Dress Shoes

So, I'm doing this one on a request from a VG member, bk1998. Basically, he wanted me to do a post on dress shoes, preferably ones that compliment a grey suit. I hope I'm not too late on this one.

What to look for.

1. Black shoes.


2. Shoes with laces.


3. Leather, no shine.

Black is the color that goes with anything. With footwear, it's neutral. Dirt or scuff marks on black shoes are visible more than any other color shoes. Dress shoes with laces are a more mature look to me. Leather without a shiny, glossy look is a good look as well. Now, the brands that I believe make good quality dress shoes are:

1. Stacy Adams - Very good price, for exceptional quality of shoes. Provides a diverse variety of shoes to choose from.


2. Polo Ralph Lauren - High priced, but well worth it. I admire the design of the shoes, and possibly the only brand I would wear slip ons from.


3. Rockport - Prices suit the design. Great for those like me, who don't frequently wear dress shoes.

Examples

Stacy Adams Mens Nova

Okay these have a little old school look to them. If you've read Malcolm X's autobiography, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say that I can envision these being the type of shoes you wear with a zoot suit. Anyway, a great simple choice for a suit of any kind, peep the Stacy Adams Site.

Rockport Peyroux Dress Shoe Mens



The design on these truly prove that no gloss is needed in order for people to be drawn to your footwear. I love the design, and these are an all around great pick for dress footwear.Visit the Rockport site.

So, bk and other readers, there you have it. Any questions/comments/anything, just hit me up. Peace.

The Shoe Game Pt.1

So, the Ralph Lauren post has got me inspired. "Inspired to do what?", you may ask. Why, I was inspired to do a post on the shoe game and its many, many aspects. I don't want this to be a history lesson, so most of this will center on the shoe game today, mainly men's shoe game, as I am a male, and have little say in what women should be wearing. So, let's get to it.

Where we are Now.
Alright, I'm walking down the street and see an unique variety of kicks, some good, some bad. All of this in my head, I would have to say that many men dress immaturely when it comes to kicks. I see too many wearing basketball shoes as if they are to be worn casually. No. No Brons, no Kobes, NO basketball sneaks as everyday kicks at ALL. They are meant for the concrete and hardwood courts ONLY. Also, something about Air Force Ones (AF1) just ticks me off. They seem outdated, and I will only pardon you if they are high tops. Mid or low tops are a NO. Why? Well, they just seem tacky. I mean, they are a basic choice for someone who is just starting to pay attention to what they wear on their feet, like a 12 year old. Beyond that, no grown man should be wearing white on white low or mid top AF1's. Period. If you want to go for a younger look, AF1's are a too young look for a grown man, or a teen who is semi-concious about footwear. So, I'd say where we are at as men in the shoe game, we are at a C+. Don't worry, I have some tips on raising that grade.

Where do we go from here?
Okay, with the faults pointed out, we must capitalize and make some good out of them. Alright, for the dudes who don't want to lose the AF1 look, don't worry, I got you. I see AF1's as a young look, and they typically are for the younger crowd. However, there are two alternatives for them.


1. Nike Dunk Hi


What's not to like about these? First introduced in '85, these have that old school look to it. They were first designed for the hardwood, but since have become a street phenomenon, gaining it's way into skate culture. To me, these are the perfect replacement for AF1's. They even have a little AF1 look to them, they just come off more mature. Just pick a pair up, and tell me what happens.

2. Nike Blazer Hi


Ya'll already saw my Blazers. I got some negative feedback on them, I guess because they didn't have a 'contemporary' colorway. I don't care. These have a very young look to them, but you can tell they were made for basketball. George Gervin anyone? Yeah, you do the background check on these, and see if you don't cop a pair. They even come in three different material choices for ya'll picky dudes; leather, canvas, and suede.

Alright this is the end of part 1 of 3 in this "series". Uhhh, I really don't know what my next post'll be about, probably about branching out into other brands or something..Until then, "Live long and prosper." Naaaah, peace!!!!

What I'm Rockin': Polo Ralph Lauren Gardener Slip-On

What up. Haven't been on in a minute, but I'm here, and that's what matters. Now, this entry brings up something I feel like noting. I actually have had some new kicks to post about, I jsut haven't been able to, or felt like it. I had some Adidas and Polo Ralph Lauren Boots to post on, but that was back in January. I may do a review on the boots, the Adidas are all scuffed up on the toe box now, so it's no point in that. So, to the new post.

Well, these came in the mail yesterday, courtesy of Journeys and my mama. I had my eyes on these since word first dropped on them earlier this year. At first, I wanted the green/white colorway, but I settled on the navy plaid colorway instead.

Now, this is a slip on sneaker, and most slip ons are of canvas material. These have the look, but not exactly the feel. I feel that because they are Ralph Lauren, the material quality is a bit better than most canvas skate slip ons. The outersole is rubber, similar to how Chucks feel in the front, and have a skate shoe material along the sides. The front and back of the outersole are what demand the most attention, cleaning wise, because once it gets dirty, it kinda remains there, unless you can clean at the moment they get dirty. Be wary of the sides getting brown with dirt, it's something you can't control, you just have to maintain it by cleaning often, and not wearing them a lot. Now, I haven't had much dirt problems, as I have only wore them once. The toebox demands daily cleaning, because everyone accidently brushes the toe box on stairs while going up, and the toe box is what gets stepped on if someone steps on your sneaker most of the time. The material of the toe box is that of Chucks, and because it is white, daily cleaning is a must.

I am not a major Polo fan. ATM, it seems as if it's the hot thing right now, Polo strap caps, Polo shirts, Polo footwear. I just got a summer job yesterday, so I guess I will buy somemore Polo footwear. The reason is, Polo footwear has a mature look and feel to it. These are not your average slip ons, these are not Vans. These have a bit of finesse to them, and just looking at them gets you thinking about summer. The plaid design and colorway is subtle, yet it stands out somehow. Overall, I give these a 5 out of 5, and recommend that if you are looking to mature in your kick game, Polo Ralph Lauren is the way to go. Peace.