The best formal shoes to smarten up your footwear
Get the shoeshine out, clear some space in the closet and smarten up with GQ's edit of the best formal shoes
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
At the height of the luxury trainer hype, many in the fashion world questioned if formal shoes would ever regain quite the same appeal they once had. Thankfully, labels did not ever fully omit them from the seasonal menswear cycle and subsequently Oxfords, Derbies, monk straps and loafers have well and truly returned to their rightful place at the top of the footwear podium.
And the designs have never looked better. Whether you're making a stylish return to the office or an influx of rescheduled weddings is filling up your calendar, there'll be no patent leather shoe left un-buffed in 2024. In fact, regardless of events dressing, you'll never be without reason to don a pair of formal shoes, which is why every man should own at least one good pair of black leather shoes and one good pair of brown ones (though that number rises exponentially depending on which GQ staffer you're asking).
From the modernised takes of Grenson and Dr Martens to the outright elegance of Church's, Prada, Burberry and more, shop GQ's pick of the formal shoes you should be stepping out in.
Duke + Dexter ‘Wilde Orange’ loafer | Duke + Dexter ‘Wilde Bit’ loafer
What are GQ's best formal shoes for men?
You'll find all the formal shoes worth your consideration in the gallery below, but first, here's what our editors are wearing:
- Best all-around formal shoes: Duke + Dexter, £240, dukeanddexter.com
- Best budget formal shoes: Dr Martens, £170, drmartens.com
- Best designer formal shoes: Church's, £880, church-footwear.com
What material is best for formal shoes?
The answer to this is simple: leather. Leather is durable, sturdy, malleable and hard-wearing, making it the ideal fabric to be moulded to a shoe and go the distance throughout your everyday. and formal events alike.
That said, for those with a moral objection to the grained goodness, mushroom leathers and bio alternatives are very much catching up to leather's well-established longevity, and there are certainly some vegan formal shoe options out there worth your perusal.
What is the best style of formal shoes for men?
When it comes to formal shoe styles, there are four main schools of silhouette; the brogue, the Oxford, the loafer, and the Derby… and, the secret fifth option for the casual cool guy, the leather mule. As for which you're interested in, that's up to you. We will say though, if you're feeling more classic we'd stick to the Oxfords and brogues of the world.
How do we select our favourite formal shoes?
So, how exactly do we choose what constitutes the best formal shoes for men in 2024? Simple. We know our stuff, we do our research, and we get out there to experience as much product as possible.
Our section head of menswear for GQ Recommends, Heidi Quill, is obsessed with clothes. Joining British GQ in 2021, Heidi might primarily look after clothing content, but she spends a healthy amount of time up to her neck in samples, checking product for the very best quality, price and design, all before recommending it to you. That includes knowing everything there is to know about a good pair of formal shoes.
There's a lot to consider when it comes to formal shoes, and landing on the perfect pair for your very particular set of formal purposes. Fortunately, you have the experience of our contributing writers and freelancers (Jessie Atkinson and Adam Cheung) to defer to. In particular, our team highlights the importance of knowing what kind of vibe you're after, the construction you're drawn to, and what will best complement your go-to suit. See below for the team's findings…