18 Best Dress Shoes for Men 2025

In the past, men’s dress shoes would match the monocle rim, walking cane wood, or bowler hat hem. Modern dress shoes are still surprisingly versatile in these less formal dressing days, as formal and casual dress codes continue to intercede.

You’ve bought your suit and gathered a variety of accessories to match it. You don’t want to let a pair of old shoes ruin your impeccable style. To ground your hard work, you need shoes that are stylish and formal. Formal dress shoes are not anachronisms. The world is opening up again with weddings, friends’ dinners, events, and life, and there will be more occasions than ever for you to slip on leather-clad shoes.

The formality of dress shoes does not bind you. You don’t have to wait until the perfect occasion to wear them. (Except for John Lobb shoes.) You can mix them with more casual outfits, such as brogues, chinos and a white shirt. Loafers and casual light-wash jeans are a great combination. Derbies with cords? Whatever you do, you will not dare to try and tarnish the Oxford with a smart casual slant. Fashion Beans won’t be pleased.

This is not an easy task, with so many different types of dress shoes. Oh no. Hold on. We are here to help you navigate the many sub-categories and nuances of this fascinating world. If knowledge is power, then this in-depth fashion guide on the best men’s dress shoes is pure consumer-purchasing-power. Continue reading.

Barker Fleet double monk shoes

Since formalwear has been a staple of men’s clothing for centuries, many styles that we love and know have become rigid. It’s easy to recognize genuine innovation and creativity in design because it stands out. The asymmetrical double monk breast is subtle, but it sweeps the shape of the shoe with finesse.

Benchmade in England—the home of cobblers—artisans make these Barker double monks. Even though the shoe template is made of plastic, the shoe is still handcrafted by artisans. Fancy.

The best black dress shoes for men – Grenson Canterbury

Grenson is a well-known brand of dress shoes from Northamptonshire in England. The classic Canterbury silhouette is a testament to their legacy. The intricate brogue detail and squared toe elevate its formality. Officine Generale’s modern tailoring in a grey shade is a great alternative to a black slim-fit suit. This pair of black dress shoes is stylish yet full of personality. They will give this more relaxed suit the sharpness that it needs.

Vagabond Mike Shoes: The best comfortable dress shoes for men

How can I be sure that these are the most comfortable shoes for a dress you can buy with money? I have a pair and cannot emphasize enough how soft the rubber sole is. It’s almost like walking on a very sticky sponge. Rubber clouds. This is the opposite of the painful, bloody and horrifying dress shoes you wore in the past.

The black rubber soles blend seamlessly into the upper of the shoe in dark brown leather, creating an attractive overlap. I wore trendy dress shoes with black cords on the soles and a grey sweater with blue details. I thought the whole outfit looked great (if I may say so), and that was in large part due to the shoes.

P.S. The sizes are not a lie. Choose a size smaller than normal.

Saint Laurent Logo-Embellished Leather Penny Loafers

Oh, Verve. These shoes are a bittersweet symphony. The stylish white leather penny-loafer is not garish. The vintage shape, the uber-luxury interlocking “YSL logo” in gold letters, and the low block heels. Richard Ashcroft would write a song to describe these shoes.

Think about how much attention white shoes will attract. Normally, we would say to wear plain clothes and let your shoes be the focal point, but a pair of white leather shoes demands that you match their loudness.

Try straight-leg white jeans with a flamboyant tee and a suede coat. If you are going to wear white sneakers, you must be bold. You should be somewhere exotic, at dusk, with a cocktail and some Mexicana music in the background if you can.

The best red bottom shoes for men: Christian Louboutin Corteo whole cut Oxford

Louboutin was reportedly inspired by a worker applying red nail polish. He grabbed the polish from their hands and started painting furiously the soles of shoes red. Thus, the iconic red-soled Louboutin shoe was born.

Celebrities have worn the Louboutin dress shoes on the red carpet over the years. It’s only right that we follow their example.

