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Archive for the ‘Shoes’ Category
Sun, November 2, 2008 8:41 am By James Coolridge  Printer friendly version
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 Will you believe if I say that shoes are as important a part of your attire as your clothing?? Well, they are! For some of us it may be just a covering we use for the feet but they add a lot of life to what we wear and look as well. I do agree that men don’t attach the same mystic with shoes as women do but if you are really concerned about your style, then here are some tips that’ll help you pick the right pair for every occasion and clothing.
Get your feet measured!
The first step towards buying the right pair is getting your feet measured. In order to do so, you can get it done by a trained professional using a Brannock device. Most men end up wearing the wrong size because they haven’t got their feet measured since their high school days. And this eventually makes them get worn out early too. Getting your feet measured will include knowing the width, the toe length and the arch length. Some men with wide feet are not even aware that they need a wider shoe.
Comfort!
Comfort is one of the major factors that we all go for while buying shoes for ourselves. Always remember that we tend to take at least 4000 steps in a single day so it becomes imperative to pick a pair which can comfortably carry us through the day. Hence shoes with a thick sole are recommended for the same along with a sturdy insole. The heels play yet another important role in a shoe. You should make sure that heels are of proper size so that it does not affect your natural gait. If the heels are over sized, then your foot is going to be in trouble for sure.
Quality of the leather!
Shoes are an accessory that you get worth the money you pay for. So you can be assured that the quality you pay for will certainly come to you. Now the question is to know about the quality of the leather. Ideally its quality is graded from one to five. A thumb rule for men who are office goers and pay great attention to their personal style, should go in for the best quality leather. For those who are not aware, quality leather will have a smooth, fine grain finish with minimum blemishes. It will certainly be higher in price but well worth the investment.
So now that you know how to buy the perfect pair for yourself and how, I’m sure the next time you go to buy one, you’ll be more confident and know which pair to exactly go in for. So until then, be good and happy shopping!
Tags: Shoes, Style, style tips, How to buy shoes, tips to buy shoes, style tips for shoes
Fri, October 31, 2008 8:13 am By James Coolridge
 ‘Clothes maketh the man’ - they say but present times have spelled a different mantra. They say that shoes maketh the man as much as clothes do because they accentuate the over all look of a person and speaks a lot about the individual’s taste, personality and lifestyle. In my last article I spoke about certain basic essentials men need to know before buying the right pair of shoes. But all those who intend to be style divas must know that wearing just any pair of shoe (even if it is a good one) does not suffice for all occasions. One must also know which pair to wear for which occasion. Here are some suggestions telling you the same.
Shoes for jeans
Jeans make for a versatile pair of garb and hence almost all styles and shades go well with them. The only thing that needs to be kept in mind is to avoid wearing shoes that have a bit too formal look. Such shoes look better with dressier outfits. However, shoes that work well with jeans include boots, lug soles, sneakers, loafers and sandals. If you are wearing a polo t-shirt then sport shoes or leather sandals look the best with them. If shirt is what you want to wear with jeans, then boots with thick soles make for a great combination. As far as the color of the shoe is concerned, try matching it with other accessories you are wearing such as belts and watch straps.
Shoes for casual wears
Ideally when it comes to casual clothing, the style of the shoes should guide you through the kind of look you are trying to achieve. There are numerous varieties available in the market that compliments casual clothing, the most common displaying woven patterns. Ones with tassel or a buckle look better on formal clothing.
Shoes for formal wears
Dress pants and suits are the types of clothing most commonly worn for formal wears. The shoe styles fairing well with such attires are usually the shiny ones, with glossy leather, sleek, less bulky with less heels and soles. Your shoes should always be of the same color as your pants or of a darker tone than them. If you are wearing a belt, then choosing a shade matching with it is a better option.
So here you are! Now that you know which pair to wear with what apparel, tighten your strings and get ready to take on the world!
Tags: Style, style tips, shoe buying tips, Buying shoes
Wed, October 29, 2008 8:00 am By James Coolridge
 Until some time now shoes formed the cynosure only for women. We certainly don’t find men going on lunch breaks for buying shoes like most women often do. Or spending hours trying different pairs ending up buying just one. I’m sure men find it all quite difficult to understand the science behind all this but it is indeed true. Let me tell you that whether it be men or women, shoes aren’t just an accessory that we wear to cover our feet. They form one of the integral part of our attire and bear the onus of making us look stylish or outmoded. It won’t be an exaggeration if I say that our attire remains incomplete without wearing the right kind of shoes.
