Essentials of a Work Wardrobe - Shoes

Are the most important and the most expensive item in the wardrobe, behind suits. The key is that a good pair of shoes when polished regularly and stored with shoe trees, will last a minimum of 15 or 20 years and potentially will last a lifetime. No other item a man can buy will last as long as a good pair of shoes. Not a suit, not a car, nothing. So it is highly suggested that everyman have at least two pairs of high quality shoes. One shoe in brown leather, one shoe in black leather, both in lace up oxfords. For the most versatile wardrobe the pair of black shoes should have clean lines and a classic look. Either a plain oxford or cap-toe oxford will do. This shoe needs to be simple and basic so it can be worn to interviews, weddings and funerals. This is the most conservative shoe in the closet and will be worn more than your favorite pair of jeans. The second shoe needs to be a dark brown shoe with some brogueing. Depending on your style anything from a wingtip to a cap toe oxford with slight brogueing
will suffice.

With both of these shoes it is crucial to stay away from them being a blucher and stick with oxfords. A blucher has an open throat lacing and is less formal than the oxford. The oxford has a closed throat lacing and is much more formal. To begin with it is best to stay with the more conservative and formal oxfords. They will have cleaner lines and will look better with a suit. Bluchers are a bulkier shoe and don't look as good with a suit, the extra weight typically only looks good with jeans or khakis.

Additionally, if a more casual shoe is desired, than opt for a loafer rather than a blucher. The loafer will add variety to the wardrobe and be quite useful in the hot summer months. Loafers are also perfect for flying as they are easy to remove at airport security. If you choose a loafer stick with a penny loafer as they are smart looking and classic. Stay away from loafers with tassels or any unneeded frivolity. Plain and simple will never go out of style. The loafer should also be in a mid-brown color. Not as dark as the oxfords but also not as light as a tan color.

These three shoes will serve most men well. As you wish to add further shoes to your collection, add varying degrees of brogueing in various colors. We recommend add shades of brown from dark to light tan with brogueing or no brogueing, based on your personal style. Lighter shoes are preferred in the summer and darker shoes in the winter, as they match the weather and the amount of sunlight.

The best places to buy good quality dress shoes are: Allen Edmonds, Alden, Ben Silver, Cole Haan, Johnston & Murphy and Banana Republic. For loafers Bass is one of the best options, but the previous companies will work.

Florsheim by Duckie Brown

There a lot of classic brands doing collaborations with top designers recently.  LL Bean has teamed up with Alex Carleton of Rogues Gallery, J Crew has teamed with Mister Freedom, Sperry has teamed up with Band of Outsiders and Florsheim has teamed with Duckie Brown.

The new grouping of shoes labeled the obvious, Florsheim by Duckie Brown, are an alternative and hipster version of the classic dress shoe.  Some versions of the Duckie Brown shoes are quite exclusively designed, like the bright yellow wingtips and bright aqua blue suede shoes.  Really where are you going to wear those shoes?  While other versions of the shoes are stylish and quite wearable.

Duckie Brown takes a classic looking wingtip shoe, removes the laces and turns them into slip-ons.  It is a unique and different way to wear a classic shoe.  Due to the lack of laces and attractive design this is a shoe that we at Modern Dignified feel like would work well with jeans.  Especially since they come in colors ranging from gray to light brown.

Another quite wearable version of the collaboration is the canvas and leather wingtip combination shoes.  This design accents the wingtip design while keeping the shoe interesting and modern.

To help survive the summer heat, Duckie Brown created a classic looking shoe made out of perforated leather to keep the shoe breathable.  This provides a unique texture to the shoes.

Another interesting version is the metal studded oxfords.  These studded shoes walk the line between classic oxfords and punk rock boots.  These shoes have such beautiful and classic lines that these would look good with a suit or jeans, assuming it is not worn at a conservative event.

The Florsheim by Duckie Brown wingtips in oxfords and bluchers are quite attractive.  Classically designed with modern accents.  We at Modern Dignified would recommend staying away from the dark green and light blue versions of the shoes.  We also feel that the wingtip boots are stylish and practical.

All and all Duckie Brown and Florsheim's collaboration has some great shoes, just stay away from the odd colors and aggressive designs.  Let someone else be the one wearing the star spangled banner boot.

More Spring Essentials - Sperry Topsider

Sperry Topsider is an iconic piece of footwear and has been worn by generations of men on sailboat or by men who wanted people to think they had a sailboat. Due to this Sperry Topsider is synonymous with summer, the beach, boats and sailing, excess money, stylish blokes and everything that comes with that lifestyle. At least that is the heritage of this iconic shoe.

Now, new versions of the shoe are available with slight changes to it's historical roots, but it still represents the same ideals and it still has the same classical style.  Ever brand from J Crew to Band of Outsiders is taking a stab at redefining the boat shoe. While some of the new iterations are quite modern and stylish, there is still something romantic about a pair of weather beaten, salt water soaked, wind whipped Topsiders.  J Crew's version of the Topsider is distressed to simulate this stylish look.  At Modern Dignified we opt for the natural wear and tear of Topsiders, since this is more unique and authentic.   (To speed up the process spend a day at the beach in the Topsiders, wearing them in the water and letting them dry out in the sun. Add a couple of similar trips and the shoes will have accelerated wear and tear).

