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Choosing the right footwear with your outfits is always a big challenge, particularly when you’re unsure if something suits the occasion or not.

With the following guide, we’ve picked some occasions or dress codes and provided a few examples of footwear that suits them. By the end, you should know exactly what to wear!

Casual

Casual occasions can encompass anything from going to the cinema to having coffee with friends. In a casual setting, you want to wear things that are more relaxed and low-key. Trainers are a great example of this, as are sliders. Boat shoes can also work in casual settings, depending on what they’re paired with.

Smart-Casual

The dress code everyone hates! What does it mean to dress smart-casual? Typically, you want to dress like you’re going on a date with someone for the first time. You want an element of casualness, but you also want to seem smart. This often means you’re wearing things like chinos, jeans, polo shirts, shirts, and so on.

Here, many different footwear options can fit into this category. Traditionally, boat shoes and penny loafers are perfect for smart-casual events. Some trainers can also be suitable, but they need to be less on the sporty side and more on the smart and stylish side.

Formal

Some people love dressing formally, while others absolutely hate it. Regardless, it’s one of the easiest ways to dress as the rules are usually very clear. From a footwear perspective, any type of formal shoe will work really well. We’re talking Oxford shoes, Derby shoes and some loafers. If you can find traditional English boot makers, then some boots are also suitable for formal days. It mainly depends on where you’re going and what you’re doing. Monks also deserve a mention in this category; you can find some great designs that match the formal dress code and pair well with your outfits.

Performance

This category refers to instances where you’re wearing footwear to perform physical activities. Mainly, we’re talking about things like running or going to the gym. Here, the most suitable styles will be trainers that have been designed for performance. As an example, you can find plenty of trainers with extra cushioning and shock-absorbing support for running. Likewise, if you want to know what to wear to the gym, you want shoes with a lot of support to help you transfer force through your feet.

Taking all of the above into account, you should know the type of footwear to wear for different occasions. One other note to make is that the colour of your footwear matters a great deal. You have to know what colours go well with the rest of your outfit, or the shoes can stick out like a sore thumb. For example, if you are wearing a black suit to an event, it’s never usually recommended that you pair it with brown shoes. Even if they’re formal Oxfords, they can be unsuitable because they cause a clash. So, once you know the right type of footwear to use, be sure you pick the correct colour as well.

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