US Men Snapping Up Fancier Shoes

Wednesday November 1, 2006 in: Today's Business Attire Tag(s):

When it comes to shoes, American men in general go for the simple, basic look. That means none of the embellishments and funky designs commonly seen worn by European men. But The Philadelphia Inquirer begs to differ:

But more and more men are following cues from brethren in Europe and taking a big step up from boring to bodacious.

Take, for example, Dino Campbell.

At the chic launch party for Boyds' new contemporary B3 boutique last month, Campbell, a guest, paired his Antik denim jeans with black Jo Ghost half-boots. The Italian shoes, elongated at the front, ended in a narrow, slightly upturned toe.

His friend, restaurateur Jonathan Fairfax, wore pointed boots with detailed stitching that his wife (sporting red patent stilettos) picked out on a recent New York shopping trip.

"I like my shoes to stand out," said Campbell, who purchased his Ghost boots after a local designer encrusted them with "one-of-a-kind" silvery embellishments.

Campbell took a few extra steps on the wild side, but fancy footwear is readily available from Aldo to Zappos.com. Wearers are sporting the gussied-up shoes in nightclubs, at church, and in workplaces with a liberal sense of style.

And what are the most popular funky shoes for guys nowadays? Philly.com tells us more:

The hottest trends are regular or ankle boots with bold hardware - numerous studs, buckles and horse bits; and shoes with long, pointed toes, in various shades and with details such as multiple straps, perforations and laces.

Also popular are tone-on-tone, tribal or splashy graphic details on shoes, boots and designer-level sneaks. Flattened-toed shoes made fully or partially with exotic skins are hot, too.