Everything You Need To Know About Monkstrap Shoes

The most underrated dilemma for a man other than “when will I get married” and “do I have a perfect job” is “does this footwear suit my outfit”?! 

Almost every urban man has gone through this, every evening; in fact, on several mornings too when rushing to school/college/office. It's the most difficult task to find footwear that goes with your dress and your personality at the same time. A wrong pair of footwear can easily ruin your look and impression. Considering that, here is the perfect option that serves all these purposes beautifully – the Monkstrap shoes! 

In the era of vivid styles and assorted choices, it’s unlikely that you haven’t heard of them. Every second man chooses these shoes for their perfect go-to look and also for their date night or an interview. Lately, Monk shoes have become a latest fashion trend for all the gentlemen out there, and therefore, it’s quite relevant that we help you grasp more information about this trend. 

So, without any further delay let's get started. 

What are Monkstrap Shoes?

Monkstrap shoes are lace-less dressy shoes with one or two buckle-like straps in the front that sear and hold the feet. This design makes them look unique and classy while also making it look a little more formal, considering that you can wear them at formal events like seminars and office meetings. This design also comes handy when you need to travel for long-distance voyages.

Many of us confuse monk shoes with derby shoes. But the monk’s signature design – the buckles – differs from the derby shoes. In fact, quite contrary to monk shoes, derby shoes commonly have laces in front. As compared to them, monk shoes are classier, more comfortable, stylish, and versatile leather shoes. They consist of all the qualities a fashion enthusiast could ask for.

We must say, monk shoes are the most interesting men’s footwear, not just because they’re classy and elegant looking, but also because of the interesting history behind them. Would you like to know what we’re talking about? Well then, dive into the next section.

History of Monkstrap Shoes

Monkstrap shoes were invented back in the 15th century in Europe. They were essentially designed for the laborers and monks who used to do reaping, plowing, and binding of the crops in the farms, all day long. Kiltie Monk strap had to travel miles to hills and mountains for their work, and these shoes were specially designed for them, keeping in mind durability, hold, comfort, and protection for their feet. The sleek design of the buckles and soft sole made it easy for them to work constantly with pain free, sweat free, and secured feet. Even though the inspiration was the traditional strap sandals, monk shoes were unquestionably a better option over sandals.  

While that was the original thought behind their making in the 15th century, even in the 20th century, there was a notion that monk shoes are meant for rough use like manual activities and travel. They were often considered boring and some men only used to prefer them for formal occasions. But with evolving fashion trends, these versatile shoes have finally succeeded in making their place and becoming everyone's favorite. 

Today, some of the most popular brands market monks and they’re a huge rage among the fashion-conscious men. And speaking of fashion, we know that you want to know how you can perfectly style a pair of monkstrap dress shoes now, so join us as we unveil the tips for the same in the next section.

Monkstrap Shoes Styling Guide

Monkstrap is the most fashionable and enduring footwear styles of all times. The build and craftsmanship of these shoes makes them appropriate for formal events with a hint of sophistication as well. But styling them perfectly is often challenging, and the two most common questions men deal with when choosing them are:

• How to look stylish while wearing monk shoes? 
• How can one carry them with style and yet be comfortable? 

If you’re struggling with these queries too, well, don’t worry. To help you in styling these religiously named dressy shoes, here are some styling tips and tricks that you might find helpful. 

First things first – What to choose: Single or Double monk?

There have been endless discussions and debates regarding this single question – which is better: single monk or double monk? 

The answer is simple – it totally depends on your personal preference! 

Both the straps are equally versatile and add so much class into your wardrobe. Single monk provides a cleaner and sharper look to your formal attire. On the other hand, double monk is more on an edgier side. Both kinds are perfect for occasions where you want to show a little more personality. They’re best for casual and business casual events, but they also work great for weddings and parties.

Monk shoes with a Suit

Monk strap looks best when accompanied with a well-tailored suit. It provides an extremely structured yet classy feel to the whole attire and it’s worthy enough to be your best option if you’re looking forward to attend a formal event. Keep in mind that:

• While styling a black suit, stick to the good old black colored monk shoes.
• Like every other shoe, black and brown monk shoes are your best options.
• If you’re planning to wear an unusual color like beige, charcoal, grey or blue, pair them with brown monk shoes. It will add a lot of character and enhance your look.

Monk shoes with Jeans

It’s high time that you ditch those same old sneakers and loafers for your everyday look! Try teaming up your fitted jeans with monk strap shoes to achieve that smart look.

• For a more casual and breezier look, choose tan colored double monk shoes along with a dark colored slim fitted jeans and white polo t-shirt.
• Brown leather monk straps are your best shot when it comes to styling with jeans, but if you want to explore more options in terms of variety, opt for tan color and suede material. They completely stand out with jeans.
• Try sticking to the neutrals. Don’t go overboard.

How to wear monk straps for casual look

• During winters – Brown monk strap with blue or grey chinos along with a sweater.  
• During summers – Tan suede double monk shoes with fitted blue jeans and an open neck oxford t-shirt.

How to wear monk straps for business-casual look

• Stick to single monk strap shoes, and to elevate your look, try adding small details like ties and pocket squares in order to stick to a business setting.

• You could also pick a charcoal suit with a round neck white shirt along with brown leather monk strap
• Alternatively, a brown leather monk strap with navy blue suit along with a structured coat or blazer can also be sported to achieve an office friendly winter look.

How to ace the formal look with monk shoes

• The basic – Black tailored suit with white oxford shirt teamed up with black leather single monk strap shoes.
• In mood for a little experiment? Go for a three-piece suit, white oxford shirt, a tie with double monk strap shoes. 

To wrap it up

We have no qualms about saying it yet again – monkstrap shoes are undeniably one of the trendiest, sassiest pairs of footwear for men out there. They’re super durable too and can protect your feet if you walk or work for hours. You can team them up with formal or casual wear; you could even go a little crazy with experimentation, but these shoes will never disappoint you. 

Hope this guide will help you pick the best monkstrap shoes for your wardrobe.

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