Now men know that us women love our shoes. We love them a lot. We’ve got shoes for all occasions. And some shoes for no occasion at all. And about 5 pairs of boots. Men don’t understand, but you don’t have to. We don’t need men to get on the shoe bandwagon, but it would be nice if men took some notice of their shoes.

Women will always – at some point – look at your shoes. And you can be sure we’re judging you on them. Perhaps not harshly, but there will be some judgment made about you. A man who has a good pair of shoes on is sexy. A man with a slightly quirky pair of shoes shows that he can take himself lightly – and pull off quirky shoes.

As we’re always looking out for our readers here at BaDoink, we’ve put together an info packed Gentleman’s Guide to Shoe Etiquette, just for you. This first installment we’re covering tips on how to buy the right shoes. Buckle up son, it’s going to be a fun ride!

Buying

If you’re not sure what kind of shoes to buy, check out our guide to the 5 types of shoe every man should have, and then come back here for a little 411 on how to buy them.

Quality: If you’re above 21, then you should have at least one pair of leather shoes. If you’re above 25, then you should have a pair of really good leather shoes. And if you’re above 30, please splurge on a good pair danggit! Don’t buy anything too shiny and make sure that it is good leather, or else the leather might crack, not to mention it will hurt your feet.

Size: Be sure you know what your size is, especially if it’s your first time buying shoes. Don’t shop for shoes online until you’re sure you have the right size. Be sure to ask a professional for help in finding the right size.

Shape: Long gone are the days when shoes were square and clunky son. Welcome to the age of sleek, sexy shoes. Your shoes shouldn’t be too pointed nor too square (or round for that matter). The current style is nice and elongated, if that’s not your thing, then go for something that follows the curvature of your feet but isn’t clunky and square.

Heels: Regardless of what your height is, please don’t buy shoes with heels higher than 3 cm. It looks weird and you’re not Tom Cruise.

Care: Whilst you’re getting yourself a pair of shoes, invest in a shoe kit too. Trust me, it will well worth your money. Check out our Guide to Caring for your Shoes.

Suitability: Remember to also buy shoes that suit the clothing you’re going for. If you’ve got a baggy suit (why do you have a baggy suit?), then don’t buy sleek shoes. If you’ve got a sleek, fitted suit, then don’t buy big chunky shoes.

Armed with this guide to buying shoes, we’re sure you’ll get yourself a good pair. Don’t forget to check out our other guides so that not only will you know how to take care of your shoes, you’ll also know what kind of socks you should wear with these shoes! Any other good buying tips? Leave us a note in the comments!