Many men do buy good shoes but however expensive or thick soled your shoe be, if you end up wearing oxfords with khakis or sport shoes with dress pants, you are messing up your look a great deal already. So knowing what to wear with the specific kind of apparels is imperative. I have already discussed this in detail in one of my last articles and readers who keep a constant track of my tips would have read it too.
Therefore in this article, I’ll be talking about the color combinations men ought of know while wearing shoes with apparels of different shades. Here we go!
• Men often think that black is a shade which goes with all shades of pants which is wrong. The best ones they work well with are navy, grey and black pants.
• Brown shoes match well with earth tones such as tans, brown, beige and shades of green. You can wear browns with dark suits but it calls for a high fashion sense which means never forgetting to wear a brown belt with it.
• Lighter shade of tan fairs well with blues, beige and whites.
• Khakis, light browns, blue and grey do well with burgundy shoes.
These are some color palate combinations that men must know and keep in mind while buying shoes. So now that you know it, I’m sure you’ll know which colored shoe to pick for the pants you intend to wear that evening. Wish you a happy shopping spree!
Tags: Style, Men’s style, style tips, shoe buying tips
Thu, June 26, 2008 10:34 am By Bryan Wright
 Height is a positive characteristic that can highlight one’s personality. A shorter man’s desire to look taller makes him either to undergo medical treatments or enroll into a gym to get few inches taller. However, the shoe industry has steer cleared all the worries of the shorter men. Many shoe manufacturing companies are producing height increasing footwear, called elevator shoes, which makes the shorter man look taller. A pair of elevator shoes also elevates the confidence of the person wearing it.
After wearing the elevator shoes, the man looks 2 to 4 inches taller than his original height. The elevator shoes consist of a light cork fitted in the internal built of the shoes that is responsible for increasing the height. The height increaser doesn’t look awkward, because it is safely hidden inside the elevator shoes. The elevator shoes looks just like any normal platform shoes.
Elevator shoes are manufactured not just to make you look taller, but also for your comfort and style. Elevator shoes are generally light weight. Another key feature of elevator shoes is that is helps you in maintaining a good posture. Elevator shoes are made of finest leather of high quality.
Elevator shoes come in various forms and sizes. Elevator shoes look best for sports events, as casual wear, formal occasions as well as workplace. You will be the centre of attraction of a special party if you wear elevator shoes. A pair of elevator shoes is so comfortable for sports events that you will enjoy looking taller, at the same time, enjoy your sports activity with pleasure.
Tags: Men, Elevator shoes, tall, inside, sole
Mon, June 23, 2008 10:39 am By Tyler Dirks
 When it comes to designer shoes, a couple of Italian brands strike our mind. Italian designer shoes are considered among the best because of their outstanding durability and high quality. In this article, we provide you tips on buying the right pair of designer shoes.
Some of the leading Italian designer shoe brands include Prada, Gucci, Mark Nason, and Donald J Pliner Rex Nappa. We have just short listed some of the leading brands. There are innumerous Italian brands that offer designer shoes with unique style and price tag.
When you choose a brand, look for the variety of designer shoes that this brand offers. This will widen your choices. Browse through the online shopping websites to find out what is latest is in vogue. Compare the prices of the same designer shoes in different websites. When you end up in the best price, stick to it.
Buying designer shoes online is quiet convenient. However, to get the “real” experience of designer shoes, it is best to drive down to your nearest outlet to buy your designer shoes.
When you have chosen a brand, look for the grade of leather and quality of stitching in the shoe. Designer shoes, whether Italian or not, are considered to be of superior quality when they are hand sewn. This ensures durability of the designer shoes.
The bottom line: When you are shopping for designer shoes, do not forget to search for the Italian brands, ‘coz you deserve the best!
Tags: Prada, Gucci, Reebok, Converse, Nike
Sun, June 22, 2008 2:01 pm By James Coolridge
 So you are all set to kick-start your day by enjoying the warm weather. You want to go for jogging and are searching for a good pair of shoes. What? You have only one pair of sports shoes dating back to your high school? Well, if this is the scene then dude, it is high time you bought a pair of athletic shoes. If you don’t know which one to buy, here we are to guide you with some tips. Read on.
What is your sport?
