The choices for men when buying shoes today may possibly equal that of women. This is a reflection on the active lifestyle where different footwear is required for different activities. This multitude of options makes it more fun to dress up or dress down and match the shoes with the apparel.
The ubiquitous pair of men's jeans is acceptable in many more functions today that even the Presidents of the US and France meet wearing them. That does not mean that they will be wearing sneakers but rather a quality pair of loafers instead. The jeans may be designer jeans as well as designer men's shirts. The key word is designer since that often means the garment has been designed for comfort, fit and style.
When important talks are taking place between heads of state why not throttle back a little with the formalities and wear good looking casual clothing instead? Better decisions are always made when people feel comfortable in casual clothing. The better quality shoes are ergonomically designed so that putting them on for the first time feels as if they have been worn for years.
Fashion for men has taken a decided turn for the adventuresome personalities willing to wear them. Men are free to express themselves more openly while still keeping protocol in mind. Foreign dignitaries are experiencing a relaxing of the traditional dress codes. No longer does the Fourth of July picnic given by the US Embassy require that the staff wear a suit and tie. Boat shoes or sneakers are quite acceptable with a tasteful shirt and pair of trousers.
For the more formal occasions men's dress shoes have gone through a style transition similar to women's shoes. The traditional styles that have persevered for so many decades are now joined by trendy pointed toes that add a dashing look to any fancy dress attire. Men's dress shirts now offer many different looks so that the wearer can create their own customized style. Contrasting collars work in tandem with stripes and solids while still offering premium quality fabrics for that polished, professional look.
Men's suits too are trending towards relaxed tailoring. Seamless shoulders, single breasted jackets, wide volume sleeve apertures and the sack suit are the current signature pieces. Loose fitting men's clothing is trending for the next few years and men who have the self confidence to experiment with this will at least know that they are breaking the conformist barriers with the approval of the cutting edge world of fashion.
Suits for men do not have to be cutting edge to be in fashion. The basic double breasted jacket can be tailored to be more slim at the waist. This small adjustment will bring the traditional double breasted jacket in to the twenty-first century. Suits are evolving slowly but very distinctively.
Most men may wait a few seasons before trying a modified version of a new style but as they grow accustomed to seeing it worn by others, their confidence will grow. Men's shoes continue to evolve as well as more men are willing to try wearing styles that are European in flavor. A growing number of men are no longer interested in being such conformists and are curious as to how they would look and feel in styles that challenge their conservatism.