Dress Code: Monk and Loafers for leisure and work

2023-09-11

Sometimes special types of men’s shoes are the perfect choice. Exercise caution, though: they shouldn’t be worn to particularly formal occasions.

Loafer and monk shoe lovers may well ask themselves when exactly it behoves them to don their darlings. As a general rule, a loafer is always appropriate for events that are neither conservative nor formal. This type of shoe pairs nicely with many kinds of suits or shirt-and-trouser combinations—however, it cannot be worn with a pinstripe suit. Loafers are ideally paired with sophisticated leisurewear; they’re excellent with chinos or jeans.

Loafers can’t be worn with a pinstripe suit
While the monk strap isn’t as formal as a lace-up shoe, its classical, elegant look and feel makes it a good alternative for men whose workplaces don’t enforce a particularly strict dress code. It pairs well with pinstripe suits as well as linen pants worn with a sweater: a crossover hit, if you will. Another tip: the one-buckle variants are far more elegant than their double-buckle counterparts.

Loafer

Monk shoes and loafers work well with short, tight trousers that show off the shoe.