Mind Your Footing

This is a topic I've been debating for a while. It is a well know fact that your footwear is paramount to your entire wardrobe. It can make or break a well thought out look. With this knowledge in mind I will go right to the topic at hand. Let's begin by explaining what the relevant size ranges are for men for this discussion. Sizes 8-10 and 11-13 are the areas of focus here. As these sizes will cover the most common ranges of men's shoe sizes both on the lower and higher end spectrum.
Just because a shoe looks well with a pair of slacks, denims, chinos, etc does not necessarily mean it is proportionate to the scale of your pants silhouette. Careful consideration and a realistic approach to the size of ones feet are necessary to hit the mark. A long vs a wide foot will often create a different affect when placed in various shoe types. You may or may not have noticed how some shoes can appear to make your feet look smaller or larger, if you have not, then now is the time to start paying attention. Trends are not liner and as the silhouette, rise and details of pants change you must constantly reevaluate your footwear collection in lieu of these changes.
Wide feet have more of an advantage as they can be masked to a certain extent with minimal discomfort. To keep the illusion of smaller size look for a shoe with a narrower width. Preferably one that will not cause unease in walking and have enough room for the enlargement of foot width throughout the day. It is common that your feet can often swell during the course of the day based on activity and personal reactions. The goal here is to avoid the duck feet look that the wrong shoe can make.

Longer feet have less of an advantage due to the need for length in the stride room and overall comfort. Keys to remember in this situation is to stay away from shoes with an elongated toe. Least you look like your wearing skis instead if shoes. Rounded and softly squared are a good style to become familiar with. It is also best to have a shoe with minimal top detailing and to gravitate towards darker tones, as this can add to the illusion.
All of this information is relevant to the complimentary color of the pants that accompany them. Light versus dark and vice versa. The current trend is a slimmer fit for pants, this silhouette must be approached with caution in those with larger feet. I cannot stress enough how important it is to choose wisely when picking out your pants. You don't want too skinny or relaxed, in extreme cases don't shy away from going to a professional tailor to have adjustments made. Non de rigueur silhouettes can be handled this way as well. We all have that one pair of pants we hold on to just hoping and wishing that we can maintain our current waistline long enough to wear them when the trend gods smile upon us once again.
Disclaimer: this post is not about trying to make you squeeze into a painful pair of shoe for style purposes. It is solely(pun intended) to get your eye trained on looking at the fine details. Trust me there will be a mysterious woman in a crowd or a significant other who will take notice. You can thank me now or thank me later as long as you thank me.

" Remember your look is integral. There is no such thing as an insignificant detail." J.C. Leyendecker