How to style the red-soled shoes? You’ll need to be suave enough to pull it off. These shoes are best worn at a black tie event with a tuxedo that has a side stripe of satin to match their red carpet feel.

Cheaney Wye Derby in Black Hi-Shine Leather

These Cheaney Oxfords are a bit simplistic in appearance, but they are very practical. The Goodyear welt attaches the double-leather upper to the high-shine leather sole. These shoes are formal and stylish, and they go well with traditional tailoring.

Cheaney, founded in 1886, is another well-known cobbler in Northamptonshire. Skilled workers use traditional methods to make the highest-quality shoes. If, however, the shoes are damaged (because of the unpredictable vicissitudes that life brings), Cheaney has three aftercare plans: standard, imperial, and heel.

These derbies are both traditional and progressive, as the old-fashioned methods of high-quality shoemaking, along with comprehensive aftercare, have a huge impact on sustainability. They said it was impossible…

The best affordable men’s dress shoes: Bruno Marc Men’s Oxford Dress Shoes

I’m a no-toe-cap-kinda-guy, but with these elegant Bruno Marc dress shoes, you can take your pick. You can also choose between light brown, black, or dark brown. There is a good argument to believe that this is not a choice. All three are a must-have in any wardrobe.

The wide range of leather shades allows for maximum styling versatility. Simple, chic, and variable, these Bruno Marcs will save your style. It’s also nice to have 100% vegan leather.

Thom Browne Longwing Brogue With Leather Sole

Pebble grain leather is a wonderful tactile experience, even if it tends to lower a dress shoe’s formality a few notches. Choose between formality or sensuality. Isn’t that always the case? The simplicity and supreme quality of these Thom Browne Longwing Brogues will also help you maintain formality. Who said that you can’t have everything?

The heel pulls are a unique and stylish way to wear shoes. The shoes are American-style and have a heritage of English shoemakers, making them very special.

Best suede dress shoes for men: Scarosso Baco Suede Oxford

Artisans in Montegranaro make scirocco footwear with more than 40 years of experience. Quality is assured by using local materials and attentive artistry. Scarosso is a brand that represents passion, tradition, and history.

These Oxfords were handmade by highly skilled artisans. The soft suede is durable and will withstand regular wear. Wear it with Racing Green beige trousers and an Arket relaxed white shirt for a smart-casual outfit that will never fail.

The best Oxford shoes for men: Tricker’s Kensington Oxford Shoe

Joseph Tricker founded the royally warranted family company Tricker’s in 1829. They know how to define an Oxford shoe with the “closed-throat” construction. The leather sides meet in the middle and are laced up. This gives the shoe a formal and symmetrical look.

Imagine the formal essence captured in an Oxford shoe. This brand has enhanced these classic tropes with a square toe and brogue detailing on espresso-tinted leather. Style with a beige, off-white, or brown suit. In the winter, choose brown and in the summer, linen-beige.

Best derbies dress shoes for men: George Cleverley Archie Leather Derby Shoes.

George Cleverly began with a pair of high-class Derby shoes. But they went further. The heavy-tread tyres were added, and the ATV was converted. Vibram’s lugs are not only storm-welted, but they also have a 360-degree welt. Now, you can get a 360-degree welt that is waterproof and offers better protection.

Consider these Vibram monsters if you’re planning to run through miles and miles of mud bogs on your way to the next wedding. The current trend leans heavily towards chunkier soles.

Oliver Cabell Chocolate penny

The 3oz chocolate full-grain leather and the thin, black sole create a pair of stylish loafers. Leather is a stubborn material that refuses to lose its Italian identity. It has the spirit of “Sprezzatura,” a nonchalant style, and it looks like it loves La Passegiata.

These shoes are made in Portugal, a country with high ethical standards. Oliver Cabell says his shoes are the product of high ethical standards in Portuguese factories. Cabell is proud of its low brand markup. This means high-quality products at a fair price.

