20 Business Casual Shoes That Work Just as Well Outside the Office
- 1/21
20 Business Casual Shoes That Work Just as Well Outside the Office
Office culture—and its dress code—has changed drastically over the past two decades. That’s certainly not news, especially if you’ve been employed during the transition, but, for many, the appropriate fit can still be a head-scratcher. Indeed, there was a period when dressing for your 9-to-5 was easy: A suit in gray or navy with a pair of oxfords was always a good bet. Think Mad Men, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Up in the Air. Nowadays, however, with Silicon Valley and start-ups across the nation promoting a laissez-faire attitude—read: normcore—in open-concept offices and boardrooms alike, the prescribed attire isn’t so simple. Enter business casual, and more specifically, business casual shoes.
The term is decidedly tricky. What does business casual actually mean? What are the parameters? Here's the CliffsNotes version: business, but not too business, and casual, but not too casual. You still want to present yourself authoritatively, but you also don’t want to be the sole overdresser in the group. The choice of shoes, in particular, is the perfect way to meander between these two points. If you prefer the formality of a suit, pair it with a white sneaker. Similarly, if you’re a jeans-and-tee fella, polish it up with wingtips. There are also styles that fit the business-casual bill by themselves, including desert boots, Chelsea boots, and certain types of loafers.
Need more help getting business casual shoes down pat? Check out the selection below. Most of us will be heading back to the office soon (if you haven’t already), and we could all use some new kicks when we do. And hey, we can wear them OOO, too.
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Courtesy - 2/21
Stan Smith Shoes
Adidas
adidas.com
$80.00
The white sneaker: Adidas and Stan Smith certainly did it well. If you have a Ludlow suit or something similar hanging around, pair it with this veritable icon.
adidas.com - 3/21
Camden Loafers
J.Crew
jcrew.com
$148.00
If you're not looking to overdo the latter half of "business casual," a penny loafer is your friend. Wear it jeans and a sports jacket, or tapered slacks and sleek sweater, and you're all set.
jcrew.com - 4/21
Scout Chukka Boot
Thursday Boot Company
amazon.com
$149.00
Thursday makes a range of business casual shoes, but we're partial to the Scout chukkas. Wear them with chinos or dark denim and call it a day.
amazon.com - 5/21
Desert Boot
Clarks
clarksusa.com
$150.00
Ah, the desert boot. It doesn't get anymore business casual than this, folks. The shoe is polished, but not too dressy. And Clarks has pretty much got the market covered with its OG version.
clarksusa.com - 6/21
Greenflex Chukka Boot
Astorflex
huckberry.com
$195.00
Come for the durable nubuck leather and crepe soles. Stay for the eye-catching patina that'll only get better with time.
huckberry.com - 7/21
Originals 1461 Leather Oxford Shoes
Dr. Martens
toddsnyder.com
$220.00
Into white, but really feeling sneakers? The Doc has got you covered with some slightly offbeat oxfords. Pair them with a straight-leg jean and button-up, or a cotton suit, and consider yourself minted.
toddsnyder.com - 8/21
Lexington Penny Loafer
Good Man Brand
nordstrom.com
$228.00
Everything you love about a penny loafer, beefed up with a big lug sole. It's business and casual in one (very attractive) package.
nordstrom.com - 9/21
Original Grand Wingtip Derby
Cole Haan
nordstrom.com
$160.00
A wingtip derby is pretty formal shoe, insofar as office-wear goes, at least. But Cole Haan has made it much more casual with the addition of grooved rubber sole.
nordstrom.com - 10/21
Danny Chelsea Boot
Marc Fisher
marcfisherfootwear.com
$180.00
Second only to the desert boot in the business casual spectrum is the mighty Chelsea boot. Whether dressing up or dressing down, this style consistently walks the line with aplomb.
marcfisherfootwear.com - 11/21
Capri Onyx Sneaker
Koio
koio.co
$295.00
Still yearning for a pair of elevated sneakers? Try these black leather kicks from Koio.
koio.co - 12/21
The Essential Tennis Low Top Sneaker
Fear of God Essentials
nordstrom.com
$295.00
An ultra-versatile taupe sneaker with a little extra edge, courtesy of Jerry Lorenzo's Fear of God Essentials line.
nordstrom.com - 13/21
Tyler Lace Up
Frye
thefryecompany.com
$328.00
When in doubt, leather boots are a business-casual staple. Black lace-ups are great for wearing with black anything—jeans, chinos, suits, what have you.
thefryecompany.com - 14/21
Heritage Iron Ranger Boot
Red Wing
amazon.com
$349.99
Yes, black boots are a great option, bit if you want to try a bit more color, Red Wing, purveyor of some of the most durable boots around, has an elegant option in rich amber.
amazon.com - 15/21
Square-Toe Loafers
Lemaire
ssense.com
$372.00
Leave it to Christophe Lemaire to give us a new take on the timeless loafer, this one with a unique vamp and a square toe.
ssense.com - 16/21
Bula IV Loafer
Armando Cabral
nordstrom.com
$490.00
Trust that Armando Cabral will always elevate tried-and-true classics with attention-grabbing details—like the elastic goring at the vamp of these pebbled leather loafers.
nordstrom.com - 17/21
Epsom Leather Penny Loafers
Grenson
mrporter.com
$615.00
Like we said, penny loafers are foolproof. And if you're looking for the toniest option, the one beloved by English gents, Grenson's Epsom is what you need.
mrporter.com - 18/21
Chelsea Boots
Common Projects
saksfifthavenue.com
$672.00
If you've been following us closely, you're well aware of Common Projects's sneakers—their paired-down look, high-quality materials, and expert construction. The same, of course, can be said of its stellar Chelsea boots.
saksfifthavenue.com - 19/21
City Gommino Driving Shoes
Tod's
tods.com
$695.00
Initially made for cruising down the highway, Tod's Gommini—a.k.a. driving shoes—are the kind of shoes that will put your business casual fit into high gear.
tods.com - 20/21
Jordaan Leather Loafer
Gucci
gucci.com
$920.00
There are very few situations in which a Gucci bit loafer is not the right move. Go ahead and invest—it'll pay dividends.
gucci.com - 21/21
Suede Chelsea Boots
CELINE HOMME
mrporter.com
$1100.00
Speaking of investment, Celine Homme has produced the perfect all-day Chelsea boot. Wear it to the office. Wear it to a festival. Wear it anywhere.
mrporter.com