To shoe or not to shoe

Kurtas have become the most sought after garment by men, what with Pahela Baishakh, Ramadan, and Eid being at arm's reach of each other. While running around gathering all the kurtas one can find, men will usually tend to pay little attention to their footwear. It can't be overlooked or ignored; after all, a man's footwear speaks volumes about him.

Do not make the catastrophic mistake of wearing a pair of slides with a kurta. The sight of a smart, crisp kurta, along with a pair of ransacked slides is simply tragic. Instead, invest in a nice pair of shoes rather than sandals; that way, not only will you ensure versatility, but also save yourself a fortune. This combination will certainly add a dose of suave to your persona.

What shoes should you buy then? Should you go for a pair of loafers or oxfords? The general idea is to replicate the shape and style of a pair of saleem shahi's; meaning that you should opt for shoes with no laces (loafers). However, it isn't the end of the road for oxford shoes. In an age where you can easily bend the rules to fit your fad, mood and milieu, you can wear these classic shoes; but it is best advised that you master styling loafers with your kurta first, and then shift your attention to oxfords since you need plenty of experience and confidence to pull this look off.

Now that it has been settled that loafers is what you should primarily invest on, you need to pick a particular type of loafer. Out of the gazillion variations out there to choose from, make things easier for yourself by narrowing down your choice to the type of pyjamas you are wearing and the formality of the look.

The idea is to make sure that your pajamas and shoes are symmetric to each other. Imagine wearing baggy pants along with a narrow pair of sneakers. The pants will overshadow the sneakers so much that you will end up looking like an apparition floating in midair.

If you have a nicely tapered pair of pajamas, opt for a pair of narrow shaped loafers. A good example of loafers which come in these shapes would be penny loafers, slippers or even Belgian loafers if you have the knack for extravagance. You can also wear a pair of monk straps or even tassel loafers, but its best to save those for more formal attire. On the other hand, if you are wearing a shalwar, wear a chunky pair of loafers. Broad driving moccasins flow in really well with the shalwar, complementing the bulkiness of both the shoes and the leg wear.

For those of you leaning more towards an extravagant look during the season of festivities by adding a vest to your look, style your outfit with loafers which sit higher on the ranks of formality; making way for monk straps and tassel loafers as mentioned earlier.

A fine pair of shoes truly determines the styling strength of a man as proven by the legend of Achilles. All you have to keep in mind is the formality of your attire and the shape of your shoes. Master this and you will elevate your simple look to the highest degree of chic. That is how powerful your footwear can prove to be. Happy festivities!

By Ali Sakhi Khan

Photo: Shahrear Kabir Heemel

Model: Orko

Wardrobe: Mahrajan by Zurhem

Styling: Sonia Yeasmin Isha

Location: Le Meridien