We often hear that the first thing women look at in a man's outfit is his shoes, so it's in your best interest to learn how to choose them well.
Buying a pair of shoes is far from an easy purchase. First of all, shoes are a wardrobe item that remains expensive. Often the most expensive piece of your outfit, with your coat or your suit .
To make the right choice, there are many criteria to take into account: style, construction, color, or even the level of quality.
Men's dress shoes, two mistakes to avoid
In this article, I simply want to warn you against two mistakes that men make very often:
1. Not investing enough money: below €150, it is absolutely impossible to find a nice pair of quality shoes. On the other hand, it's quite easy for big brands, even below this price, to produce shoes that look good when new in store windows, but which deteriorate quickly.
Sometimes, after only ten wears, you can already see the sole warping, or the leather forming large, very ugly folds. The consequence: you have to buy a pair every year, and if you always go back and buy the same thing, this infernal cycle is perpetuated; pillorying all your efforts to present a beautiful image of yourself.
2. Forgetting who we are, by not thinking about the wearing environment. A pair of shoes largely defines the overall style of the outfit. This is particularly true with casual outfits, where the choice of a pair of sneakers, or a pair of Oxfords, will completely change the image conveyed by the look.
Be careful not to buy a nice pair of shoes that are too formal, which you may find difficult to wear afterwards.
With a pair of jeans...
...with a suit.
Testing Italian-American Paul Evans shoes
For this article, I tested Paul Evans shoes, which are made in Italy. The brand was created in New York two years ago, with the aim of reducing costs by distributing only via their website.
What I particularly liked about “The Grant” model, which I chose, is the presence of hidden seams. It gives a very modern side to the shoe. The kind of detail that changes, and that is rarely found among more traditional American shoes in the same price range (around $350), like Meermin , Allen Edmonds or even 1880 Loake .
Nice hidden seams.
The discreet perforations give the shoe a slightly casual look; the more there are, the more casual the shoe has. Traditionally, these perforations were used to evacuate water, so they were found on less formal shoes.
Unlike hidden seams, this is a much more common detail, and many brands offer Richelieu shoes covered with little holes .
Perforations, but not too many.
Apart from these finishes, the line of the shoe itself is very successful, very slender. This is remarkable, given the overhang of the soles which is quite imposing.
This success, in terms of style, is largely due to the very tight curves of the shoe: the arch of the leather on the sides and on the top is very marked.
Furthermore, the patina is rather rich in color, which is particularly visible in the sun. With other more classic brands, the colors often seem very flat, even when the shoe is new.
A color rich in nuances.
For me, style-wise, these are really nice shoes. They are very business-like, but without being boring.
Quality dress shoes should be well constructed
The construction of these shoes is a Blake construction, but the fairly wide overhang (which looks like Goodyear, but is not) protects the leather well from impacts and, as a result, ensures a certain solidity.
Generally speaking, my preference is for Goodyear constructions, although Goodyear or Blake constructions are available at all quality levels. Here I am very pleasantly surprised to find a very robust Blake construction.
You can clearly see the fairly large overhang here.
The leather insole is a little rougher than my other pairs of shoes, but it doesn't cause any discomfort.
I would even say that these are a very comfortable pair of shoes, but I must warn you: the arch of the foot is very marked due to a fairly high heel, which will not necessarily please everyone .
The leather softens quickly, I was already very comfortable after a day of wear.
Finally, depending on the model, Paul Evans shoes are made in Italy or Spain, which are two countries recognized in Europe for their shoes.
Our opinion on Paul Evans shoes
Paul Evans is a young brand which aims to eliminate intermediaries to offer excellent value for money. This is possible through only online distribution, for the moment. Paul Evans is following in the footsteps of other disruptive brands in North America, such as the jeans brand Gustin , or Frank and Oak .
The brand started with only 3 Richelieu models, and is now expanding its offering by expanding its range to include moccasins, boots, and even introducing a double buckle model. (Note: The brand has recently offered a selection of accessories that I have not tested).
In summary: This is a good choice for a shoe with a formal and quality style, with a few details that stand out from the ordinary. As always, when you order products from Uncle Sam, remember that you are not protected from a tax when your package arrives in France.
