8 Best Business Casual Shoes For Men [2022 Guide] - The Modest Man™
What types of shoes should you wear with business casual outfits? This guide has everything you need to know.
Business casual has been the single most popular dress code for the past two decades, and that’s not changing anytime soon.
Sure, offices have gotten even more casual lately, but they still use “business casual” as the official dress code.
In our business casual guide, we talked about the history of this iconic dress code and how it’s interpreted in the modern workplace. We also discussed some outfit ideas. Touched on what types of shoes to wear to work.
In this article, we’re going deeper into that very topic. After all, your shoes are one of the most important parts of your outfit, which means they can make or break your look (especially at the office).
Do you need business casual shoes?
If work in a casual workplace (i.e., jeans, t-shirts and sneakers), you probably only need 1-2 pairs of dress shoes. These can be reserved for formal events like interviews, weddings and funerals.
But if your job requires business casual attire, you’ll want 3-4 pairs of business casual shoes to cycle through.
At a minimum, we think every guy should have at least one pair of shoes that would be appropriate for a business casual office.
What NOT to Wear
Good style is like a good referee: it often goes unnoticed, but it rarely makes mistakes.
If you want to avoid fashion faux pas in the workplace, never wear these types of shoes to the office:
- Athletic shoes (e.g., running shoes) - Sandals / flip flops - Espadrilles - Work boots* - Boat shoes - Patent leather shoes - Velvet slippers (obvi…hopefully)
*Some work boots are dressy enough to wear with chinos or nice jeans (fitted, dark wash, no distressing). For example, the Allen Edmond Higgins Mill Boot can work with a business casual outfit, while the Dr. Martens 1460 would look very out of place.
8 Business Casual Shoes
We’ve talked about what not to wear, so let’s talk about the best business casual shoes for guys right now.
Keep in mind: even though all of these shoes work with business casual attire, they vary in formality.
For most offices, the any form of sneaker should be reserved for casual Fridays, as they’re technically not formal enough for this dress code.
Let’s look at each style more closely…
#1: Oxford
Formality Level: Very formal, great for formal business settings and events (weddings, interviews, funerals, etc.)
Defining Characteristics: Closed lacing construction
The main thing that makes an Oxford an Oxford is its closed lacing system. The eyelets are sewn in under the vamp, which gives the shoe a clean, formal appearance.
Aside from velvet slippers or patent leather wholecuts, Oxfords are the dressiest “dress shoes” you can buy.
Of course, not all Oxfords are created equal. There’s a big different between plain toe leather Oxfords, for example, and cap toe suede Oxfords with broguing and other decoration.
The good news is, if you need a business casual shoe, almost any Oxford will work.
#2: Brogues & Wingtips
Formality Level: Dressy but less formal due to the decoration; great for business casual
Defining Characteristics: Decorative perforation on toe and/or throughout upper
Although the term “brogue” is used nowadays to describe a type of shoe, it’s actually sort of a misnomer (I blame The Kingsman franchise…).
Decorative perforation, or broguing, can be added to any type of shoe, regardless of construction.
In other words, some Oxfords are also brogues.
So the whole “Oxfords, not brogues” thing doesn’t really make sense and has caused a lot of confusion.
Of course, many guys prefer shoes with decoration over plain shoes, which is great because brogues and wingtips work really nicely with business casual outfits.
Since these shoes are decorated, they’re more casual than plain dress shoes, or even cap toe dress shoes, which makes them appropriate for a dressy-but-not-too-dressy workplace.
Wingtips have an extra piece of leather at the toe that forms a “W” shape over the upper. These are considered to be a more casual dress shoe.
#3: Derby (a.k.a., Blucher)
Formality Level: Ranges from formal (but not as formal as Oxfords) to business casual
Defining Characteristics: Open lacing construction
Unlike Oxfords, derby shoes (also known as “bluchers”) feature eyelets that are sewn on top of the vamp.
This leads to a slightly less streamlined and more casual profile.
Derby shoes and bluchers are also said to be more comfortable for people with high insteps, so if you find Oxfords to be too constricting, give the derby a try.
#4: Loafers
Formality Level: Ranges from formal (but not as formal as Oxfords) to casual
Defining Characteristics: Slip on shoe, no laces
Loafers come in all shapes, sizes, colors and styles, from very formal to very casual.
When most guys think of a loafer, they picture silver sneakers for women the penny loafer, a classic slip on shoe that can be dressed up or down.
