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6 Current Footwear Trends And What To Wear Them With

By Marc Chacksfield

27 May 2015

Don’t make any sartorial mishaps. ShortList’s style director Adrian Clark selects the best pair of trousers or shorts to wear summer’s must-own shoes with...

DENIM

Denim leather ‘Prescott’ shoes £475 by JIMMY CHOO

Elegantly, formal styles (such as Oxford and Derby lace-ups, or structured loafers) are given a contemporary edge when crafted from fabrics that have a more casual association. The juxtaposition of smart with sporty in this slim-fitting, Italian-made shoe from Jimmy Choo is proof that opposites definitely do attract.

Pair with:

The new way to wear double-denim, pair these stone-wash effect formal lace-ups with a much darker, regular-fit selvedge jean and turn-up to expose some negative space at the ankle between the hem and the shoe. Never wear socks.

We recommend: Max Raw Straight Leg Jeans £150 by ACNE STUDIOS; matchesfashion.com

FABRIC BLOCKING

‘Aston Raffia’ brogues £89 by BERTIE

Casual-formal has become a widely used phrase to describe items that bridge the gap between work and play. A smart shoe with a mix of materials can take off a formal edge. This leather and raffia mix lace-up brogue has a contrasting sole and classic punch-hole detailing. Wear with jeans or smart chinos.

Pair With:

Opt for a tailored fit trouser in a dark tone, textured, luxury fabric (navy would probably work best) and keep the length, with a break. You should never be able to see an exposed ankle. These trousers in an Italian woven material can also be bought as a suit.

We recommend: Navy slim-fit tailored trousers £88 (sale price, original price was £110) by WHISTLES; whistles.com

CONTRAST WELTS

Derby shoes £285 by PAUL SMITH

Pops of colour with contrast welts (a leather rim between the shoe upper and sole) subtly add interest to a formal style. These slick Derby shoes are crafted in Italy from polished leather, with suede tongues, contrast cyan blue welts and gripped rubber soles for a mix of textures and flair.

Pair With:

Bridging the gap between casual and formal, a chino is definitely the way to go with these. For a more contemporary edge, choose a pair that have a skinny-fit silhouette and wear rolled-up to expose a 2-3 inch gap between the bottom of the trouser and the top of the shoe. As with any ankle-exposing style the general rule is that you should never wear socks.

We recommend: Caramel coloured skinny-fit khaki £39.95 by GAP; gap.co.uk

PERFORATED LEATHER

Navy ‘Rusty’ perforated Derby shoes £89 by BERTIE

If you want a formal shoe with a modern edge, perforated leather is a seasonal summer step. Sharpen up your off-duty wardrobe with these Derby shoes; they boast perforated leather uppers with a stacked heel and rubber sole.

Pair With:

Perforated leathers look best with a slim-fit trouser in a twill or cotton fabric (avoid too much texture as the shoe is already heavily patterned). Wear cropped, again with no socks, but instead of turn-ups (which will spoil the modern, clean line) have them cut and neatly hemmed to length to expose an area that is roughly 3 fingers wide.

We recommend: Wool/Cotton slim fit trouser £98 by JIGSAW; jigsaw-online.com

SPLIT-TONGUE TRAINERS

‘Carnival Pack’ Gel Lyte III sneakers £92 by ASICS

When Asics created the Gel Lyte III, it was met with trepidation by sneaker heads, questioning what it ‘contributed’, technically and aesthetically, to its iconic design. But this feature is now influencing competitors. The Gel Lyte III, however, remains the Daddy – its latest hybrid available in a red, green and gold Caribbean-Rasta colourway.

Pair With:

The devil is in the detail with a split-tongue-trainer. Therefore you should opt to wear a trouser that shows this feature off to its finest. Tailored joggers that are a hybrid between a tailored trouser and a sweat-pant are a major must-have this summer and a nod towards the contrasting trend of pairing smart with sporty. Always choose a jogger with an elasticised or ribbed hem (so as not to cover-up the tongue) and never wear socks. Spotting a pattern?

We recommend: Black Slub Smart Jogger £36 by TOPMAN; topman.com

SLIP ON-SNEAKERS

Early adoption by LA skaters propelled slip-on sneakers with elasticated side gussets to the top of the cool list. These Common Projects sneakers contrast a navy canvas upper with chunky white rubber soles.

Pair With:

With a heritage deeply rooted in West-Coast US skate and surf culture, slip-on sneakers are a less ‘Continental’ and more casual update to the loafer. Obviously looking good with a board short, the more modern way to wear them is with a tailored short in a suiting fabric (think Pharrell) and always wear with a bare ankle.

Slip-on sneakers £260 by COMMON PROJECTS