Mens Shoes: Types of Men’s Plain-Toe Shoes
Plain-toe shoes for men are the classic dress shoe style. While you can pair these classic dress shoes with suits and other formal ensembles, there are other types available; selecting them ultimately depends on your taste.
Traditional mens plain-toe shoes don’t feature any decorative elements on the front of their shoe.
Cap Toes
Cap-toe dress shoes feature an extra layer of leather covering the toe box area, adding an elegant finishing touch that appears in many casual and formal Oxford shoes and boots alike.
Cap toe and wingtip shoes differ by having more decorative details on their caps and may feature broguing and pinking; making it suitable for pairing with trousers, slacks or jeans.
However, plain cap-toe Oxfords are an ideal addition to classic menswear styles like navy blazers and grey flannels, making them essential additions to every man’s wardrobe. Their timeless aesthetic fits in seamlessly with business casual ensembles as well as formal pieces like suits and tuxedos.
Apron Toes
Men’s apron-toe shoes feature a separate piece of leather on the vamp that creates an eye-catching “cap” at the toe box, typically decorated with broguing to give them more flair. This style of shoe can be found on oxfords as well as dress boots and loafers; it’s more formal than plain-toe options, which lack this distinction.
Apron toe shoes are like moccasins in that they feature sewn construction instead of tied lacing, similar to how an apron toe shoe might resemble one from this style; sometimes stitching may also feature on its fabric, making it difficult to identify what distinguishes one from the other.
Add an elegant finishing touch to your business casual ensemble with a pair of oxfords or loafers featuring an apron toe. Their shining leather will bring style, while their high-grade materials ensure comfort throughout the day.
Bicycle Toes
Bicycle-toe shoes were once popular mens plain-toe shoes choices, yet now seem less relevant due to an emphasis on comfort over flashy designs. Luckily, numerous stylish alternatives stand out in both casual and formal settings.
One option for formal occasions is the Oxford shoe, a sophisticated combination between low evening pumps and Balmoral boots with its classic buckle and dashing look that makes it suitable for business professionals. Other styles may include cap-toe with its elegant leather piece on top that suits formal and casual events alike or the more versatile apron toe which looks similar to bicycle toe but more suitable.
Pointy Toes
Pointy toes may not be for everyone – it can be easy to go too far and end up looking like something out of a horror film. A man wearing bark brown textured leather oxfords with pointy toes will make quick decisions without sending back-and-forth texts; these men will stand out from overgrown brothers in goofy hammerhead dress shoes who cannot decide what they want for lunch.
Square Toes
Recently, square-toe shoes have seen a resurgence, and although some find them aggressive (think Mark Wright’s Down Faces or Robert Mapplethorpe in Max’s), they do look cool. Furthermore, this style can also be helpful for those with abnormalities of their feet as it features flat angled sides that taper in rather than compress the toes.
However, for something more subdued and understated, single monk straps and double monk straps have recently seen a resurgence as an alternative to lacy styles. Brands like By Far and Eckhaus Latta have even championed them as gender norms are challenged; wearing them with dark wash denim and a tweed jacket will create a great casual look!
There are many other styles of men’s plain-toe shoes. While they may not be as formal as an Oxford, a plain leather loafer can still be a great dress shoe for a more casual occasion like a wedding or garden party. And if you want to go even more casual, there are plenty of options in suede. Just remember that whatever style you choose, your dress shoes should have rounded toes and not square or pointy ones. That is because rounded toes are more aesthetically pleasing. And they’re also more comfortable to wear all day long, especially when you have to walk blocks from the train to the office and back again.
