Written by Rakelle Maurici in Essentials on the 2nd September 2015

They say a man’s shoes reveal all there is to know about a man, so they should be one of your biggest wardrobe investments - so it's important to make sure you are making the right buying choices. With so much choice across the high street there really is no excuse to turn up to a job interview or a dinner date with a sorry looking pair of kicks that you wear every day. Here are the top 5 styles you should definitely have stored in your wardrobe.

Classic Brogue 

The brogue, a classic yet formal and understated shoe. We’re also advising you get this style in brown such as tan, chestnut, chocolate or a dark brown. This colour will likely match with most items in your wardrobe. So if you have a more formal occasion to attend you can choose to wear them with a navy or grey suit, or if you looking for a casual style wear them with dark wash slim fitting jeans and either a sports jacket or crew neck jumper. Recommended brands are Church’s, John Lobb or Oliver Sweeney; since they are a Scottish and Irish shoe it only makes sense to choose a British brand right? It’s a classic style shoe which you will be able to wear often.

Suede Loafers 

Similar to that of the driving shoe but a little more solid and durable in both the sole and the outer shell. They are mostly made from suede and tend to be worn with shorts or rolled trousers and sockless. They also have a smart edge so you can wear them with linen trousers and a linen shirt or with a pair of tailored shorts and a polo as they still have a relaxed feel. Different styles are available e.g. buckles, cross over straps or with a tassel detail - there's no wrong and right style here, it’s just down to preference. Brands such as Sebago, Tod’s and Scarosso have all these styles to choose from.

Clean Trainers 

A style of shoe that has really boomed in the last couple of years thanks to the catwalks. It’s no longer odd to see a man wearing a suit with a pair of sneakers. There are some boundaries but the purpose of trainers has transitioned. They are now not just built for running or going to the gym, and brands such as Nike and Adidas have lifestyle trainers which can be worn daily for work. To be honest, everyone seems to be wearing plain white ones so don't be be afraid to be different and choose something with some colour or different texture and materials. You can wear these with almost anything from your wardrobe too, whether it’s a pair of jeans and a t-shirt or a casual suit - as well as knowing they won’t let you down on comfort.

Monk Strap Dress Shoes 

Instead of your regular lace up derby or oxford shoes, I have chosen to pick out the mighty monk strap. If you read a previous article of ours on the monk strap shoe you’ll see they are the dressiest shoe of all styles, however they're currently being worn in many different ways - whether with a double or single strap. As a safe bet, choose a black or brown pair so you know they won’t let you down when needing a neutral pair of shoes, in which case go for suede too as these work with both jeans and suits depending on your occasion. Recommended brands for this style is Oliver Sweeney, Suit Supply and Ask the Missus.

Winter Boots 

Lastly, we have your winter shoe. This can either be a lace up leather boot or a Chelsea boot, it does depend on your style preferences - you may want something masculine and chunky or sleek and smart. A lace up works great with jeans and a chunky knit, a pea coat or with a leather jacket. They're more of a casual style footwear option for everyday and work well in a leather dark brown shade. Whereas the Chelsea boot looks good in any kind of brown or black with dark washed denim, a shirt, a roll neck or with a blazer for an evening dinner. Key brands are Timberland, Red Wing, Wolverine and Dr Martens.

We feature Classic Brogue, Suede Loafers, Clean Trainers, Monk Strap Dress Shoes and Strong Boots in our guide to 5 Footwear Styles Every Man Should Own.