Shoes: An Introduction

The great Renaissance Man, Leonardo da Vinci once said that "the human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and work of art."

It's only natural that the foot receives more attention to a man's overall look. An otherwise perfect appearance would be spoilt if a man wears a pair of ugly looking shoes.

Without doubt, good outfits go hand-in-hand with good shoes but one must remember that even the most fashionable, avant-garde, coveted pair of shoes CAN'T guarantee to rescue a questionable assemble or a wardrobe malfunction!

Even so, before one is to embark on a series of purchases, he must put buying shoes at the top of the list as suits, jacket, shirt, ties etc could be bought later.

The logic behind this is that once the shoes are bought, buying the other outfits will be solely determined by how well it goes with the shoes.

And most importantly, a man has to dedicate half of his shopping budget on shoes alone! Some may find this a little extreme but it's just an exaggerated way to convey the importance of shoes.

It is very unfortunate that a large number of men, -the average Joe- blame it on the lack of budget for their horrible state of footwear for the real reason is the lack sense of style!

Because a man will at least need ONLY 2 pairs of good shoes for it will take a day or 2 for the shoes to recover after they are worn.

For the athletic ones, it is also recommended to have 2 pairs of sports shoes to be worn alternately after the other; whether it's the same design or a different one, that depends on the individual himself. This also applies for formal, semi-formal and casual shoes.


How to recognize Good Shoes?

Not an easy task. It will take years of practice to develop a good eye for this.

A pair of good welted calfskin shoes made in factory, but nonetheless by craftsmen -any type- would cost like the ones found in leading fashion houses such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci and Tod's.

Those unwilling to spend that much of money for shoes are advised to wait for End-of-Season SALE which prices are often reduced up to 50%. Nevertheless, one should stick with shoes of good lineage.

It's completely OKAY not to have shoes from designer labels as long as from your own experience buying from that particular brand (local or imported); the quality is worth every penny you spent.

Nonetheless, on a personal note, for leather shoes, one must be willing to spend big bucks, because good quality & well-stored leather shoes could last a lifetime!