Reserved for life’s most important occasions, we only break out the formal wear when we want to look our very best. In many ways, formal wear has remained unchanged since the beginning of the last century. For men this means wearing a tux and of course, formal shoes for men meant wearing tuxedo shoes, normally made of fine patent leather.
But like so many other aspects of our dress code, formal wear has relaxed its once very strict rules. Just take a look at the men attending the annual Oscar ceremony. It wasn’t so long ago that every man on the red carpet wore the same thing; black tux, white shirt, black tie, and patent leather formal men’s shoes. Today men’s formal wear varies almost as much as the women’s, and it seems that any color or cut is okay.
Along with the stars, formal wear has also changed for the rest of us. Men’s formal shoes are no longer just plain patent leather. Today, loafers, boots, and oxfords can all be used as formal shoes for men. It’s pretty much anything goes, as long as the men’s formal shoes you choose match the occasion and the suit you are wearing. If you are wearing a tux then we still recommend tuxedo shoes. For dress suits, the list is longer. These are some of our favorite formal shoes for men.