The first concern that you should have is for how the shoes are going to be used. Shoes that are worn infrequently don't necessarily need to be held to the same standards as those that are worn on a daily basis. For example, if you are wearing shoes that are only for seasonal formal occasions they don't need to be as comfortable or durable as if you were wearing them every day walking on asphalt. If this is the case, you must have a pair of shoes with exceptional padding and a supportive insole. The biggest consideration in shoes that are worn daily should be support to give you comfort and prevent injury.
If you are buying shoes that will be worn on a regular basis the next thing we will want to consider is durability. Believe me, it makes more sense to spend a little more money upfront for a good pair of shoes that will last several years than to pay $20 or $30 bucks for shoes that won't last one year or less. Be sure that you choose a shoe with a thick sole which will help absorb the impact of the many foot strikes you make in a day. Inspect the stitching and make sure it is of sufficient quality that it will hold up to the daily abuse.
Now that we have the basics of function and durability out of the way the next thing you will want to look at will be style and fashion of course. Aside from choosing a current looking style, color is crucial as well. The basics that every man needs are the standard black and brown and you should have at a minimum, one pair of each of these. Another color that goes well with many different colors of pants is burgundy. Nothing looks more ridiculous than a pair of black pants with brown shoes!
Within the dress shoe genre there are casual dress shoes that are really more like fancy moccasins and more elegant dress shoes made of elaborate exotic skins that cost several hundred dollars a pair. As I mentioned at the outset of the article, consider where you will wear the shoes. More men these days are going for more casual shoes than the dressier ones because they offer style and comfort. You can make these types of dress shoes more or less dressy depending upon what you wear with them. Whatever you choose be sure they are comfortable and durable so that they will feel good and last a long time.
If you are a businessman or someone who has to wear dress shoes in your place of employment it is necessary to have at least a couple of pairs of quality footwear. Unlike women, men tend to not be concerned as much about their choice of shoes and tend to be lost when trying to find the right pair of shoes. Depending upon how dressy your job environment is you have several styles to choose from, here are a few things to consider that will help you make the right choice for your situation.
Since the average person tends to walk around three miles or so per day, the first thing you should be concerned with is comfort. How much padding do they have? Do they have a sturdy insole? If you have high arches you want a shoe that will rise up to support them. This is really the crucial consideration for comfort. Also, if you have a job that requires you to be on pavement or perhaps some other abrasive surface you may want to consider shoes with a Vibram sole which is a very comfortable rubber sole that is also resistant to abrasion and chemicals.
The durability of the footwear is another major consideration that needs to be looked at especially if you only have a couple of pairs of shoes that you will be wearing all the time. Whether you choose leather or rubber soles you want the shoes to have a high quality think sole. Inspect the stitching to be sure that it is tight and of good craftsmanship. The think soles not only help to make the shoes last longer but they also add to the comfort by absorbing some of the shock of repeated foot strikes.
In any business environment there are different categories of dress such as business casual or formal. If you work in a law office you will more than likely be required to wear something more formal in contrast to an automotive dealership or retail sales store where you may be able to get away with the business casual look. It is my personal opinion that all men should have at least three pairs of dress shoes in these colors; black, burgundy, and brown. These three colors will cover almost any color of pants that you would wear with them. Of course matching belts need to be purchased as well to coordinate with the footwear. Shoes can be dressed up or down depending on what they are worn with. A pair of kiltie slip on oxfords can be business casual or even more casual when worn with a pair of faded jeans.
Gregg Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lingerie, Desserts and Mortgage. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as at http://www.designershoesplus.com. Gregg Hall's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.