 

Band of Outsiders opt for a more colorful suede version of the Topsiders.  They also are infatuated with making Topsiders into Chukka boots.  They come in a mixture of colors and textures, but still keeping the iconic nature at the heart.

Sperry has also re-designed a few versions of the Topsiders, including a tieless, slip-on version of the shoe. This version comes in various shades  of brown suede, but unfortunately does not come in the color navy. At Modern Dignified we feel that Navy Topsiders are the optimal color choice. Classic, different than any other shoe in the closet, distinguished and slightly arrogant in the same way as a pink shirt and seersucker suit or a pair of bright F*** You pants, the Topsiders have a little bit of everything.

While it is hard to make a bad choice when it comes to a pair of Topsiders, we prefer the classic Navy, which by the end of July will have worn in look that we desire.  Keep it classic and rock the Topsiders.

Kicks with clean lines

Having clean lines in your kicks or trainers if you want the shoe to be versatile.  A trainer with clean lines can be worn with jeans, shorts, a suit, dressed up or dressed down.  The simpler and cleaner the lines the more useful the shoes become.

Vans has learned this with their new chukka boot.  It has devilishly simple lines, no embellishments and comes in a universal light gray, which they call off-white.  The shoes are sold online through Urban Outfitters, for $65 a pair.

With simple, stylish shoes it will support and compliment the remaining outfit.  The same shoes are sold in all black on the vans website for $55.  We at Modern Dignified prefer the more useful off-white, but black is certainly a nice second choice.

Think clean lines.

How to Properly Shine your Shoes

Every pair of shoes needs some tender loving care to stay nice for years.  A good dress shoe can look good and last for decades, if taken care of properly.  It is common for men to have shoes for 30 or more years as long as they are polished and resoled as needed.  Due to such longevity, good dress shoes are the best investment a man can make in his wardrobe.

The more care and time taken at each step the better the shoes will look.  While a polish needs not take longer than 20-30 minutes the care some men desire to give a project can take it considerably longer.  Personally, I feel there is a therapeutic relaxation to polishing shoes.  While there are many debated techniques we at Modern Dignified feel the proper shoe care technique is quite simple, assuming you have the proper equipment.

The proper equipment can be bought in kits online like the one sold at Florsheim.  Or these items can picked up individually at any shoe store of quality.  Needed is shoe polish, the right color for the shoes.  A horse hair brush and a buffer cloth for polishing the shoes.   A liquid shoe polish for the edges.  As well as an old undershirt for applying the shoe polish.  At Modern Dignified we prefer shoe wax, commonly sold.  When working with shoe wax, hot water will be needed for best results.

Step #1: Clean the shoe - The shoe will need to be cleaned of any dirt or dust with the old shirt.  Do not use water on this step.  If the shoes are extremely dirty use saddle soap on the shoes.  If the shoes are receiving regular maintenance then a good rubdown with a cloth will do the trick.


Step #2: Polish the shoe - The best method is to wrap the cloth around two fingers and then dip the fingers into the hot water.  Then use the two fingers wrapped in the damp cloth to load up on shoe wax.  Take the shoe wax (Kiwi Shoe Polish is a wax) and apply it to the shoes in small circular motions.  Start the small circular motions at the heel of the shoe moving forward. 

This is the step that can take the longest time, depending on the desired effect.  The shoes will reach a deeper shine and polish the more time taken to ensure the leather has fully taken the polish.  Continued circles until nearly shiny will do the trick.  With regular use this step needs to only be done once.  But for badly maintained shoes, the process should be repeated twice.


Step #3: Buff the shoe - After letting the shoe dry for about ten minutes, usually the time taken to do the second shoe in the pair, the polish needs to be buffed.  Just like a car, the excess wax will need to be removed from the shoe.  Unlike a car wax job, the initial treatment works most of the wax into the leather leaving only a little residue to be buffed off the shoe.

Take the horse hair brush and vigorously brush the shoe.  This buffing should be done to all areas of the shoe, until it is shiny and all evidence of the original circular polish is removed.  At this time the clean buffer cloth is used to further enrich the shine.  Rub the buffer cloth on the shoe in a back and forth motion.  Continue until the shoes reach desired shine.


Step #4: Edge and Enjoy - Finish off the polish job by edging the shoe.  Let it dry and then enjoy the finished project.  A job that you can be proud of.

Spring Essentials - Alden & J Crew Shoe

The best shoe of the spring is the Alden wingtip in tobacco coloring.  It is the best color to encapsulate spring, since it is light, colorful and classic.  It will go with any color in the closet and help make an outfit sing.  Naturally it goes well with blues, tans, light colors and jeans, but I personally think the best look for this shoe might be with a gray suit.  The unexpected pop of color on the feet with a gray suit would be unmistakably stylish. 

