Spring Shoe Guide

Four styles to upgrade your wardrobe for spring

Written by Salvatore Marashi

We love our boots over here at the GentleManual. Unfortunately, as the weather turns and the days start to get warmer, it makes less and less sense to put on those suede Chelsea boots. Instead, there are plenty of stylish options that don’t include sweating out your feet in leather boots or slipping on those nasty flip-flops you’ve been wearing since high school. Here’s our spring shoe guide with four of our favorite styles.  

Sneakers: Simple Footwear 

Sneakers are most definitely in style. They also have the added benefit of being a timeless menswear staple. Even better, they’re some of the most versatile footwear out there. Feel free to throw them on with a simple t-shirt and trusty pair of jeans. Those sneakers also look great dressing down a suit. Just stick to a pair of minimalist sneakers for that. Simply put, every man should own a pair of good sneakers. 

See what options are out there. Just think, those chunky sneakers your dad puts on might actually be what the cool kids are wearing.  

Trainers: What the Cool Kids are Wearing

Trainers aren’t just for the gym anymore. Street style has taken over the menswear industry. Sleek looks and an unlimited range of colors will bring some life back into your footwear. With spring here, there’s no excuse not to put away your somber black and brown boots and wear something a little more comfortable. Be careful, some of the designs out there can be a little much for our more reserved dressers. If that sounds like you, gravitate towards colors like olive or teal. They’ll still bring some excitement but won’t leave you in the middle of the spotlight.

Whether it’s drinking out with friends or hitting the gym after work, trainers should be a staple of your spring wardrobe.

Chukkas: The Classic Warm Weather Footwear

Not ready to put your boots away yet? Neither are we. Well, you don’t have to. Originally made for use by the British Army fighting in the deserts of North Africa, Chukkas are the go-to boots for when the sun is beating down. These boots give you that style upgrade through spring and well into summer. Don’t be afraid to try out different colors and materials. While normally popular in brown and sand, there are tons of chukkas out there with plenty of dynamic colors.

Seriously, these boots are mandatory for any fashionable guy out there.  

Espadrilles: The Adult Slip-Ons

Sandals are rarely the right shoe to be rocking. They inherently scream over casual and at worst leave you looking clueless. Insert the espadrilles. Combining the laid-back comfort of a sandal but without sacrificing any style. These Spanish shoes coming from humble Basque style are perhaps the most fun footwear we have on this list. Their looks range from simple and classy to definitive statement pieces.

They’re perfect for guys who are up for trying something new out with their footwear.

While we’re always sad to see our timelessly cool winter boots go back into the closet, spring opens up a whole new world of footwear. Sneakers and trainers bring back that casual look we’ve all missed while bundled up from the winter cold, while chukkas and espadrilles rejuvenate style for the start of the outdoor season. This spring, make some cool choices with our spring shoe guide and experiment with something new.

Let us know in the comments how you upgrade your style for spring!

Photo of Salvatore Marashi

Salvatore Marashi

SOURCE: THE GENTLEMANUAL