Dress shoe

Dress shoes are specialized footwear designed for smart casual or formal events.

They are typically contrasted with athletic shoes used for sports. Many people choose them as their standard daily footwear. They are also widely used for dancing, parties, and special occasions. These shoes help individuals present themselves in a formal or polished manner.

Most men's dress shoes are constructed primarily from leather.

This material is often used for the outers, the lining, and the sole. Some manufacturers use rubber soles to increase durability, though this may reduce elegance. Many shoes are assembled from several leather pieces. The seams between these pieces can be decorated with brogueing. Brogueing refers to rows of decorative punching in various patterns.

Full brogues, or wingtips in America, feature a wavy toe cap with punched patterns. Half brogues have a straight-edged toe cap with less punching. Other styles, like the quarter-brogue, feature even less decoration.

Men's footwear is often categorized by its fastening system.

Oxfords, also called Balmorals in America, are lace-up shoes with closed lacing. This means the leather pieces joined by the laces are sewn together at the bottom. They are the standard choice for wearing with most suits. A summer variant is the White Buck, made of buckskin. Monk shoes, or monkstraps, use a strap and a buckle instead of laces. These are generally less formal than Oxfords. Derbies, or Blüchers, feature open lacing and are slightly less formal. Loafers are slip-on shoes that do not require laces. Some men's loafers include a decorative tassel.

Women's dress shoes offer a wide variety of colors and styles.

Common colors include black, silver, gold, tan, white, red, and yellow. These colors may be chosen to match an evening gown or a suit. Pumps are a common style and usually feature a heel of at least 5 cm (2 inches). Modern pumps have evolved to include peep toe styles or ankle straps. They are now made from materials like suede and wool in addition to leather. Slingbacks are similar to pumps but feature a narrow strap over the heel instead of a full wrap.

Mules are slip-on shoes that do not cover the heel or the back of the foot. These are only considered dress shoes if they possess a heel.

Other feminine styles include loafers and ballet flats. Loafers are typically flat and are often seen as more comfortable than heeled shoes. A specific design called a cloak is a slip-on shoe that includes a heel. Ballet flats are inspired by the art of ballet. They are flat shoes with a rounded toe and come in many patterns. While the classic style often includes a small bow on the toe, many modern versions do not. These shoes became a popular fashion trend after the first few years of the 21st century.

Sandals are usually considered casual, but certain types can be formal. A sandal might be acceptable in a formal atmosphere if it has a heel, many straps, or a shiny finish. The use of casual footwear in formal settings has caused social debate. In 2005, members of a national champion women's lacrosse team visited the White House wearing flip-flops. This event led to significant criticism. The team eventually auctioned nine pairs of the flip-flops on eBay. They raised approximately $1,653 for a young cancer patient named Jaclyn Murphy.

This incident sparked a debate about American culture and style. Many young people feel that flip-flops are dressy enough for many social contexts. However, older generations often feel that wearing them to formal occasions signifies laziness. Interestingly, the Dalai Lama of Tibet is a frequent wearer of flip-flop sandals. He has met with several US presidents, including George W. Bush and Barack Obama, while wearing them. This shows how different individuals and cultures view the boundaries of formal footwear.