It is difficult to explain why something looks bad, but to me square toed shoes look like something this guy would wear out:

fdba Emory Blaine and BBA or otherwise trying to find the perfect pseudonym.
 
Cartwright:
How do you not get it? It's just passe. It was a brief fad and now looks cheap and ridiculous. Do you still wear braided belts and high waisted stone washed jeans?

Yes

 

Santoni Loafer's and razor sharp pleated dress slacks M-F, driving mocs and Banana Republic Chinos for weekends. That's it.

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 
Stringer Bell:
Santoni Loafer's and razor sharp pleated dress slacks M-F, driving mocs and Banana Republic Chinos for weekends. That's it.

That would be fucking nuts if a first year came in wearing $1,000 shoes -- and loafers to top it off!

fdba Emory Blaine and BBA or otherwise trying to find the perfect pseudonym.
 
BBA:
Stringer Bell:
Santoni Loafer's and razor sharp pleated dress slacks M-F, driving mocs and Banana Republic Chinos for weekends. That's it.

That would be fucking nuts if a first year came in wearing $1,000 shoes -- and loafers to top it off!

Loafers = baller. 1k for a pair Santoni's? Usually leave Swarovski Crystal studded ones for Euro trash.

Ace all your PE interview questions with the WSO Private Equity Prep Pack: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/guide/private-equity-interview-prep-questions
 

You guys are hilarious. I didn't realize how much the shape of the toes of dress shoes really affect you guys. So basically if I see someone with square-toed shoes, I should assume he's either from Jersey, poor, is a dbag,had no taste, or he works retail? Or maybe he just has square-toed shoes...

 
Cartwright:
jonnyseed:
So basically if I see someone with square-toed shoes, I should assume he's either from Jersey, poor, is a dbag,had no taste, or he works retail?

Not either/or....and, and, and, and.

Haha, I think I get your point. You people are really anti square-toe shoes. I mean it really ignites a fire for you guys.

I want to know what happens when you see a fellow employee or someone on the streets with square-toe shoes?

 

Square toed shoes have their place and it's not in IBD is all you need to know. It'd be like wearing black biking boots to a formal dinner; they probably won't let you in anyways and you look tacky/like a tard besides. Dress for the occasion; dress for success. I imagine there's some ubiquitous quote that should go here, but I can't remember it so...

-N.

"It's about the game." - Gordon Gekko "No matter how much money you make, you'll never be rich." - Jacob "Jake" Moore "'Oh Africa Brave Africa'. It was... a laugh riot." - Patrick Bateman
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

A jean vest on top of business casual isn't the best analogy here. In my opinion, shoes make the man. I think, the shoes make the outfit. Especially in the world of finance where its one of the few areas you can distinguish your outfit. A guy could be wearing a good looking suit and then you see his shoes and you can't help but ask yourself how in the hell he could get it so wrong.

I don't know why it is square shoes don't work, they just don't. Maybe the fact that they're SQUARE. Maybe its that they just look clumsy. Like you could trip any minute. In my opinion, square shoes and suits should be avoided at all costs.

 

If you walked into my company with square toed shoes, I'd fire you. I would ding you from the interview before you opened your mouth. Square toed shoes are about is bad as camo cargo shorts.

There is no reason to further explain why they are terrible looking, they just are. Just as there should be no reason the explain why a straight man shouldn't own a toy poodle. Its purely intuitive lol

 

I'm just confused as to how someone can look at a pair of square toed shoes and think, "Yes, that would look great." It seems self explanatory

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
someotherguy:
The intensity of opinions on fashion on this site never fail to astound me.

Same here. I'm so glad I started this thread, it has given me many laughs. It stemmed from ana conversation I had with a co-worker who was wearing square-toed shoes. I also have some square-toed loafers, and yes, I do wear them to work.

 
jonnyseed:
You guys are so petty and affeminate for caring that much about the shape of someone elses shoes. I mean really, judging someone entirely based on their shoes?

Thats like saying he is wearing a pink suit we wont care....

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
blackfinancier:
jonnyseed:
You guys are so petty and affeminate for caring that much about the shape of someone elses shoes. I mean really, judging someone entirely based on their shoes?

