Now that the winter months are finally drawing to a close, it’s time to start looking toward the warmer months. I live in Dallas, where we get about a whole month of Spring and then it’s Summer. And so, I’m giving out what I consider to be must have items for the next few months.
First up is the Boat Shoe:
This shoe is perfect for the upcoming warm weather. It looks great during the morning, lunch, happy hour and casual dinners. I love it for the Hamptons-esque summer vibe that it gives. When you wear this shoe, you could go from a leisurely coffee on a Saturday morning to a night out on a hot summer night. Also, this is a great shoe for those men who want to hide their ugly feet. A lot of men have ugly feet and toenail issues and this shoe keeps the rest of the public (read: me) from having to see your gnarled toes in flip flops.
The shoe above is available at Sperry for $85. Not a bad price for a shoe that will take you from happy hour on a cool April evening to a late dinner in September. Historically, it doesn’t get too cold in Dallas until October, so I can’t beat $85 for 6 months of wear. You can find cheaper versions of this shoe out there, but when buying shoes, I always think that quality is a better reason for buying than price. However, if you’re only going to wear them a few nights of the spring/summer, then go for the cheap ones. No sense in paying a lot for a shoe you know you won’t wear.
What to wear these with? You can’t go too wrong on these. Though, I will advise that they look best with a khaki pant/short and a nice button-down shirt or a vintage t-shirt. Will you look like a douche in these? If you stick with a classic, preppy outfit, you’ll look fine. But pair them with Dad Jeans and tucked in polo shirt and you’ll like a laid-off banker.
When should you stay away from these? If you are going to a place that’s outside, then these are perfect. If you’ll be sitting in a dark steakhouse with a glass of red wine? Avoid. These shoes are more for being outside and having fun, then they are selecting a wine to go with your porterhouse. Also, don’t wear these to the office, even on a casual Friday.
Next post: Umbrellas.
Stephen Trendy
