Finding shoes that balance dressy and casual styles can be tricky. Business casual itself is a flexible dress code, varying from one environment to another. So, what are the best options for smart yet casual footwear?
We’ve reviewed numerous shoes to create the ultimate list of the Best Men’s Casual Dress Shoes:
- Beckett Simonon Leonard
- Idrese Custom Shoes
- Allen Edmonds Strandmok
- Lethato Kiltie Loafers
- Aurélien Driving Shoe
- Beckett Simonon Cohen
- Ace Marks Hugo
- Maglieriapelle Cunda
- Beckett Simonon Lopez
- Trickers Stow Boot
- Taft The Saint Boot
Scroll down to read it all or use the links above to jump ahead.
In This Guide
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Dress Shoes By Budget
What Are Casual Dress Shoes?
Casual dress shoes bridge the gap between casual and formal styles. They walk the fine line between two very broad dress codes.
In fact, the term may sound like something of an oxymoron as dress shoes are traditionally perceived as anything but casual.
They are great for occasions where traditional dress shoes are too formal, but sneakers are too relaxed. Ideal for business casual environments or adding some polish to a relaxed outfit, casual dress shoes also offer classic designs made with informal materials.
As a general rule of thumb, a casual dress shoe is something that you’d struggle to wear with a suit but would pair nicely with jeans. For instance, black Oxford shoes look great with any formal wear but would appear totally out of place with denim.
Furthermore, the color of the shoe plays an important role in its level of formality. Dark colors are considered the most formal, with black at the top, but they become more casual as they get lighter.
Dress Shoe Styles That Are Casual
Casual dress shoes can vary from more formal brogues and derbies to laid-back loafers. Here are some common styles:
- Brogue Shoes: Featuring a closed-throat lacing system like Oxfords, Brogue shoes are rendered more casual thanks to various ornamentation such as toe medallions, pinking and perfing.
- Derby Shoes: Also known as Bluchers, Derby Shoes are the most formal casual dress shoe style. Often confused with Oxfords, they feature an open rather than closed-throat lacing system.
- Loafers: The largest and most inclusive group of casual dress shoe, loafers are convenient and comfortable yet quite stylish. Consider varieties such as Venetian loafers, penny loafers, tassel loafers and bit loafers.
Other potentially casual styles include monk strap shoes or even brogue variants such as Longwings and saddle shoes. Nevertheless, much of this can depend on other considerations, such as their materials and colour.
Furthermore, although many dress boot styles are growing in popularity, they’re traditionally considered more casual than formal. This is because boots were originally utilitarian footwear.
Best Materials For Casual Dress Shoes
As suggested above, the type of material used to construct a shoe style can profoundly change its formality. Types of leather such as patent, calfskin and full-grain are considered the most formal. However, with the exception of patent leather, they’re still casual if made into a casual shoe style.
Meanwhile, other types of leather, such as pebbled, suede, or Nubuck, will render an otherwise formal shoe into something that’s much more casual. Furthermore, casual dress codes can open doors to other non-leather materials.
For example, materials such as canvas aren’t viable in dressier situations but add an extra touch of flair to casual shoes. They can even be used to complement leather features with certain styles like saddle shoes.
Casual Dress Shoe Colors To Look For
Although very casual shoes can come in a variety of bright colors such as red, yellow, orange or purple, they will rapidly lose their dressiness.
However, there are exceptions, which are slightly less unorthodox. For instance, white, dark blue, and sand are conventional enough to be casual dress shoes.
However, the best casual dress colors are usually shades of brown. Overall, tan is the most versatile and casual dress shoe colour. Nevertheless, you could go for a traditional mid or dark brown so the shoes could be worn more formally.
Otherwise, you could instead seek out browns with a hint of dark red, such as Oxblood, burgundy, or even Cordovan. These are very versatile colors that offer a pop of color without becoming too casual.
- Style: Monk Strap Shoes
- Formality: Business Casual
- Pricing: $168* [Buy Now On Beckett Simonon]
* With Exclusive “BU20” 20% Discount Code
Ethically crafted in Beckett Simonon’s workshop in Bogota, Colombia, the Leonard is made with premium Argentinian full-grain calfskin. The shoe is constructed with a Blake stitch and features a wholecut vachette lining for extra comfort.
We love the smooth finish with the subtle buckle detail. As a result, the shoes are very easy to wear casually but are also versatile enough for more formal occasions.
Thanks to a group made-to-order business order, the shoes offer exceptional value for money and you pick up a pair for just $170 with our code “BU20“.
"An exceptional specimen of single monk strap shoes that effortlessly bridges the gap between formal and casual footwear."
- Style: Made To Order
- Formality: Varies
- Pricing: From $335 [Buy Now On Idrese]
When Jawad Malik founded Idrese, his objective was to provide people with Goodyear-welted shoes for the lowest price possible. Furthermore, the shoes were to be made with nothing less than full-grain Italian leather.
His ambitious project came to fruition as recently as 2019 and the shoes are manufactured in Almansa, Spain. With Idrese, the sky’s the limit and you can design your own dream pair of shoes starting at $335.
The result is a beautifully-constructed dress shoe that is designed and crafted according to your own specifications. Idrese also offers a wide selection of sizes and widths, which caters to people that are often overlooked by shoe brands.
- Style: Brogues
- Formality: Varies
- Pricing: $365 [Buy From Allen Edmonds]
Bespoke Unit’s Charles-Philippe adores these brogues and often comes back to them for a variety of occasions. Made with a Goodyear welt and featuring stylish red Dainite soles, they’re wonderfully outgoing and comfortable brogues.
