The Four Shoes You Must Own

Studies have shown that the average cosmopolitan woman will own approximately 67 pairs of shoes over the course of her lifetime.*

It's good to be a man though. To live in a world of practicality. Of elegant utility. Of minimalism. Your magic number is four.

Behold - the four footwear gems you absolutely need to get you through life.

Black Leather Laceups

You probably already have a pair. It wouldn't be a blown-up statement to say that every man owns a pair. But it wouldn't be a crime either to say that very few men own a decent pair.

When selecting black leather shoes, my personal recommendation is to opt for laceups over slipons. Laceups add a touch of cool sleek elegance over the typical plain slipon and also add versatility by being casual enough to pair with dark jeans.

Be sure to keep em' shiny.

It's also an advantage to choose a shoe that is slimly constructed, ie. not too wide and bulky. A common misconception is that wide bulky shoes are far more comfortable than slim pointy shoes - when in reality, a well-constructed slim shoe can cradle your foot more comfortably than a bulky ill-fitting pair would. Ronald McDonald may be able to rock clowny shoes and still have the adoration of millions of women worldwide, but you're not Ronald McDonald.

A personal favorite of mine is the cap-toe variety, which is usually built slightly pointier than the average black leather shoe. But when it comes to pointy, think aircraft cockpoint pointy, not pencil pointy. An overly pointy shoe only works if you're attending a costume party as an evil moustached sorceror.

Wear them for:

• Work
• Formal events (e.g. Black Tie)
• Dressy nights out

Dark Brown Leather Brogues

If I were president, I'd make sure every man would own a pair of dark brown leather brogues - the rebellious fashion-forward brother of black leather footwear and the smart yet casually hip distant relative of the cowboy boot.

Wear it to work. Pair it with a gray suit (an excellent look). Wear it to the mall. Pair it with dark indigo jeans (instant cool). Brown leather brogues are so versatile they can practically be used for any occasion ranging from smart casual to even formal gatherings (in select circumstances).

Impeccable.

Possibly the most subtle yet statement-making way to stand out in a crowd is to tastefully complete an outfit with a dark brown leather shoe-belt-watch ensemble.

Wear them for:

• A wide range of any smart casual to semi-formal soirees

Converse Sneakers

When I was 16, an acquaintance came up to me and said "I think you're cool. Because you wear Converse."

They're called classics for a reason.

I wish he would've just stopped at the first sentence, but it almost seemed like if you looked up the defintion of the word "cool" in the dictionary, there you'd find it - an accompanying picture of a pair of classic black-and-white colorway Converse sneakers. There is arguably no other shoe that can epitomize coolness like a pair of Converses.

Dress them up or dress them down - there is seemingly no role you cannot play with a pair. The classic black and white colorway works best for ease of mixing and matching and also provides you leeway for getting them dirty as you go about your daily business.

Originating as a basketball shoe, Converse sneakers also play a dual role in that you can bring them along with you on short trips not only as a casual walking shoe, but also as a substitute for atheltic shoes for trips to the gym.

And if you think you're really hip, wear them with a suit.

Wear them for:

• Any occasion you dare to.

Flip-flops

Told you I was practical. Go nuts.

p/s: Special thanks to Sreekanth for inducing the revival of SEFTSG.

*Fictional study