Fall is always a good time to get freaky with your clothes (see: not being drenched in sweat 24/7) but the Marie Kondo minimalist in us wants to argue that it's also the perfect time to clean up your act when it comes to the basics too. Sure, dress shoes aren't quite as fun to acquire as say, a pink satin bomber, but when you go to your first office party post beach season, and you look like a world-class gentleman, you'll be glad you took the high road. To help you form the ultimate dress-shoe checklist—not just for fall, but all of life—we polled a few of our favorite red-carpet stylists on what's absolutely essential. Here's what they had to say.
The simple black, lace-up got a vote from every stylist we polled. An oxford is a classic choice, just be sure to go for a cap- or plain-toe style. A wholecut oxford is a beautiful shoe but too dressy to be a real workhorse in your wardrobe.
A dark brown perforated brogue or wingtip is a buy nearly every stylist mentioned in our survey. This go-to shoe is a slightly less dressy alternative to a black lace-up oxford and yet still the picture of class.
Most of the stylists we polled put at least one suit-friendly boot on their must-own list. While chukkas, moto boots, and desert boots were all mentioned, the Chelsea boot won the most votes.
A double or single monk-strap shoe will instantly give your suits and dressier clothes some European charm. While most stylists we polled didn't put it at the very top of their list, many mentioned it was a good second or third buy.
Speaking of old-world charm, it doesn't get any swankier than a dressy leather, suede, or velvet loafer. If you're starting to really get into formalwear, or you happen to be a movie star's stylist, these shoes will soon land on your shopping list.
Whether it's a suede derby shoe or a twist on that idea, a dress shoe that's one step down in formality from a wingtip, but still works with a suit, is a smart buy for summer weddings or more casual days at the office.
Here's a must-own dress shoe that wouldn't have been on the list a mere decade ago: the no-fuss, premium leather sneaker. Many stylists mentioned this as a young-guy essential, citing Common Projects and Axel Arigato as favorite brands.