These are probably the most versatile brogues that we have worn. Thanks to the stylish blend of colours, they can be worn quite formally but also as a casual shoe. Whether you’re wearing jeans or chinos, they’ll compliment the overall look.
Although only available in a single colour, the shoe features such a level of complexity that it becomes so versatile. The uppers are a shade of brown leather with a distressed effect, which gives a vintage finish. Meanwhile, a red Dainite style offers a splash of colour whilst the tan welt provides contrast.
- Style: Kiltie Loafer
- Formality: Varies
- Pricing: $150 [Buy From Lethato]
Both original and versatile, Lethato’s Kiltie loafer is manufactured in an Indian factory in Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Constructed with a Blake stitch, it features a rich hand-painted finish.
Given the low price point, it offers excellent value for money. Although India may not be the first country to come to mind when shopping for shoes, bear in mind that many British brands like Grenson, Loake, and Barker also produce shoes there!
If you’re looking for something affordable and stylish, we recommend that you give Lethato a try!
- Style: Driving Shoe
- Pricing: EUR185 [Buy On Aurélien]
Even as a casual option, it may be pushing the limits by referring to a suede driver as a dress shoe. Nevertheless, Aurélien’s Italian loafers are a great option to consider if you want to wear something that is as close to casual as possible.
If you were to choose a suede leather loafer, we would highly recommend Aurélien’s Italian-made driving shoes. Thanks to the unique oil treatment, they’re supple comfortable to wear.
As driving shoes, they’re also very practical and great for running on errands thanks to the well-made pebbled soles. Whether you’re behind the wheel or not, they look great and offer a loose and comfortable fit.
- Style: Penny Loafers
- Formality: Business Casual
- Pricing: $168* [Buy From Beckett Simonon]
* With Exclusive “BU20” 20% Discount Code
A more formal alternative to Aurélien above, Beckett Simonon’s classic penny loafer is far more versatile and more acceptable when worn for dressy occasions. These shoes are manufactured at the same workshop while using the same techniques and materials as the Leonard above.
They’re also available in a variety of colourways, which will significantly change their level of formality. While the tan shoes pictured above are the most casual, dark colours will render them more appropriate for more “serious” wear.
- Style: Blucher
- Formality: Business Professional
- Pricing: $345 [Buy On Ace Marks]
Blucher boots are a great option if you’re looking for versatile footwear that can be worn for different occasions. Thanks to their sleek and elegant contours, Ace Mark’s Hugo is probably one of the best specimens that you can consider.
As mentioned above, darker colours will render them more formal. Meanwhile, a paler boot will be a great casual option that offers a premium flair. The premium construction and leathers used are indicative of its Italian craftsmanship. Indeed, they’re lined with calfskin with a full-grain upper.
- Style: Tassel Loafer
- Formality: Business Casual
- Pricing: $395 [Buy From Maglieriapelle]
You’ll often hear brands claim that their shoes are handmade. However, in most cases, this only consists of some of the stitching whereas most of the assembly will resort to machinery.
Maglieriapelle is an Italian-inspired Turkish brand that doesn’t compromise on craftsmanship. Indeed, the shoes are entirely made by hand! The results speak for themselves and the shoes are finished with a dazzling hand-painted patina that reveals mesmerising brush strokes and depth.
Tassel loafers are an excellent casual option that offers both class and sophistication. The Cunda by Maglieriapelle is a great example of how its sleek design and profile can be worn to retain an element of elegance.
- Style: Chukka Boots
- Formality: Business Casual
- Pricing: $192* [Buy From Beckett Simonon]
* With Exclusive “BU20” 20% Discount Code
At Bespoke Unit, we’re very fond of Chukka boots in general. However,Beckett Simonon has drawn inspiration from WWI heritage style to produce an elegant alternative.
The design is sleek with refined stitching details. The Lopez boot also features a rubber sole for added traction and durability. If you want a dressier alternative to the very casual chukka, here’s our first choice.
As you will have seen, we’ve mentioned Beckett Simonon shoes multiple times in this list. Indeed, their construction is admirable and they offer excellent value for money.
- Style: Brogue Boot
- Formality: Business Casual
- Pricing: $400 [Buy Now On Zappos]
Trickers is a celebrated English shoe brand that has been operating in Northampton since 1829. On its 160th anniversary, Prince Charles visited the factory to award the historical shoemaker with a Royal Warrant.
Indeed, Trickers is often credited with having created the first men’s country boot. This heritage lives on as the stow boot, which is made in England using 260 different processes including a traditional Goodyear storm welt, and Dainite rubber soles.
Although very premium, the Stow Boot is the ultimate example of a casual boot that has become dressier over time. Therefore, if you’re looking to wear a heritage style that’s versatile for both casual and semi-formal wear, the Stow Boot is an excellent option.
- Style: Brogue
- Formality: Business Casual
- Pricing: $295 [Buy From Taft Clothing]
Taft is celebrated for its rebellious and wild designs that are a little more outlandish and contemporary that many traditional brands. We’re particularly fond of the Saint boot, which is made from hand-woven leather that results in fascinating details.
Given the cost of hand-weaving leather, the Saint is constructed using a Blake stitch in order to ensure that its price is consistent with the brand. Nevertheless, the Blake stitch still offers excellent durability and function for many years.
If you want a versatile boot with a dressy construction and a casual flair, the Saint is something that will certainly turn heads!
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Now that you have read about the best casual dress shoes for men, consider checking out some of our other related guides.
Shoe Content
Thanks for mentioning avoiding canvas shoes for situations that are dressed up. I’m trying to find some shoes that I can wear to wine parties that I can impress girls at. Looks like I should find some shoes that are colorful and made from expensive material.
Absolutely!