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Okay, if you haven’t notice by now, I have become quite the dress shoe guy. On reading this blog over the years, I would comment that dress shoes were “dorky.” <\/p>\nOkay, if you haven’t notice by now, I have become quite the dress shoe guy. On reading this blog over the years, I would comment that dress shoes were “dorky.” <\/p>\n
Well, I have grown up.<\/p>\n
Some dress shoes actually look quite nice. Especially with a suit, or jeans, or leather. I wear shoes with all of that.<\/p>\n
Why the change? I bought them, and after a while, I realized they weren’t so bad after all.<\/p>\n They were comfortable and again, like my boots, no one noticed. I was the only one who seemed to have a hang-up.<\/p>\n Thus I slowly began to build a dress shoe collection<\/a>. <\/p>\n I became fascinated with the different styles and colors. Wingtips, cap toes, wholecuts, brogues — I found I liked oxfords over other styles (derbies, for example), and later developed a preference for leather soles (instead of Dainite) so I could hear myself walking in them.<\/p>\n Also in 2021, I got a well-fitted tailored suit<\/a> since I needed one for a dressy event that I had to attend, and did not own any suits anymore. Subsequently, my suit wardrobe<\/a> has grown a bit too.<\/p>\n As of the date of this post, I have bought, worn, and enjoyed over 144 pairs of dress shoes, and the collection continues to expand as I learn about other quality shoemakers and get myself more shoes to try out and enjoy with my suits<\/a> or just wear when I am not on my Harley.<\/p>\n My preferences? While Allen Edmonds shoes<\/a> compose about half of my dress shoe collection, I also have shoes from many other makers. <\/p>\n I have found shoes by Paul Evans<\/a> to be among the most classy (and sexy!) <\/p>\n Paul Evans shoes are made in Italy, so I also have bought other quality shoes made there, too. <\/p>\n Who friggin’ cares if I’ve become a shoe guy?<\/p>\n This post is a “coming out of the closet” message — where the closet was my reticence to admit: I like dress shoes too!<\/p>\n Life is short: enjoy living with new interests to complement your lifestyle and preferences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Okay, if you haven’t notice by now, I have become quite the dress shoe guy. On reading this blog over the years, I would comment that dress shoes were “dorky.” Well, I have grown up. Some dress shoes actually look … Continue reading
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In 2017, I bought my first pair of dress shoes<\/a> when I found myself in an Allen Edmonds store looking for dress boots. They didn’t have the boots I was looking for in my size. The sales guy suggested that I try on a pair of discontinued dress shoes that were quite a bargain.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BBnavysuit250.jpg?resize=111%2C300&ssl=1\")
In 2021, I applied dress shoe retail therapy<\/a> while grieving the loss of my husband. My dress shoe collection expanded enormously that year. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bootedmanblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/PEblackcaptoe16.jpg?resize=212%2C300&ssl=1\")
I like formal, dressy, English shoes from Barker, Charles Tyrwhitt, and Loake. These are super-well-made and comfortable.<\/p>\n