The only shoe dilemma faced by many men used to be deciding between black or brown but now, eye-catching footwear is opening up a brave new world of self-expression. “There are studs, sparkle, print and colour everywhere,” says Ed Burstell, managing director of London department store Liberty. “Men are now more trend aware – certain brands and styles hit the floor and they’re gone right away. They’re also prepared to spend more.”
Witness the rapper Tinie Tempah in Jimmy Choo glittery slippers (no socks), paired with a dinner suit; DJ Mark Ronson in rainbow hues; Kanye West in Christian Louboutin’s gold-studded men’s loafers, and Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am, in eye-catching high-tops. Yet while musicians have always embraced the more outré side of footwear, now they are no longer an exception.
“We’re seeing a lot of customer interest in some men’s styles,” says Stacey Smith, menswear buyer for online retailer Matches. “Christian Louboutin and Pierre Hardy have waiting lists long before the product hits stores.”