Best Summer Shoes for Southern Men

Many of you wait until June 21 before you will utter the word “Summer.” Down South, the trees are beginning to bloom, and the temperatures are warming up, which means you should update your summer footwear. Here are the best summer shoes for southern men and they go with anything from poplin and seersucker suits to your favorite shorts of khaki slacks.

Black/Burgundy Loafers

I prefer these loafers because you can dress them up or down. They go great with a navy poplin suit and give seersucker suits a dressier, business look. I also suggest a pair of burgundy loafers since they go great with khaki slacks or a poplin khaki suit.

Cole Haan Zerogrand

The Cole Haan Zerogrand is a versatile, wingtip oxford that is one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve worn in a long time. Ideal for summer and warm weather environments, the shoe features maximum flexibility in a lightweight style. You’ll hardly notice you are wearing shoes at all. You can dress these shoes up or down, depending on the event.

Bucks

Whether “dirty” or white, nothing beats a comfortable pair of nubuck shoes in the summer. These are fantastic summer shoes and are perfect with seersucker or linen slacks. I know, some of you freak out at the thought of white bucks but give them a shot as they are timeless and classic. If you still can’t bring yourself to buy white, a pair of light brown bucks works well with most summer slacks.

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Topsiders or “Boat” Shoes

Often referred to as “boat” or “deck” shoes, these are the ideal summer shoe for work and play. Wore by boaters because of their durability and non-slip soles, they come in a ton of colors so buy a few pairs to mix and mingle with all your summer shorts and slacks.

Athletic Shoes

Commonly referred to as tennis shoes (regardless of their use), I use the term athletic shoes because as a tennis player I purchase tennis shoes specifically for the sport. And speaking of tennis, the classic Stan Smith shoes from Adidas were originally introduced in the 1970s, especially for tennis players but I wouldn’t recommend them for today’s game. However, they’ve made a comeback in recent years, and they go great with jeans and shorts.

Crocs

Crocs! It’s hard to beat a pair in the summer. These also come in a variety of styles and colors but I prefer the Santa Cruz shown above. I actually have a black pair I wear in the winter and recently purchased a pair in a light grey that I love. These sand brown Crocs go great with shorts, and I like wearing them while sitting on the porch with friends. Academy Sports sells a knock-off brand for about $20 that holds up well.