You can wear loafers with jeans, chinos or trousers during any time of year. They come in leather and suede and can be worn with or without socks.
Penny loafers are more casual than lace up dress shoes (e.g., Oxfords or bluchers).
#5: Monk Straps
Formality Level: Dressy but can be worn with smart casual outfits; less formal than non-decorated Oxfords and derbies
Defining Characteristics: Single or double buckle straps, no laces
Monk strap shoes have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere, at least not anytime soon.
While many guys assume monk straps are very formal, they’re actually less formal than your classic plain toe or cap toe Oxford. This makes them extremely versatile. Perfect for business casual settings.
Single or double monk straps (often called “double monks”) can be worn with trousers, chinos or jeans. They’re best for guys who want to stand out from the crowd. Don’t mind some extra attention.
If you wear a pair of polished leather double monks to work, I promise you’re going to get a few compliments
#6: Dress Boots
Formality Level: Less formal than a dress shoes; can be worn with business casual or smart casual outfits; not appropriate for formal environments
Defining Characteristics: Oxford or derby construction, above ankle height
Dress boots can be worn all year around, but they’re a great alternative to dress shoes during fall and winter, as they offer more coverage and warmth than a low cut shoe.
Identical to dress shoes from the ankle down, dress boots can be worn with jeans, chinos, trousers and even suits.
If you are going to wear dress boots in a formal setting, make sure they’re actually dressy (i.e., not a chunky, matte finish work boot with a thick rubber sole).
#7: Chelsea Boots
Defining Characteristics: Above ankle height, elastic side panel, no laces
While Chelsea boots come in many shapes and sizes, they’re generally more dressy than other types of boots.
The laceless construction and elastic side panel makes them a practical choice, and it’s not hard to find Chelsea boots that work well with more formal outfits.
Some Chelsea boots can even be worn with suits. Just make sure they have a sleek silhouette and polished finish.
#8: Chukka Boots
Formality Level: Range from dressy to casual depending on silhouette, materials and details; not appropriate for formal environments
Defining Characteristics: Ankle height, open lacing, 2-5 pairs of eyelets
Just like Chelsea boots, chukkas come in many different styles, some of which are too casual for office attire.
A chukka boot is really just an ankle high boot with 2-5 pairs of eyelets, typically made from leather or suede.
Desert boots are a type of chukka that feature unstructured uppers and crepe soles. These are generally not formal enough for business casual outfits.
But a more formal chukka boot works perfectly with dressy jeans, chinos or slacks. Some can even be worn with suits, although a proper dress shoes is more appropriate in very formal settings.
BONUS: Minimal sneakers
Formality Level: Smart casual to very casual; not appropriate for formal environments
Defining Characteristics: Uniform color (typically white), no decoration or branding, sleek silhouette, made from high quality leather
Quick disclaimer: sneakers are generally not appropriate in any sort of business casual setting, at least not traditionally.
But I wanted to include them here because they’re becoming more acceptable in modern day offices, especially in big cities and coastal regions.
Our Top Picks
If nothing else, they work well for casual Friday outfits, as long as you go with a sleek, minimal sneaker (e.g., Koio Capri, not Stan Smiths).
Stick with solid colors and high quality leather or suede, and wear your sneakers with tapered jeans, chinos or wool trousers.
You can even wear a jacket with sneakers, but remember: most guys shouldn’t try to pull off the full suit with sneakers. It’s not an easy look to get right, so tread carefully!
How many pairs of shoes do you need?
Like so many fashion related questions, the answer really depends on your situation. But let’s take a look at a hypothetical scenario.
Let’s say your week looks like this:
Mon - big staff meeting, you’re presenting to your boss’s boss Tues/Wed/Thur - business as usual, no big meetings Fri - casual Friday, happy hour after work
Three pairs of shoes would be plenty for a week like this:
Monday, you wear your dressiest loafers and throw on a jacket for good measure.
Tuesday through Thursday, you rotate between derby shoes and Oxfords, depending on your outfit and mood.
Friday, you bring out the suede Chelsea boots for a comfy, casual look that lets you transition to happy hour (and beyond) in style.
Of course, all of these shoes can be worn outside of work as well, so it’s not like you need to buy shoes specifically for the office.
Some styles, like the chukka boot, work for almost any scenario, from casual to smart casual to business casual.
So you can still keep a lean collection of shoes, even if you work in a business casual environment all week.
Closing Thoughts
Now you know what types of shoes are appropriate for business casual attire. Take a look at your current shoe collection. See if there are any gaps or duplicates.