“Those are sneakers!?”
I always had an obsession for stylish sneakers. On my road to becoming a fashion expert, I spent lots of time and money researching different styles. It was then that I stumbled upon the niche of “dress-up sneakers” that are rarely found at your local Foot Locker. I’ve experimented with both dress shoes and stylish sneakers, and I’ve always received more attention from women with the latter.
This entry is the consummate stylish sneaker wisdom that I’ve gathered over my years, along with some examples and where to find them.
So why do shoes matter?
Because it matters to women. Let’s look at it this way. Isn’t it irresistible when you meet a woman who loves sports? Or perhaps you’ve met a hot chick who also happens to know how to tune an engine?
These are the very things that matter to men, and thus, are attractive to men. So if one of your goals is to attract women, then mind your shoes. Women will notice a guy with stylish shoes like we notice a woman with a gorgeous body.
Lots of guys ask me if they have to wear dress shoes or break their bank on expensive footwear when they go out to meet women. The answer is NO and NO.
If dress shoes aren’t for you, get your feet in some fashionable sneakers — it’ll turn heads just as effectively.
I’ve received far more compliments about my pair of Diesel sneakers from women than any of my dress shoes.
How can sneakers possibly project more style and flare than fancy dress shoes?
Let’s get down to it.
Unique Style
Sneakers are extremely versatile in conveying one’s personality. Here are some questions you want to ask yourself when searching for the right pair.
What were your sneakers made for? Are they for dressing up? (parties, clubs) Are they strictly for outdoor use? (sports, running)
What do you want to present about yourself? A woman will look at your sneakers and assume you are a sporty outdoors guy, classy, or put you in their “little boy” category — because you still dress like a kid.
Show people you have taste and a sense for fashion. Save the boring wear for when you don’t want to be noticed and blend in with the crowd.
Match your “look”
Make sure the design and color of the sneakers you buy are something that may pair well with the clothes you have in your closet. Some people spend all their money on a particular piece of clothing only to find that they now have to upgrade their entire wardrobe to go along with it.
Your sneakers should match your outfit for the day.
The old match your belt with your shoes is a good rule of thumb, but if you’re going for a more casual look, not being so matchy-matchy will convey more casual and come off as less try hard.
You can also match it with other colors of your outfit such as your shirt, but be careful matching it with the color of your pants — this creates a tacky look rather than good color coordination.
Try to match whatever stripes of color are on white sneakers with your outfit. For example, shoes with blue strips with the same colored shirt. Women will notice these details.
Sneakers should ALWAYS be clean.
Simple, but often neglected. Next time you walk around in a public place, notice the shoes that guys are wearing.
Notice the instant impression that guys’ sneakers and their cleanliness makes upon you. You magically begin to make assumptions about their hygiene, fashion sense, and even their character.
You wouldn’t believe how many nasty sneakers I count in a single day. If your sneakers look like they’ve done battle with a grizzly bear or have gone through the digestive track of an elephant, time to get yourself a new pair my friend.
The first thing women notice when you are wearing sneakers is their cleanliness, so keep your sneakers looking fresh and clean all the time.
Cost
Generally, sneakers don’t look expensive, so if you’re trying to save money, at least pick ones that LOOK pricey. I must warn you though, you usually get what you pay for.
I’ve scoured the net and can’t post all of them up here, but here’s just a taste of some of the sneakers you can peruse through to get an idea of what a fashionable sneaker looks like.
(Click on the links to find out where to get them)
Ben Sherman Men’s Camaro Sneaker
Ben Sherman has evolved from a status shirt brand to complete fashion, including shoes like these. You rarely see stitched designs like this on a sneaker — this one’s a true peacocking item.
Try rocking these with a white graphic t-shirt, a black blazer, and dark designer jeans and I guarantee you’ll turn heads.
Ben Sherman “Florida” Sneakers
Talk about peacocking, when it’s all about original style, Ben Sherman’s Florida sport oxford directs the look. The Ben Sherman heritage lion logo details the leather, while the overall design is retro racing style.
Diesel “Zeus”
These Diesels work seamlessly with earth tones like beige and brown. Wear these with brown-hued jeans or even khakis.
Pirelli Herringbone
“Sleek” is the best word to describe these. I also love these because it will match with almost anything.
Converse Chuck Taylor Designs
If you’re going for the rockstar image, these can be a great compliment to a tattoo art t-shirt.
These are Japanese-made sneakers so you probably won’t find these at your local Foot Locker. However, definitely one of my favorites because they work so well with jeans.
Diesel Mosley
For some reason, girls always comment on this one. It’s laces give it a bold and unique look.
Here are some simpler designs that communicate a “fresh” look:
If you’re in New York, for the “Best Hip sneakers”, check out:
Alife Rivington Club
158 Rivington St., New York, NY 10002
nr. Clinton St.
Gucci Sneaker
Or go for a high-end Gucci Sneaker which is on the pricier side, but always gets noticed.
Why it peacocks:
Shoes are an important piece of your overall dress for the day, and can be the much needed final touch to any outfit — but it’s not the shoes by themselves that are the focus, so don’t get stuck on it.
Just imagine for a minute a great looking outfit, with dirty, worn-out sneakers — or just any pair of sub-par sneakers for that matter. The whole focus becomes on the low quality of your shoes, and not the high quality of the rest of your outfit.
Conversational Bits:
If a girl comments on your shoes here are some witty replies in place of the ever-boring “thanks.”
(Sarcastic tone, serious face)
“Oh these? You’ll never believe this.. a wise man gave me these shoes. he actually told me that one day… a girl with (describe her features…) with this color hair… a blue shirt… (surprised look) whoa… He told me to be careful of this girl because she is …(throw in cold read)**
**This is a great time to throw in a cold read (insert a intuitive feeling on them) Use a truism if you have to.
…“Is someone who is at a crossroads in their life.”
“A girl who deep down is very independent at heart, and has a lot of goals for herself.” (Truism)
“Someone who seems confident on the inside but deep down has insecurities about herself.” (Everyone is like this)
… “I’m not sure about that but is that you?”
The routine is a great way to be playful with her, and it always gets a laugh or a surprised reaction, because you were so spot on with your cold read.
Or you can opt out for:
… “uhm…thanks.”
Try it.
final tip:
No matter how kick-ass your sneakers are, your overall outfit can often make or break your image. One caveat to remember is the FIT of your pants/jeans. If you are someone that wears skinny pants/jeans, it is better to wear slim/skinny looking shoes. Big wide-style shoes just don’t go as well with tighter pants. Look for “boot cut” jean/pants to work with bulkier shoes.
Alas, I know that was a long entry, but I hope you’ve gained some insight on sneakers that you’ll use towards honing your bold & magnetic image.
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Always helping you look your best,
Jae & Theory
