With warm weather quickly approaching comes cooler clothing. Winter trends, such as layers and coats, will phase out, making way for lighter, airier garments to take their place.
However, there is one change that many men fall prey to that can compromise their spring style; athletic shoes.
It is true that clothes make the man, but shoes can make or break the clothes. Too many men fall into the trap of wearing running or tennis shoes during the warmer months. Yes, they are cool and comfortable, but they can send the message of not really trying to tie an outfit together.
As a rule of thumb: if you are not doing anything athletic, do not wear athletic shoes. There are plenty of options that can be just as comfortable in the warmer months that still feel just as good but look a lot better. There really is no excuse for wearing athletic shoes when going about everyday activities.
The first step in this process, though, is to invest in some no-show socks. The trend right now seems to be bare ankles, but going completely without socks can have some odorous results when the weather heats up.
A popular choice for springtime footwear is the boat shoe. This is a solid choice for several reasons. First, they come most commonly in brown or tan leather, which meshes well with many colors and styles. Also, the styling of most boat shoes is simply versatile and suitable for a number of environments and settings.
Moccasins fit into the same category as boat shoes simply because they are strikingly similar in terms of appearance. As far as original purpose, moccasins were designed for loose, dry ground, such as soil; while boat shoes were designed for improved traction on wet surfaces. For most people though, both types are good, casual shoes.
Another classic choice is the ever popular canvas sneaker. These are more casual than the boat shoe but come in a much greater variety. Low top is the current trend, but high top is certainly viable. Canvas sneakers are an especially trendy style for spring. No matter what your style though, there is a canvas sneaker that can fit it.
Akin to the canvas sneaker in terms of how casual they are, fashion sneakers are an increasingly popular choice. This may seem like a strange label, but brands such as Adidas have found a market for highly stylized sneakers that, while they may look like distant cousins of athletic shoes, are clearly not made to be used for running.
For a slightly more business-casual approach, loafers are a great way to go. The fact that they are usually made of smooth, suede leather makes them a better choice to wear to work, whereas the slip-on nature of the shoes makes them casual enough for running errands on Saturdays.
When spring starts to give way to summer, many men resort to wearing as little on their feet as possible in an attempt to stay cool. Thus, the sandal (or flip-flop) makes an appearance. These might be better reserved for the beach, but if colors and textures are matched well, they are generally well accepted in casual settings. This is fortunate because sandals are most popular in brown leather, which is highly versatile.
Athletic shoes likely pervade our society because of our collective obsession with fitness. However, athletic shoes are purposely built for one thing, and that one thing is not casual wear. If you love living an athletic lifestyle, let your physique speak to that. Let your shoes do what they were meant to do – and that is to accentuate your outfit and sense of style.