A pair of royal blue suede loafers brings a whiff of eccentricity to his ensemble raising men’s footwear trend to a whole different level. And this, among many, is one of the fine examples of the current men’s footwear trend.[break]
Once limited to basic colors like black and brown and mostly whites for sports activities, men’s footwear is taking a leap and breaking away from its traditional look. No doubt retro designs are back in the business but it’s also those footwear(s), which were amongst us but got very little attention are making a comeback.
The 1980s gave the men a taste of color in their wardrobe with the preppy colorful hi-tops; however, this time around it is not only the hi-tops that are being painted and revised. Footwears like plimsolls, desert boots, boat shoes, and loafers have been reawakened in the fashion scene with tidbits of alternation in designs and mostly with the color play.
And revival of such footwear trend is one of the contributors which have ushered the smart casual dressing trend among men. One can find abundant examples of it—singers like Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown wearing their sharply tailored coats and shirts with those hi-tongued sneakers.
And it’s not only the international scene, which is mesmerized by the new avatars of retros. During his recent visit to Nepal, NewYork based Nepali designer Prabal Gurung teamed his hi-tops with white fitted shirt, which added a touch of formalness to his ensemble. The designer is mostly spotted in hi-tops.
The latest to join the gang of hi-tops admirers, are Nepali B-boys from Nepal Sports/Dance Training Institute. Taking cue from their trainer Krisada Kawjanwat, most of the B-boys bought their hi-tops during their recent visit to Thailand.
For Krisada, the shoes were cool and “it makes me look taller because I can add inner sole in them.” Note: As these shoes’ tongues extend above the ankle they demand to be shown off.
However, it’s not only the hi-tops which are taking the stores’ shelves. Surprisingly, our market which is always little late to introduce latest international designs has new collection of men’s shoes already on the display. For instance, the desert boots.
Originally part of military attire, desert boots are mostly found in suede material. Bentalls store at Bishal Bazaar has such boots in different colors as part of their new collection. If we are to take cues from popular style blogs like Fashionbeans, the shoes suit best when paired with chino trousers and jeans.
Desert boots bring an air of toughness but when paired with chinos they add softness to the whole get-up. But if you are thinking of more relaxed look this hot season, plimsolls, popularly known as canvas school shoes are apt.
Though the green version of plimsolls have been part of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army and the Nepal Army, the designer version of this footwear has been in trend for more than a year in European countries like the UK and France. However, the concept of plimsolls as fashionable footwear has not yet hit Nepal. Only a few people on the streets of the Valley like amateur photographer Tshering Gurung have been spotted donning these canvas shoes. To brighten up his white plimsolls, Tshering has replaced the white laces with yellow.
For more sophisticated look, opt for boat shoes. Stores like Urban Fashion at Pashupati Plaza and Gait at Bishal Bazaar have such shoes. Brands like GAP, J. Crew and H& M have these footwear in their collection making them the must have for this season.
The key to pulling off all of these three shoes—desert, plimsolls and boat— is to roll up your hemlines for a fuller view of the shoes.
For most, shoes might be the least preferred footwear during summer. And if you are looking for something newer than those sports sandals, gladiators are here for the rescue.
Leather gladiators have been in vogue for quite a while for women but for men they are still an untouched domain. However, if you are a risk taker like fashion designer Marc Jacobs, give a shot to gladiators. Baseman store at People’s Plaza, New Road has a pair of leather sandals that looks similar to men gladiators. Besides it, the store has some intricately designed leather sandals. Those linen or cotton trousers or even your shorts can be their best friends.
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