We look at five of the season’s biggest men’s footwear trends and determine what each will say about the man who wears them.
The retro slip-on
Try: Rivieras France slip-on shoes
$85, www.asos.com
What it says: You’re a laid-back, no-fuss kind of guy who probably doesn’t work a traditional 9-to-5. Thanks to Vans, this shoe is as much of a wardrobe staple to 20- and 30-somethings as pleated chinos are to their dads. This spring they come in all sorts of new styles, like this retro 1950s model.
The gladiator sandal
Try: Damir Doma Frido sandal
$772, www.ln-cc.com
What it says: You’re the guy who gets a pedicure and possibly even peruses the street-style blogs, where these shoes have been cropping up. Gladiator-style sandals, like the solid-strapped pair pictured below, are sold pretty much exclusively to the fashion pack.
The colorful driving shoe
Try: Mr. Hare Sergio driving shoes
$418, www.mrhare.com
What it says: They’re the kind of shoes that womanizer Daniel Cleaver from “Bridget Jones’s Diary” would wear while speeding off for that steamy weekend away. So if that’s what you’re going for, the shoe pictured above is for you. The cobalt color gives the classic revved-up sex appeal, especially when teamed with a perfect St. Tropez tan.
The bold track sneaker
Try: New Balance men’s Country Fair sneakers
$184, www.oki-ni.com
What it says: You’re aware of trends (bright trainers are, like, so now.) This is also ideal for those of you who give rules the middle finger. Think: the guy who wears a suit with sneakers to the company conference, a la Steve Jobs.
The color-blocked boat shoe
Try: Thom Browne boat shoes
$520, www.mrporter.com
What it says: You’re someone who finds the basics boring and knows what a Thom Browne suit is. With these shoes, tradition meets quirky modernity, offering just enough of the unexpected to set you apart from all of your friends dressed in conventional wardrobe staples this summer.