Remember, not every pair of athletic shoes are appropriate for every game. Wearing tennis shoes to run a marathon will only welcome injury. So, it is important to wear shoes designed exclusively for that sport.
What is your motion?
Look at your motion. Running and walking involve uni-directional motion. Tennis and squash involve lateral motion. When you play soccer and basketball, your body involves a combination of both lateral and uni-directional motion. So, if your movement is side-to-side, the shoes with a little more support given in the sides are better for you. The straight motion demands for stiffness in the sides.
Cushioning in the shoes:
This also depends upon the sports you play. For instance, while playing basketball, you should wear shoes which could absorb the impact created by repeated jumping and landing. Look for a pair of shoes with extra cushioning throughout the sole.
Size of your shoes:
You will land in foot injuries if your pair of shoes is ill-fitting. Choose the one which is comfortable. Walk around the stores wearing the shoes and at any point you find it a bit difficult to walk, replace the shoes immediately. Make sure that the toe area of the shoes provides enough room for flex while running. There should be a half-inch space between your big toe and the end of the shoe. The back of the shoes should be neither too loose, nor too tight.
Check the quality:
I will always recommend you to buy a pair of shoes that will last a couple of years, which doesn’t need yearly replacement.
Tags: quality, athletic shoes, cushioning, size
Mon, June 9, 2008 10:42 am By James Coolridge
 Today Barker Shoes are regarded in the English shoe industry as one of the world’s finest producers. They sell domestically and export a growing number of pairs internationally to cater for a growing foreign demand. Barker Shoes represent one of around twelve or so select niche English shoemakers that operate in Northamptonshire; other well-known manufacturers in the area include Church’s, Loake and Grenson Shoes. To understand how and why Barker Shoes are such high quality, it is worth noting the history of the brand and the philosophy behind the company.
The beginnings of the Barker shoes brand dates back to 1880 when Arthur Barker, a skilled boot maker, started employing craftsmen from the surrounding villages to help expand production of his ever-popular peg-sole boots. At the turn of the century, Arthur Barker invested in a factory premises and was later rewarded with the contract to supply the British Army with boots for the First World War. The Barker Shoes brand increased in strength and popularity on an ongoing basis throughout the first half of the 20th Century and to an extent that a new factory was constructed in 1947 to expand production, including a new line of Men’s shoes.
The Barker Brand itself set up a dedicated sales company in 1950 to sell directly to retailers. The Philosophy of Arthur Barker was an insistence that the traditional shoe styles, such as brogue and oxford shoes, need not be old-fashioned. It is easy to see from the current collections that this philosophy has been and continues to remain at the heart of their shoe design team. Each of the Barker Shoe collections contains a superb mix of traditional designs and contemporary takes on traditional designs. Barker has also made a distinct effort in recent years to produce contemporary design shoes, but in a way that reflects the traditional English shoemaking methods and quality.
Currently, Barker Shoes craft over 200,000 pairs annually. They can only manage this by having one of the most sophisticated shoe production facilities worldwide. Their current site was constructed from local Northamptonshire brick and stone and is located near the village of Earl’s Barton. The factory was designed with innovation in mind. Examples of these features include vast windows that enable large amounts of natural light to enter the craft area which is vital for leather colour grading.
Barker Shoes have maintained their position as one of the leading English shoe brands by staying true to the original philosophy on which the company was started well over a century ago. Today you can find their shoes in select shops and online retailers.
Tags: Shoes, brand, baker, footwear, Arthur Baker, English
Tue, June 3, 2008 12:54 pm By James Coolridge
 Sometimes simple things can be simply perfect and extraordinary, it is the same case with wonderful flip flop sandals. They do not have any pleasing appearance when compared to other swanky footwear. Sliding on them is very easy thereby we get extreme comfort as well. Flip flops are the most comfortable and simple form of footwear. They are usually considered as casual wear which are worn to lounge and to relax. This article will guide you to know about the comforts and style aspects of flip-flops as a perfect summer shoe.
Earlier such footwear was usually intended for domestic purposes, moreover related with beach and swimming pools. However, with the passing time the purpose of using flip flops changed and they now stand as one of the sexy shoes for women. Nowadays, with respect to the desire and necessities flip flops range from sporty to dressy purposes.
‘Flip flops’, usually are designed of rubber sole that is attached on the foot by a V-shaped strap that runs across the sides of the foot passing the big toe and the toe followed by the big toe. They are Flat, backless footwear with flat soles that gain utmost comfort style to wearer by keeping them in style they want. Being easy to slip-on and off is just one of the lovely attributes of flip flops that make everyone crazy about them.
