A timeless Barker Goodyear welted men’s shoe (Made In England) will be in the colour black, no matter the style as it’s a staple that stands proudly in every gentleman’s wardrobe. Alongside other menswear icons including the classic white shirt, a pair of denim jeans and the white sneaker is the formal dress shoe, ready to be called upon no matter the event or occasion.
When wearing black shoes several shoe styles are historically recognised as formal shoes for men but it’s important to take into your fitting and anatomy as each individual’s foot shape and size will be better suited to a certain shoe style.
OXFORD SHOE
The iconic men’s dress shoe is the Oxford, a timeless shoe style characterised by its sleek closed lacing system and professional silhouette. The Oxford shoe is available in several variations including the Plain Toe Oxford, Toe Cap Oxford, Wingtip Oxford and the Wholecut. The classic black Oxford shoe is an essential style and a true workhorse that can be worn at weddings, funerals or for special occasions.
Alongside the timeless Black Oxford Shoe, there are several shades of brown within the Barker collection which all make for a great companion to any type of dark suit. Highly recommended Barker Oxford shoes include the Arnold, Burford, Malvern, and Winsford styles which are all available in black as well as shades of tan, rosewood and brown.
A Barker Wholecut that features in the Professional collection comes highly recommended is the Nelson shoe style.
DERBY SHOE
For those who find Oxfords difficult to wear due to fitting, a high in-step for example should explore the classic men’s Derby shoe, an understated Goodyear Welted shoe staple that features an open lacing system compared to its Oxford counterpart.
Previously seen as a Country shoe, the Derby has become a menswear classic that sits on the edge of formal dress shoes and casual workwear. A classic Derby shoe that features in the Barker Icon Series is the Nairn, Goodyear-welted and made on the 29 last, the Nairn features a British Dainite rubber sole and is available in black calf leather but for more Country casual options there is cedar and cherry grain.
Additional Derby shoes by Barker include Skye, similar to Nairn as it’s from the Country collection but made on the 464 last and Ellon, a comfortable Derby shoe that features BarkerTech technology.
CHELSEA BOOT
The Chelsea boot is another great black option for those who prefer ankle-length footwear with the Barker Mansfield Chelsea boot being a popular style from the Professional collection. Mansfield is made on the 486 last from premium calf leather with a choice of full leather or British Dainite rubber soles.
The Bedale is another popular black Chelsea boot from the Barker Professional collection but is made from high-grade polished leather to offer a hi-shine alternative.
SLIP-ON SHOES
A slip-on shoe can also make for a suitable black dress shoe depending on the style and silhouette. The traditional penny loafer would be a favourite laceless option with the Caruso and Portsmouth penny loafers highly recommended as both are available in black. The Studland Tassel loafer is another black slip-on style made on the 487 last from premium calf leather on a versatile rubber sole.
Furthermore, a recent addition to the Barker Creative collection is Frank, a horse bit loafer that is both on-trend and would be a wearable addition to the wardrobe.
MONK STRAP SHOES
Another classic black shoe is the double monk strap, a shoe that typifies professionalism with the Barker Tunstall double monk strap from the Professional collection being a stand out style.