More than 70 years ago, Luther Cressman, an archaeologist, discovered perhaps the world’s oldest footwear in Central Oregon. The sandals were dated to be 10,000 years, and from the photos that I have seen, are made of complex textile fibers that show that they are not only functional, but also fashionable. From our tribe to modern times, men have searched and evaluated nice shoes and completed work.
The goal of this article is to give you an overview of the choices man make when it comes to footwear and explain how to wear them. I want to take you to the notion that proper quality footwear is a worthy investment, and that shoes that match the right circumstances can significantly enhance your personal style and comfort.
Four Footwear Rules
- Wear appropriate shoes for this occasion – this is the most common mistake I have seen when men wear shoes. Jogging shoes have a purpose; They protect your feet while running. Steel toe work boots have a purpose; They protect your feet while working. And wearing these shoes outside their prescribed functions is fine as long as they are still fit; however, many of us consider this to an extreme level and have given up the middle ground between formal and extremely simple.
- Investing in quality – Not every man can spend hundreds of dollars on his shoes; however, many people instead choose to waste money elsewhere and buy new shoes worse every few years. This is never a winning strategy, because low quality footwear is combined with glue and made with inexpensive raw materials like cardboard and non-aging paper. You can save money in the long run by buying more expensive shoes that last for decades.
- Never sacrifice suitability and comfort – buy the right shoe size, even if this means paying a little more and buying your shoes at brick and mortar stores than going online tax exemption / lowest price. In fact, this is not a bad deal, especially if you support a local small business that can really give you solid guidance on the styles available and show you how to take care of your purchase.
- Take care of your shoes – We wrote about this widely here at the Art of Manliness. Learn how to waterproof your shoes in this classic article and then learn how to shine your shoes. In addition, rotate through a few pairs to allow them to dry between wear and ALWAYS use a wooden shoe that will quickly sweat. This is especially important for leather shoes, because the interior of a dress shoe often does not undergo harsh chemical treatment at the upper and is more easily rotted.
Footwear Terminology
- Soles – These are often referred to as the bottom of shoes or shoes and can be divided into outsole, mid-sole, and insole depending on the type and quality of the shoe discussed.
- Upper – A general term to the part of the shoe above the sole.
- Broker – a form of decoration in which small holes are carved into leather of shoes . An important point to remember is that the more decorative shoes are, the more formal it becomes.
- Open lacing– One of the two lacing systems used in oxford shoes, the open lacing system will identify shoes in question to become a blucher.
- Insole – As mentioned above, a subsection of the general sole, the inner sole is the layer of the sole upon that the foot rests on. A quality insole may mean the difference between a shoe that will last 5 years and one that will last 25.
- Heel – The back partion of the shoe comes into direct contact with the ground and creates a height for the foot when wearing shoes. High heels are usually made of 2 to 4 pieces of leather called lifts and reinforced with rubber or metal.
- Laces– The choice is usually round or ribbon, with round having the advantage of being stronger and more formal thanks to their cores while ribbon laces are more colorful and elastic and therefore a good choice for sports shoes or climbing shoes.