White dress shoes, once a thing of the past (1950s, to be exact) have now surged back into popularity. Considered to be an epitome of elegance and timeless style, white dress shoes top the list of preferences for those who want to look classy and sleek in a formal or semi-formal occasion.
Rock Your White Dress Shoes Appropriately
Not all occasions call for white dress shoes, however. While every man and woman needs a sturdy pair, these shoes should be whipped out of the shoe closet only during formal, semi-formal and smart-casual occasions. A pair of quality white dress shoes may just spell the difference between a put-together look and a flop attire.
1. Formal events – For men, sport a pair of white dress shoes paired with white, tailored suit and pants. Make sure that the shade of your white dress shoes matches that of your suit, or else you’ll look too tacky and unkempt. Remember that you’re wearing an all-white attire–a small inconsistency in terms of color and motif can scream out of your outfit. For women, ensure that you wear heeled white dress shoes instead of the flat, heel-less versions.
2. Stylish-casual – Some dress shoes are designed for semi-formal and casual occasions. For men, have a pair of white dress shoes that function as slip-ons and wear dark jeans and a white, collared shirt. This attire can be worn to casual business meetings over coffee. For women, heel-less white dress shoes can be worn with pretty much any dress and blouse-and-skirt combination.
What To Look For In Choosing White Dress Shoes
How do you make sure that you’re buying quality white dress shoes? Remember that quality always topples quantity, so it’s better to have a pair or two of sturdy white dress shoes to last you for a decade or so instead of buying several low-quality ones.
1. Real leather all the way – Yes, all the way down to the soles. A good pair of leather white dress shoes can last you a lifetime with proper refurbishing and storing, so do not skim over this criterion.
2. Stitches – Ditch white dress shoes which are held together by glue. No matter how “strong-hold” the glue is, nothing can beat the durability of stitched shoes. Have a sharper eye when looking for stitched shoes, though–the stitches should be barely noticeable. Remember that you’re looking for white dress shoes–the pair should look sleek-clean and flawless.
3. Elongated toe – Compared to the square toe, white dress shoes with an elongated or soft, round toes are way classier. Square-toed dress shoes starkly contrast the elegance that white dress shoes naturally give off, so stay away from them.
4. Thick Soles – Look for soles that measure at least 1/4 inch in thickness. The soles must be made of leather and not rubber. The combination of think soles and leather material comprise a quality, heavily durable shoes that will last you for a long time.
Picking the right dress shoes for you might be a nitty-gritty process, but all those criteria have to be met in order to ensure that you bought top-notch quality white dress shoes that you can use in various formal and semi-formal occasions for the next several years to come.