Style Just The Tips: How To Buy Dress Shoes

Image courtesy of Kristin Perers

If you didn’t catch the trend in our April/May issue, then you’ve surely been noticing it on the streets—the spread of hard bottoms (a.k.a. dress shoes) among the Complex generation. Yup, hard-bottom shoes are no longer just for corporate jobs and weddings (and court dates, you miscreants): If you’re still wearing sneakers 24/7/365 and you’re not in high school, it’s time to start incorporating some grown-up shoes into your repertoire.

Look, we’re not suggesting you go Gordon Gekko overnight. One solid pair of proper footwear may cost the price of an Air Jordan Pack, but it’ll last you many, many (many) years longer. So what follows is an easy introduction to the different types of dress shoes, how to buy a pair, and when (and with what) to wear them. We’re gonna ease you into some hard bottoms, my dudes. Pause infinity!