Khaki Chukka Boots...Understated and Under-appreciated

Chukka boots are probably one of the few types of shoes that seem to be really under-used by most men. It is very rare that you see someone wearing an actual chukka boots, yet with the proper last/shape they can look great with jeans or with a suit. First, chukka boots and desert boots are not the same thing. Desert boots have a round toe shape and usually have crepe sole, chukka boots have a more pointed rounded toe; similar to a dress shoe and the soles vary.

You tend to see chukkas and desert boots for that matter in many shades of brown, specifically darker browns. You rarely see them in lighter shades, like khaki. The color might turn off people due to them being such a light color. However, they can be paired with pretty much everything you could pair a dark brown pair of shoes with. Get a pair with a black sole to add some contrast. Here is a great example; this pair by LandsEnd.

All Your Shoes Don't Have To Be Brown or Black

Simply not all your shoes need to be brown or black, men get too comfortable alternating between brown or black, granted with brown comes a plethora of shades. However I highly recommend getting a pair of gray leather shoes. They go with almost anything, especially in the dark blue family. Here's my pair that I picked up at Kenneth Cole Factory Story over a year ago for $20, down from $150.

Alfani Wingtips, Great Look at a Great Price!

These Alfani's are absolutely beautiful. The last is amazing, the cognac color used is equally as amazing  and the price even more. Macy's has them for $99.99 but were recently marked down to $49.99. If you have a Macy's card knock another 20% off of that, bringing them in at $40 plus tax.

Shoe Trees...Can Never Have Enough

Just got these in about 2 days ago but being that I was in Baltimore just opened them up this morning. They are cedar shoe trees and right now Jos A. Bank has them for $7.50 when you buy 3 or more. No free shipping code anymore but checkout their store if possible.

Shoe Trees...Why You Need Them and Does It Matter Which Ones?

Shoe trees are essential to keeping your shoes looking as new as possible, smelling as fresh as possible and retaining their shape. They really have three primary functions as mentioned above. How?

Ceder Shoe Trees help your shoes looking as new as possible by helping not only retain the natural shape of the shoe but assist in maintaining the shoes when polishing and moisturizing them with leather moisturizer. It makes it a lot easier to simply wipe the shoes and rub lotion or polish on them. Due to them being made out of cedar they also have a very pleasant cedar wood smell. This ends up odorizing your shoes with this great cedar smell while absorbing any moisture that can not only damage the leather but make your shoes smelly.

Left: Nordstrom Rack $12.50 Right: Golfsmith $4.95

There are two basic types of shoe trees, yes they're are more but we're getting into lasted shoe trees category. Pretty much you have the shoe trees where the front widens and usually have the hooked back and then you have the shoe trees where the front doesn't widen and the back is a handle. Personally I like the hooked ones but the ones with the handle still do the job really well.

WDYWT...well what I wore on 9/7

This Friday was the first Friday of the school year. The debate for me was should I wear dress pants, a shirt, tie, and a blazer or go Friday casual. As a teacher there is a "grace" period before you pull out your casual duds, however, I think this only applies when you're teaching a group of students you've never taught before. Thankfully for me, I'm teaching the same students that I taught 3 years ago and they know how I operate. Therefore, keeping my look authoritative wasn't necessary. So I went for a casual look as did others.

Shirt: Old Navy Short Sleeve, White/Navy stripe as featured in Look 1 of TSB's feature. $9

Jeans: American Rag purchased at Macy's as featured in Look 3 of TSB's feature. $7

Shoes: LandsEnd Desert Boots, posted a few days ago. $21 shipped

Total: $37

What Everyone Should Have...Black Plain Toe Dress Shoes

Every man should own a pair of black Plain Toe Dress shoes. By plain I mean no medallion, no brogue detailing, no split in the toe to make it a cap toe. What makes these so great is that they double not only as a nice black shoe to wear with your suits but on those occasions that a tuxedo may be necessary no need to wear a patent high school reminder of a shoe.

Below are a nice pari I found on eBay worn 1x from Banana Republic. Total with shipping $34.99!

DSW...Affordable Basics and then some...

Sorry for not posting the last couple of days, fell asleep last night. Nonetheless...

I suggest that if you are near a DSW that you make a trip and check out their selection. If you are near the Wayne, NJ one, even better as they have a HUGE clearance section and can find some GREAT GREAT finds. Below is my favorite find of all time.

The nap wasn't brushed properly on this picture but this is when I first got them, brand new. Crepe Soles, brown nubuck cap toe. DSW has them valued at $225, but usually sold them at

$129.99. At one point they were marked down to $99.99, a steal, and highly recommended by dappered.com. What did I pay? $27, thank you clearance section.

Mike Konos Brown Nubuck, Size 10.5, $27

Note: I had to size down a bit on these. Usually I'm an 11 in dress shoes, had to go down even more.

Here's a pic of them being worn. The crepe sole is great as it shows little to no wear.

Classic Loafers

eBay can be your best friend! Found these on eBay a few months back for about $26 shipped brand new, Johnston & Murphy. This is your classic penny loafer, black, shined, rounded toe, that can be dressed up or down.

*Tip: prolong the life of your shoes by waxing them, polishing them and conditioning them*

Johnston & Murphy Penny Loafers Size 11 $26

*held up the pants to show the loafers*

What Did I Wear Today...1/22/12

Today I wanted to experiment with gray and different shades of them. Included in all my WDYWT posts will be what I paid and where I got it from, as well as size for reference. The combination I think came out pretty good. Definitely need to get the pants hemmed (probably a $5-8 fix). This probably cost me no more than $75-90; including the shoes and watch.

Banana Republic Gray Cords-$15 at BR Outlet Size 36 (need hemming)

Sweater Oscar De La Renta Gray Size XL (Gift)-$15-20 @ Macy's

Johnston & Murphy Leather Gloves Size L 2 for $40

at Johnston & Murphy Outlet.

Kenneth Cole New York Oxfords Size 12-$20 (MSRP $180) from

Kenneth Cole Outlet (sorry for not tying them yet). Skull

Socks from Banana Republic $1.50 from BR Outlet (MSRP $8)

Dress Shirt from Express Size XL-$20 (Gift)

***Not pictured watch...will include in later post but $15***

Breakdown

Shirt: Express $15

Sweater: Oscar DeLaRenta from Macy's $20

Pants: Banana Republic Outlet $15

Socks: Banana Republic Outlet $1.50

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Outlet $20

Watch: Kohl's $15

Total: $86.50

Wingtip Boots-Cole Haan Air Colton

Wingtips are one way to give your outfit a little "umph!" without being way over the top. They can take the simplest combo like black pants, white button down shirt for example or dark blue jeans and a white button down look much more sophisticated.

Wingtip Boots should be a part of EVERY man's shoe rotation. Not only do they add that nice "umph!" that would look great with jeans or under a suit, the boots are great for those cold fall days and NY winters for us here.

Below are the Cole Haan Air Colton Wingtip Boot. The boot comes in burgundy and breige (mix of gray and beige) which I don't recommend but the black one is awesome! Cole Haan's shoes all come with Nike Air cushion technology which makes them super comfortable. Better pics to come. These retail for $248 but are on sale for $149.98 ($100 off retail!), I paid $149.98 myself...last week Cole Haan had 20% off sale items...$120 then. This is probably the most expensive shoe I've bought recently and likely one of the most expensive that will be featured.

Cole Haan Air Colton Wingtip Boot