Alden is renowned for being one of the best shoe manufacturers in the world.  To see them teaming up with J Crew is a nice combination, especially when they come out with a classic hit such as these.  The tobacco colored Alden wingtip is only sold at J Crew for $440.

If this Spring's fashions are as cool as this shoe, we are in for a treat.

Classic Shoes With a Twist

 

We all know that a pair of kicks can really change an outfit and help you stand out. Women certainly look at shoes a lot more then men, trust me they notice when you are rocking a new pair of shoes. At Modern Dignified we enjoy classic items with a twist, whether it is shirts, jackets or shoes.  It is great to have the iconic shoes in a closet, but it is even better to have memorable and stylish shoes that are not worn so often by so many people that they become a cliché. Keeping a unique voice with our style is certainly important at Modern Dignified.

VAEL Project shoes are just that, stylish, classic with a modern twist, unique and not yet on everyone's feet. VAEL Project shoes are high quality, well made and quite stylish, but still reasonably priced. The shoes are exactly what we look for at Modern Dignified a way to express our unique style without fitting in with a pre-defined subculture.  Take for example the Apres boot in black or brown it combines stylish components of a hiking boot and a work boot, while still keeping its own voice. This boot looks appropriate for a night in the city or a quite weekend in the country, a versatile boot with high end construction, yet it is only $215.

Another example of the unique style that VAEL Project offers, is the Deckard boot. It is the VAEL version of a boat shoe turned into a boot. It is combat boot combined with a boat shoe twisted into a modern stylish boot.  This is a bold look and not right for everyone, but it certainly has the style and design to get recognized in a good way. The Deckard boot is also reasonably priced at $220, considerably less than most boots of similar style.

VAEL Project also makes the Deckard boot in a mid height. This is a shoe that can be worn day in and day out with almost any outfit in the closet.  It can be worn to the office or on a weekend, it is a versatile and adaptable shoe. It is also sold in a style called: Charles, which comes with a more rugged sole that adds outdoorsmen style to the boot. Whether you choose the Charles or the Deckard mid, the boot is certainly Modern Dignified's favorite of the VAEL collection. Keeping with the well priced
trend, this boot is $150.

Most of the boots and shoes that VAEL sells come with different color combinations and styles. Take for example the Brogue boot, a classic shoe with brogue detailing turned into an everyday boot. It epitomizes classic styling turned on its ear, but done in a rakish way. The brogue boot has a variety of colors and looks, but our favorites are the classic black and the brown with red buffalo check detailing. This boot sold for $160, once again offers versatile fashion in a unique design. The addition of the red
buffalo check, is exactly the unique style that VAEL seems to channel.

Looking at the VAEL Project trainers, they seem to have found a way to mix colors and designs in a new way, while still feeling classic and timeless. The shoes we at Modern Dignified like are the Klipspringer Mocha, the Borg Metallic Gold and the Borg Frog, all selling for $130. The Borg Frog combined green, black, yellow, gray and off-white into a single cohesive shoe. The sleek shape and timeless lines for the shoes help keep it stylish while the designers at VAEL Project manipulate colors and textures. The Borg Frog has textured leather mixed with smooth leather and a recognizable sole.

If you want something different, classic, modern and stylish, VAEL Project is worth a look. Edgy and unique while staying true to the classics.

Spring Essentials - Bucks

White Buck shoes are as classic Spring as they get.  Spring after spring gentleman in the south have been breaking out their white Bucks.  As sure as the flowers bloom, girls wearing sundresses and taxes, the spring has brought us Bucks, year after year.

Well now Bucks can be found at stores everywhere, for good reason.  White Bucks are commonly only sold by classic shoe makers like: Johnston & Murphy, Crockett & Jones and Alden.  Our favorite versions of the Bucks are modern takes on this classic shoe as offered by J Crew and American Eagle.

J Crew is selling their version of the White Buck and Dirty Buck for around $140.  These bucks have a modern texture and color offerings.  A true tribute to the classic.

American Eagle has a pair of Bucks on sale for around $30.  These are a distressed version of the shoe with a very modern silhouette.  These certainly meant for nice suits, but they can help liven up your jeans.

Style Profile - Ign Joseph

Sometimes a fashion statement can be as simple as brightly colored socks.  Ign. Joseph has created a fantastically eclectic and unique style out of exquisite shoes, navy blazers, gray slacks and socks that pop with color.  Ignatious Joseph makes great shirts and clothes, they are well tailored and come in bold colors and patterns, without losing their classic feel. 

The bright burgundy shoes and bold socks seem to fit perfectly with the classic feel of the rest of his outfits.  And since the socks and shoes are so powerful, it seems appropriate that the pants don't reach the shoes and in fact are tailored to expose his bold decisions. 

Normally, I would frown upon the dramatically shortened pants, but Ign. Joseph owns the look and makes it seem quite normal.  Even without the shortened slacks we all can learn to brighten up an otherwise ordinary outfit with a bold choice in hose.