What about big steel-toe boots (bootblacked and shined, of course)? For many software engineers, this is the standard footgear, in case we need to forcibly "reboot" the computers or our besuited managers.
Your articles are amusing, in the sense of looking into an alien world, but they certainly make me glad I have a career based on knowing and doing things, rather than merely wearing a suit.
buy allen-edmonds. Made in the USA
Mark;
I am talking about dressing for an interview. Not every day work.
Also I think every man should know this - not just bay street bankers.
What you wear to an interview should be tailored somewhat to the interview environment you are working in.
However basic rules of dress still apply (like the loafers with a suit).
If you live in Canada you will want Dack's. Best dress shoes this side of London - my handmade (in Canada) cap toe Oxfords cost a small fortune in 1997 and still look great - re-soled three times and always polished, stored with cedar trees, etc etc. Also quite possibly the most comfortable shoes I have - Dack's are all built around your foot and are immensely comfortable as a consequence. Like many of life's little luxuries, they are also an ego-booster.
I have always worked in tech industries and know many people like Mark Hughes. Mark, there is nothing wrong with looking your best, and by the same token there is no particular moral virtue in the gear's ubiquitous plaid shirt/urironed dockers/hush puppies. No matter what you might think, people (bosses, girlfriends, passers-by) judge you by your appearance every day, without exception. It counts.
Manolo says,
This it is excellent advice. The Manolo he could not have said it better himself!
Muchos Besos!
Manolo
Came to this via Manolo. Only discovered Manolo last week. It's got to be the silliest blog, as in entertainingly silly, especially being written in "English as she is spoke" http://www.collinslibrary.com/pe...com/
pedro2.html
The real reason I'm commenting--I'm quite gratified to see your advice on styles of shoes matching what I've been buying and will continue to buy, however, I've only been in the price range you recommend a time or two. I recall at least one pair of Florsheims, and yes they were great, and lasted a long time. But I'm an engineer, I really only need dress shoes for interviews and customer presentations (suit situations). From preference, I do wear a coat and tie and dress shoes every day, but like most engineers I'm cheap. So to all the cheapskates reading, here are some links to the JC Penney shoe pages (no, I don't get anything out of this). You might be able to get all three styles, in both brown and black, for the price of one pair of Florsheims. Wit
Links here--got truncated
Note that with six pairs of shoes, you can easily follow the advice to not wear the same pair every day.
http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/Pro...&TTYP=&
ShopBy=0
http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/Pro...&TTYP=&
ShopBy=0
http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/Pro...&TTYP=&
ShopBy=0
Steevil:
Remember I did say that you can find these shoes for really good prices if you shop around.
Excellent reminder for wearing decent shoes with a suit - well done and thanks! Unfortunately, I wear a 12G and thus almost always have to buy shoes from Dack's - great shoes, fairly pricey though - about $300 for cap toes
Cheers!
and please, please, please - wear dress socks with the dress shoes! *don't* wear gym socks.
i worked for a software company, and participated in the interview process. yes, we all dress for comfort on a day to day basis. but when you're walking in to make a first impression - wear a suit, wear dress shoes, and wear dress socks. attention to details like that will let the interviewer know that you'll give your job the same level of attention.
Thanks for the good advice! It's been helpful for me as I have purchased my first suit and prepare to find summer work (1st year Economic student in Kamloops). If you're going to be a poor student, one ought to do it in style. 
Question: Is there any special benefit from using cedar shoe trees, as opposed to plastic ones? I would expect there to be a difference, but I'd like to hear your opinion.
Justin: For natural-material shoes (leather), you really want cedar shoe trees to wick away moisture at night (they also tend to have a more rounded shape which your shoes will mold themselves to at night). For cheap plastic knockabout shoes, plastic shoe trees are fine (even with their abbreviated shapes). Natural deserves natural, is the bottom line.
As a diplomat with 20 years' experience, may I just agree with the Super Fantastic Manolo -- this column is worth its weight in gold to men heading for interviews. I'm interviewing in Vienna in a few weeks, and you can bet my best cap-toe Oxfords will be ready...
Thanks Ted, I suspected that cedar would have such a property, and am glad to have it confirmed. When I was a bit younger I was not attracted to cap-toe oxfords, but after trying a pair on with my dress clothes, I'll never be without again.
All the best to you in Vienna!
I just did some shoe shopping myself and I am a changed man. What you're saying is definitely true about wearing the right shoes to set the mind aright on the first interview. I hate loafers and I'd never wear them but the cap toe is really nice. There are so many subtle variations of toes and shapes that it depends what kind of dynamic you want to go along with the suit. I think you just have to look smart and keep the scuffs away. I don't live in Toronto so I don't know but are there shoe-shiners out and about? I saw many in Europe everywhere. EVERYWHERE. I also found some good deals that are decieving because the shoes are actually nice, but they would blend in our Canadian workosphere. I stay away from pointy though, or the radical angled shoes. Anyway, glad to hear some sense of style working in your blog.
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