There's never been a greater selection of men's shoes than you'll find today. From dress shoes to athletic shoes to designer shoes, there's footwear for every taste, activity and budget. Here is some basic information to help you wade through all those options, so you'll know what kind of shoes will work best for you.
Like any other clothing item, what looks and feels good to the wearer is the ultimate deciding factor. Some men wear nothing but sneakers; others won't be seen unless they are wearing wing-tips. Most men fall somewhere in between. Before visiting the Overstock.com shoe store, look at factors like when and how often you'll wear these shoes, what clothing you'll be wearing, how long will they be worn, etc.
There's no reason to fear buying men's shoes online. A little knowledge is the key to success. Know your own feet. Know your activities. Know your own personal preferences. Most of all, use good judgment. This will eliminate, as much as possible, any chance for difficulties in size, material or style.
A poorly fitting shirt looks bad, but won't damage your health. Improperly fitting shoes can. When dress shoes or casual shoes are properly laced, your heel should not move much (one-quarter-inch or less), this reduces friction-caused blisters. Athletic shoes should be snug enough to keep your foot comfortably where it should be--toward the inside of the shoe. Good support prevents fatigue and lessens the chance of injury. Can you wiggle your toes a bit? Your toes need room to spread out for proper stability. It also helps keep them warm and avoid blisters.
For leather, you should take time every now and then to thoroughly clean and condition your hide. Numerous products are on the market, read the labels and choose carefully. For patent leather, commercial cleaners use a mineral oil base, petroleum jelly is a good home substitute, and a clean cloth. Do not use floor polish on patent leather. If leather gets wet, clean it off, stuff with newspaper to absorb the moisture and air dry slowly away from a heat source. For 'man-made uppers', mild soap (like dish detergent) on a damp cloth will probably work best.
Designer shoes sometimes contain a dust bag, a fabric storage bag that slips over each shoe to prevent it rubbing against its mate. Using the bag lengthens the life and good looks of your shoes.
Athletic Shoes--sometimes general and wearable for any sport or activity, some are designed for a specific sport; tennis shoes, basketball shoes, golf shoes, etc.
Athletic inspired--a general purpose shoe following the basic design of sport shoes, but not designed for the stresses of serious play.
Boots--shoes with an upper that covers all or part of the lower leg; they vary from totally decorative western boots to functional hiking boots to tough, industrial work boots.
Comfort shoes--inspired by moccasins and clogs, form follows function in these modern variants, and their function is to make happy feet.
Flip-flops--usually rubber, with a single front V-strap, once exclusively beachwear, sometimes called thongs.
FUG--short for 'flying ugly boot', an Australian creation with fleece lining and soft sheepskin or lambskin exteriors; wonderfully warm and designed for sockless wear, some use them in all seasons.
Loafers--a slip-on inspired by moccasins; a traditional business or casual style such as the classic Penny Loafer, which now requires a quarter.
Oxfords--also inspired by moccasins, a closed toe, heel & back shoe with laces; the 'wing-tip' is a fancier Oxford with a traditional decorative pattern on the toe.
Sandals--a sole with several straps instead of an upper that bind it to the foot.
Slip-ons--loafers, slippers or any other shoe without straps or laces.
Slippers--light, usually fabric shoes designed exclusively for in-home use.
What exactly is patent leather? Should I get a pair?
Patent leather is leather given a glossy, mirror-like finish. The process is almost 200 years old and their popularity has come and gone many times. Presently, rented tuxedo shoes and military dress shoes are the big users, patent leather is rarely seen elsewhere. It is sometimes confused with imitation leathers such as Corfam and Clarino which are manmade materials.
Is this shoe going to fit my needs?
If you sit at a desk most of the day, almost any shoe will be fine. If you're discreet and can slip back into them when called away from your desk, the boss might not mind you being shoeless at the desk. If you are on your feet much of the day, however, shoes become vital to the success of the day and your overall podiatric health. If you stand a lot, plenty of cushioning is the way to go. If you move around a lot, athletic shoes should be seriously considered. If people make industry-specific shoes (such as work boots), clearly that ought to be your first choice.
With new shoes should go new accessories. Look at Overstock.com's selections of sunglasses, wallets and belts, perhaps even new ties or some luggage. You will look that much better and, in the long run, you will have saved even more money.
As you would with your best business apparel, you should consider buying one special pair of shoes for most serious occasions. A very dressy pair, worn just enough to be broken in, then carefully cleaned and tucked away in their box to be kept for weddings, funerals, court appearances, IRS audits and other serious occasions. If you choose to go this way, this is where you consider the best designer men's footwear you can find and don't worry about the price. Of course, at Overstock.com, you really never have to worry about the price.