Knowledge Darts About Footwear

Back when And 1 was to Streetball as Nike is to Oregon football and you were rocking those clever Big Dogs tees like it was your job, you were probably more worried about what clever song lyric you were going to put as your AIM away message than what was on your feet. But those days are over, so here come some knowledge darts about footwear.

Shoes can make or break an outfit. It's remarkable how much I catch myself looking down at someone's feet to see what they're wearing. You really can tell a lot about someone by the type of shoes they have on (and if they take care of them.)

One essential to have in rotation year round are a pair of white canvas low top sneakers. Converse all-stars are my personal go-to but you can't go wrong with Pro Keds or Jack Purcells. These are all inexpensive and are always a timeless casual look.

Another style that looks good year-round are any of the shoes from the Nike Lunar series. My favorite sneaker as of late is the Nike Flyknit (seen on Olympic athletes at the medal ceremonies in London.) This is also a time where you can add a bit of color to your outfit.




Steer-clear from big, chunky sneakers like the Air Force One or basically any type of Jordan. Those things suck.


During autumn and winter months, you really can't go wrong with a suede brogue or desert boot. You should always have a pair of brown and black boots available to you. Unlike sneakers, keep it simple and toned-down with the colorways. It's never a bad thing to invest a good chunk of cash into a nice boot. We recommend looking at Red Wing or Frye.





Nathan talked me into a pair of black L.L. Bean boots this past summer while we were in D.C. and I couldn't be more thankful. For only $100 I got a durable and good-looking pair of boots that I will wear for at least the next 4 or 5 years.


As we start to grow out of our fratty boat shoes (some earlier than others) and Hush Puppies, we'll start to purchase real dress shoes made for real men. There are plenty of do's and don't's when it comes to dress shoes, but here are a few tips to get you started:

Match your shoes to your belt. They don't have to be identical colors but if you EVER want to be taken seriously, don't wear a brown belt with black shoes and vice-versa.

Always keep them polished and structured. Invest in shoe trees to keep the shape. Quick tip: if you don't have shoe polish handy, use the inside of a banana peel.

Consider the colors. Black dress shoes look good with just about any color suit. But when you're thinking about going brown remember this quote from a good buddy of mine Brad Howe, "wear dark shoes with a dark suit."


Typically, a high quality leather dress shoe is a pretty big investment for a young man. But it's also a very important investment. Here are four styles that you should chose from when purchasing a dress shoe.

Oxford:



The first dress shoe a man should purchase. Should be black and include a toe cap. Can be worn to funerals, job interviews, business meetings. Very versatile.

Wingtip:

This shoe adds a bit of personality and flair. Wingtips, otherwise known as brogues in the UK, are not as formal and can be paired with dark jeans or a suit.

Loafer:



Otherwise known as the official shoe of my dad, a loafer is a low-cut, slip-on that can be worn both casually and formally.

Monk Strap:



This is without a doubt Form & Function's favorite style right now. Switch it up with these if you're really feeling like a menswear head. You can get them in single, double or even triple strap.



Remember, don't ruin your crispy fit with struggle-wear.



Ryan