WHEN it comes to footwear, I have come to the conclusion that the average Malaysian man has lost his ability to coordinate the right shoes with his outfits, like the way he has lost the ability to use his car indicators when driving on the road.
Why is this, I ask myself? Too much variety and men are confused? Or the opposite – too little choice? Maybe men just do not care?
Whatever the case, almost always, too little time and consideration is given to choosing footwear. Fear not, guys, here are some handy hints if you are footwear challenged.
With corporate work wear, leather shoes should be worn. Nowadays, these can be bought from Bata, Zara, or Zegna. Whatever your choice, the shoes should preferably be black or dark in colour – and should fit well. Most leather shoes have leather soles and can tend to be a bit stiff and hard. Choose a pair that cushions your feet, as you have to spend a good eight hours in them, five days a week.
For the stylish bloke with a sense of adventure, there are plenty of shoes to choose from - Photo by Charlz Chan
Avoid light colours, or shoes that will stand out. The idea of the corporate shoe is to extend the look of your pants and finish off your outfit with some finesse and corporate dignity. Thus, light or contrast coloured shoes will bring attention to your feet, and may make you look like a rap artiste or a pimp. And it will not help elongate your silhouette.
The younger and more fashion conscious men are wearing pointed leather shoes that end in a square toe. If this is not your style, a more rounded toe is acceptable, but whatever the style, your shoes should always be polished.
Casual shoes can range from loafers to sneakers (also known as trainers). Loafers are low, leather, or suede step-in shoes usually constructed like a moccasin, but with broad flat heels. They have no shoelaces or buckles, but sometimes have tassels. They are easy to wear and generally worn without socks. In the 1980s, it became the preppy look; nowadays they are worn with jeans, chinos, and a blazer.
Sneakers, on the other hand, can give the wearer an informal but sportier look. Labels like Adidas, Nike and Puma make a wide range of models that are very comfortable. They come in suede, leather, rubber, vinyl, canvas or a combination. The sole can be made of thick rubber and generally is cushioned and has good arch support.
These shoes are generally worn with jeans, with shorts, or with tailored pants.
Depending on the style chosen, they can convey an air of informality, a sense of style or tell people which "hood'' you belong to.
Much loved by Malaysians is the flip-flop. Also called Japanese slippers, jandals, or thongs (not to be confused with the underwear variety), this variety of footwear is worn by young and old alike.
It is an easy-to-wear slip-on, and especially comfortable in our humid tropical weather.
It is worn in very casual situations: at home, for going out to eat at hawker stalls, or whenever your feet need an airing, especially after a day in leather shoes. The Brazilian brand, Havaianas, has elevated the humble flip-flop to designer status. This brand, much sought-after by the young and trendy, offers many colours and designs and is often seen on the runway during New York Fashion Week.
Just as easy to wear are sandals. A must in anyone's summer wardrobe, they are different from flip-flops because of a strap around the heel. Made from rubber, plastic, leather, fabric or a combination, sandals were made popular by the hippies in the 1960s and 1970s.
The cardinal sin is wearing sandals with socks. This is a big no-no!
Sandals provide an air of respectability when worn with jeans, but still have the comfort of the flip-flop.
Whatever your choice of footwear, and whatever the occasion, just check in the mirror before you leave home to see if your ensemble works.
Be mindful of this old saying: "You can tell a man not by what he wears on his body, but by what he wears on his feet".
Charlz Chan wears leather shoes from Clarks, trainers from Puma, and loves his flip-flops from Bata.
This message was forwarded to you by chachascribe@gmail.com.
Comment from sender:
Footwear 101
This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)
URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/7/lifeliving/2702918&sec=lifeliving
No comments:
Post a Comment