Gucci Roos Horsebit Leather Loafers: Best men’s slip-on shoes

The Gucci slip-on loafer. This style was popular in the fifties, and it has never gone out of fashion. It’s a sign that something is worth keeping. It is timeless but also retains the vintage appeal of its time. Enough fawning.

Few pieces of tailoring will say no to the classic Gucci horse-bit buckle. You can wear them with jeans, trousers, or even some vintage-aesthetic denim if you know how to play your cards. This is a strangely versatile summer shoe.

The best single-monk strap dress shoes men can wear: Myrqvist Skeppsholmen dark brown Country Calf

Myrqvist dress shoes are everyday shoes. They’re not dull or drab. They are so comfortable that they almost feel like sneakers. The grained leather and monk strap are to thank for the look. In no time, you’ll be replacing your Phylon midsole dress sneakers with these stylish beauties.

This shoe can be worn in a variety of settings, from an elegant-casual pair of denim to a brown/navy three-piece. Keep these shoes in good shape and keep them polished.

Loake Cannon: These are the best monk strap dress shoes for men.

The monk shoe is a personal favourite. Modern fashionistas love them because they can be worn with both casual and smart-casual clothing. They aren’t contemporary. Monks wore sandal-like pumps with straps that were durable and secure enough for outdoor work between 1000 and 1350 AD. The shoe may have been called a “strap” in the past.

Loake, a Northamptonshire family-owned cobbler, was “granted a royal warrant by appointment of HM the Queen for the manufacture of men’s footwear” in 2007. This particular shoe is from the 1880s. Like the brand and monk strap shoes in general, this shoe shows no signs of ageing.

Best patent dress shoes for men: Crockett & Jones Overton Black Patent

Black patent shoes are a classic style of elegance and simplicity. Crockett & Jones, a renowned British shoemaker, has used a lightweight sole with welt. Only the stitching on the upper is a little different, giving it a unique personality.

These Crockett & Jones are the perfect example of formality. They have dexterity and precision in abundance, as well as charm. Good, good, good.

The best expensive shoes for men: John Lobb’s Edgar Leather Oxford Shoes

These John Lobb oxfords are so well-made that you can tell they were made in an alternate universe by just looking at them. The curving outsole and the easy double-stitching on the heel of the shoe suggest that the shoes are artisanal. The shoes look more like a Sunseeker yacht than a pair.

The leather is crafted in the Northamptonshire factory of the brand, so you shouldn’t be surprised that they are made from high-quality black leather. Wear them only with the best tailoring and on the most important occasions to maintain their prestige. Keep them for the most important occasions. These are works of art.

Bridlen Suede Oxfords

You may only need a pair of suede shoes to match your tailored clothing. Bridlen, a relatively unknown brand on the market, has created a niche for itself through its Japanese roots.

The “broguing” on this pair of suede dress boots is immaculate. It’s not some bro-hugging but rather patterned leather perforations. Brogue shoes are also called wingtips because they have patterns that resemble the shape of wings. They can be worn in both formal and smart-casual styles. These shoes are a great choice.

What to Look for when searching for the best dress shoes for men

Fit

Mass-produced shoes or even benchmade dresses have been influenced by the tradition of bespoke shoemaking. Due to the width, shoe fits generally vary. Manufacturers refer to “lasts,” which are the tooling for the shoe or the template. Each last is unique.

Some standards apply to the entire industry. Standard size fits are “F” in the UK, “D“ in America, “R” or “M” elsewhere, which stands for regular. The wider fit in the UK is called “G,” “E“ in the USA, and “wide“ everywhere else.

Comfort

It will take some time for a pair of good leather shoes to break in if they are not bespoke. It’s normal for the leather to stretch and the stitching to loosen. Comfort is essential for a pair to be worth its money. This is crucial. You can also measure your feet yourself if you are unsure. You can avoid disappointment by obtaining specific shoe sizes from most manufacturers. You can use a shoe tree to keep your shoes in good shape.