Thats like saying he is wearing a pink suit we wont care....

I really didn't realize square toes were on the same level as a pink suit.

 

Haha, some of you people are hilarious. I don't see anything wrong with them, in fact I'm wearing them right now...along with jeans and a Nike DRI-FIT polo shirt in the team of my choice...so maybe I'm not the best example, lol.

While I agree they don't convey professionalism like a cap toe does and I don't think they are ALL hideous, although most of them are clunky and goofy looking...plus I don't think mine appear to be as square as some of the ones I've seen recently, which has made it hard for me to find a decent replacement. To each their own. If you don't own them already I wouldn't suggest buying them over some cap toes for interviews for first year or SA positions, etc.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
cphbravo96:
Haha, some of you people are hilarious. I don't see anything wrong with them, in fact I'm wearing them right now...along with jeans and a Nike DRI-FIT polo shirt in the team of my choice...so maybe I'm not the best example, lol.

While I agree they don't convey professionalism like a cap toe does and I don't think they are ALL hideous, although most of them are clunky and goofy looking...plus I don't think mine appear to be as square as some of the ones I've seen recently, which has made it hard for me to find a decent replacement. To each their own. If you don't own them already I wouldn't suggest buying them over some cap toes for interviews for first year or SA positions, etc.

Regards

According to the people on this board, you're probably a piece of garbage from Jersey.

 
jonnyseed:
cphbravo96:
Haha, some of you people are hilarious. I don't see anything wrong with them, in fact I'm wearing them right now...along with jeans and a Nike DRI-FIT polo shirt in the team of my choice...so maybe I'm not the best example, lol.

While I agree they don't convey professionalism like a cap toe does and I don't think they are ALL hideous, although most of them are clunky and goofy looking...plus I don't think mine appear to be as square as some of the ones I've seen recently, which has made it hard for me to find a decent replacement. To each their own. If you don't own them already I wouldn't suggest buying them over some cap toes for interviews for first year or SA positions, etc.

Regards

According to the people on this board, you're probably a piece of garbage from Jersey.

I'm not from Jersey, but I've been known to punch loud mouth, poofy-haired midgets in the mouth right after...

...TEEEE SHIIRRRRTTTTT TIIIMMMEEEE!!

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 
txjustin:
Maybe it's just me, but I don't tend to judge what another dude wears. I prefer looking at the ladies...

AMEN. I really couldn't care less about what my co-workers wear. But hey, you're only as valuable as the shape of your shoes.

 

I read some articles and forums about square-toed shoes, and I have to cave in and say you guys may be right about this one. I officially retired my two pair of Kennth Cole shoes (Yes, I actually do have those).

I gave them to my neighbor who thought they were amazing. I hope he doesn't interview for a finance job wearing those things.

It wasn't too big of a loss, I think they only cost me like $50 each. Now I have to search for these "wing tips" you guys keep talking about.

 

They're out of style...they were cool for a hot second...literally, many years ago. They look cheap, tacky, and classless...like your'e trying to be stylish but you don't know anything about style.

 
Bob Sacamano:
Or these?

http://www.ferragamo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategories_31150_…

Or are these "trapezoid-toe" shoes lol

No those aren't. Check out this link though:

http://community.artofmanliness.com/profiles/blogs/art-of-manliness-suit-school-3

"Companies make square-toed shoes because it's cheaper and easier than making a good rounded toe shoe. They pass it off as fashion, but it just makes your feet look like Frankenshoes, and they laugh at the increased profit margins. Moreover, they are normally made of inferior leather and have rubber soles."

Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 

I saw a history channel show where they showed that fashion in medieval armor was cyclical with the armored boot changing from pointed to square to pointed again over a twenty year span. So I guess it just depends where we are in the fashion cycle.

 
Clarkey:
Square-toed shoes look silly because they look too big and too big looks clumsy. If you saw a guy wearing a jacket two sizes too big for him, you'd think he was silly. It's the same with the shoes.

Or they just look cheap.

fdba Emory Blaine and BBA or otherwise trying to find the perfect pseudonym.
 