Most people prefer wearing them in summer and spring months as they are ideal in terms of comfort and fashion as well. But in recent days, manufacturers are designing flip-flops according to the wearer’s style and comfort obligations. So now one can find them with more alluring adornments and also embellished with jewelry, rhinestones and various hues to charm your appearance.
As you know already about Platform shoes that they are extremely stylish in appearance at the same time won’t compromise in comfort giving aspects. You can get an incredible height and look. They assure you a perfect stride and complete balance. So imagine flip-flop in platform shoe model? The blend of flip flops with platforms makes it possible for the wearer to get unrivaled comfort and gorgeous look. Platform flip flops are nothing but the combination of style and comfort. They are extremely comfortable and stylish enough to create an alluring appeal among men. So, gain a ravishing appearance with any cute pair of this footwear and steal the show.
Tags: Flip Flops, Shoes, platform
Wed, May 28, 2008 12:45 pm By James Coolridge
 Hiking is one of the most adventurous sports. The trip undoubtedly requires the right pair of shoes to make the whole trip whole trip enjoyable, safe and most importantly, thrilling. A good pair of hiking shoes is costlier but it would make no sense to purchase an expensive pair if you don’t give the proper care and maintenance it deserves. Here is how to clean your hiking boots after returning from hiking.
The cleaning process:
After a long hiking trip, you will step into your home with your hiking boots completely bathed in mud and dirt. So, the very first things to do are to completely clean and wash your boots. Take the stones out of the bottom of the soles and remove all the mud. If your shoes are made of fibre you can clean the dirt using water and soap. But if the boots are made of leather, you should be very careful when you clean them. Leather shoes get easily damaged by the action of water and the soap can even weaken the material by sucking all the oil present in it. So, just clean that portion of shoes where mud is stuck with water ONLY, no soap.
The drying process:
After cleaning the shoes, it is time to dry them. Put them out in the open air. Remember, “Complete dryness” is the key word! You should completely dry the shoes otherwise the shoes will become a host for the growth of fungi and bacteria that will make for smelly boots and itchy feet.
The waterproofing process:
After the shoes are completely dry, you should waterproof your boots. Now here is an important thing to keep in mind- the type of waterproofing products that will suit your boots. Some boots require a water based wax whereas other boots should be waterproofed using a paste based wax. You should consult the manufacturer’s manual guide before waterproofing the shoes. So whatever waterproofing product you use, make sure that you don’t overdo it because excess waxing will ruin the material.
The conditioning process:
Last but not the least, follow the conditioning process. If the boots are made of leather, conditioning becomes vital to prevent leather from becoming dry and stiff. Use conditioners available in the paste form. Apply the paste with your fingers gently so that the paste soaks into the leather.
Tags: Shoes, leather, odour, hiking
Tue, May 27, 2008 12:51 pm By James Coolridge
 Fashion sneakers are hassle free, very trendy and a great comfort to wear, which give you the perfect sporty look. The market is flooded with a remarkable variety of trendy sneakers. This makes the right choice a real cumbersome job. And if shopping is not your cup of tea, you may end up in a terrible choice! After all, it is the matter of your comfort! So here we are to clear all your confusion and help you to make the perfect choice of the sneakers.
Athletic sneakers:
These sneakers are based on the type of sports activity you are involved in. If you are a tennis player, go for tennis sneakers. Same applies to other sports including soccer, basketball, hiking, skate etc. Ask the retailer to display the sneakers which are specially made for the sports you play. When you look at a couple of pairs of the sneakers, make sure that the sneakers provide your feet the necessary support and cushion effect.
Casual sneakers:
These are suited both for men and women are come with the most comfy features. Most of the casual shoes are made up with canvas, while many other casual sneakers are made of suede leather on the upper part to give more breath ability and softness.
Dance sneakers:
Good amount of flexibility and great comfort during the dance movements is demanded by the dancers which are fulfilled by the variety of dance sneakers crowding the market. Nowadays sneakers are designed with innovations such as the Dynamic Resistance Technology which makes use of light weight materials like sleek leather. The leather finds its place in the upper portion of the sneaker providing good breath ability to the feet with comfort. The smooth spin circles located in the sneakers facilitate effortless turns and the finger notches in the heels provide the confident lifts.
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