.

However, buying a derby in suede is even better for a casual style.
 

johnalia

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Moi! Kiitos paljon for your reply :D and for the suggestion. Just a quick question can derby in leather (say brown) be wear under jeans or not?

Thanks again.
 

Nitrogen

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Terve!

The derbies are more casual, thus more suitable to wear with jeans. In general, brown color is a more casual option for shoes (when compared to black). The second pair of cap-toe oxfords could probably work as well, but it would be better if it had even a small strip of broguing in the toe cap.

Overall, if your budget allows you, I would invest in a pair of quality leather shoes (which those do not represent).
 

johnalia

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Terve!

The derbies are more casual, thus more suitable to wear with jeans. In general, brown color is a more casual option for shoes (when compared to black). The second pair of cap-toe oxfords could probably work as well, but it would be better if it had even a small strip of broguing in the toe cap.

Overall, if your budget allows you, I would invest in a pair of quality leather shoes (which those do not represent).
 

johnalia

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Thank You Nitrogen,
Did you mean quality leather boots or shoes? Can you please share some images and budget isn't an issue. Those links I shared were just an example. I am looking for two pair of shoes which I can use under dress pants and chinos as well as under jeans.

Thanks again.
 

Panama

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The first pair look cheap and cemented, the second pair look better and appear to be Blake construction.
 

geg_gee

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Terve!

The derbies are more casual, thus more suitable to wear with jeans. In general, brown color is a more casual option for shoes (when compared to black). The second pair of cap-toe oxfords could probably work as well, but it would be better if it had even a small strip of broguing in the toe cap.

Overall, if your budget allows you, I would invest in a pair of quality leather shoes (which those do not represent).

Terve!

The derbies are more casual, thus more suitable to wear with jeans. In general, brown color is a more casual option for shoes (when compared to black). The second pair of cap-toe oxfords could probably work as well, but it would be better if it had even a small strip of broguing in the toe cap.

Overall, if your budget allows you, I would invest in a pair of quality leather shoes (which those do not represent).

As a novitiate, can I ask what's not so nice about the second pair of shoes, and what might be preferable?
 

Verve

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Nitrogen is correct. Derbies for casual wear, and I would suggest a dark shade of brown because it will give you more versatility. You’ll thank me later as you expand your wardrobe. I would lean towards no suede as your first pair of dress shoes unless you plan to be very casual with all your outfits.
 

TexasToast

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I agree the first pair of shoes are awful and the second pair are much better. You want shoes that are going to last for a while and are not disposable. If you cant afford a quality pair of shoes Id save up for some. Beckett Simonon has great shoes for the price and I cant afford really expensive shoes but these are nice you should check them out.
 

TheIronDandy

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Thank You Nitrogen,
Did you mean quality leather boots or shoes? Can you please share some images and budget isn't an issue. Those links I shared were just an example. I am looking for two pair of shoes which I can use under dress pants and chinos as well as under jeans.

Thanks again.

Zalando mostly sells cheap fashion brands - terrible value for the money, they wear out very quickly and can look terrible after a month or so. Also, once the sole wears out, it can't be replaced and you have to throw the shoe away. For (relatively) affordable quality shoes (where the sole can be replaced), you could start looking at the following:

Skoaktiebolaget (their own line of derby shoes).
The Noble Shoe
Skolyx
Myrqvist

All of these operate out of Sweden, so transport to Finland should be managable. They run from about 250 dollars (the cheapest skolyx lines and Myrqvist to 400ish (Skoaktiebolaget and some offerings from The Noble Shoe) to much higher for the custom, hand made models The Noble Shoe offers. I have a pair of suede loafers from Skoab and they're probably my most worn pair of shoes. All of these links are to the derby shoes offered - the more formal oxford shoe (the style you linked in your second example) is a shoe traditionally worn with full suits, and I don't recommend wearing them with chinos or denim.

Unlike some posters, I would say suede is a great idea. It's formal enough for anything cept the full business suit and tie (and even then, you can make it work), it looks better with casual trousers, and it's actually a much better material for northern Europe; suede just need to be waterproofed every couple of months (buy a can of Saphir water proofing spray, they cost about 15 dollars) and brushed up every now and then. Quality leather need to be polished regularly, and salted roads can seriously damage how they look. Despite what many people say, suede is actually a fairly durable material, and I know a lot of well-dressed people who wear suede exclusively for the winter months in Stockholm.

A final piece of advice: stay away from tan shoes and go for medium-to-dark brown. Tan shoes look great in pictures, but when worn as part of an outfit they tend to stand out more than you might like. I'm not saying you can't wear tan shoes, but they shouldn't be your first pair of nicer leather shoes.

Good luck!
 

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