On our floor its business casual, so no need for formal black shoes really. If I had to throw out my 13 pairs and start anew I'd go for a pair in brown calf, a pair in brown suede, a pair in black calf (just in case).

Suede is the most comfortable to wear.

Also remember to match your belt with your shoes.

 
ugglan:
On our floor its business casual, so no need for formal black shoes really. If I had to throw out my 13 pairs and start anew I'd go for a pair in brown calf, a pair in brown suede, a pair in black calf (just in case).

Suede is the most comfortable to wear.

Also remember to match your belt with your shoes.

Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately I don't know what "calf" means in the context of work shoes (I've googled).

I'll need to get a pair for a BB interview in 3 days. What do you think about some of these? http://www.zushoe.com.au/catalogue/premium_mens_shoes.aspx

They're all rubber soles though and I heard that this is bad? Is it?

Also, when you say match shoes to belt, do you mean brown belt for brown shoes or what, I'm really clueless about business fashion and my family are hopeless haha

 

Brooks Brothers has some really nice cap toes on clearance at the moment:

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Se…

They're black calf and regularly $500, marked down to $234 or something like that, and if you qualify for their credit card you get 25% off your first purchase which makes them like $175. Getting a $500 pair of shoes that will last you many years and you'll eventually get re-soled a number of times for $175 is a smokin' deal. I know money's tight, but think about it.

 
trailmix8:
I hate squared toed shoes as much as anyone else on this board, and would obviously never own any. But was really wondering why is it that squared toed shoes are hated by wall street types? Would somoene care to elaborate as to how squared toed shoes received their bad rap?

Just look at it from an aesthetic POV.

It throws off a well-fitting suit. Ideally, you want to keep your silhouette in line.

 

Let me preface this by saying yes, you should avoid square toe shoes as they are less fashionable and aren't looked upon favorably in the finance world (as this thread evidences). The ones you picked are little too casual, so I would recommend against them.

However, just on my way to work this morning I was noticing the shoes of what many suits we're wearing. And, I'd say in a good portion, you'd find square toes shoes. Bottom line: who gives a shit. If you work your ass off, your work product will speak a lot louder than the toe shape of your shoes. This board seems overemphasis on these sort of things.

But, again, non-square toe shoes are preferable.

 

[quote=Bernankey]Since we are on the topic. Does this apply to loafers, such as these?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/bruno-magli-renegade-loafer-men/3185966?ori…]

I think those are ugly regardless of the toe shape, but the square toe definitely is not as bad as the OP's.

If you're going to wear bit loafers, go with the classic Gucci (or another brand that has made a shoe identical to the Gucci one)

Gucci: http://bit.ly/GYfQ3t

Cole Haan imitation: http://bit.ly/HqQ9YL

Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 

I personally think they look fine, but I refrain from wearing them because everyone else hates them. Fashion is ultimately subjective, but it's not worth the risk of being judged in this situation.

"My dear, descended from the apes! Let us hope it is not true, but if it is, let us pray that it will not become generally known."
 

I bought square toed shoes once. Never again.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

You sure? Did you check the top view? They look somewhat square, I don't know. It might be my irracional fear of square-toe shoes that has been instilled on me by WSO lol.

"The illegal we do immediately; the unconstitutional takes a little longer."
 

Agree with Oneal^^ . In that prie range you would do better with J&M or Cole Haan. Florsheim are poorly constructed and just feel cheap.

"That dude is so haole, he don't even have any breath left."
 

If you have to ask...

In all seriousness grab a better brand than Florsheim. As @"FeelingMean" mentioned Cole Haan and J&M are much better. Allen Edmonds if you are really serious.

"Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money." - Mickey Bergman - Heist (2001)
 

They're not, but that glossy shit is gonna look like the shit that it is. You'd be better off getting some Docker cap toes if you're on that much of a budget.

heister: Look at all these wannabe richies hating on an expensive salad. https://arthuxtable.com/
 
Callmestupid:

That toe is not square.

My wife told me (and I quote) "I'm not crazy about the square tip of the shoe, but otherwise they look nice." when I got home with them last Friday.

Now they look nice in some garbage barge heading out to the Atlantic.

 

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