It must be pretty clear by now just how obsessed with shoelaces we are here at Whiskers. What new laces can we make? What new shoe categories can we offer laces for? What are the hottest new shoes right now and how can we make them even better with our laces? Lucky for you, these questions ping-pong their way around our brains all day long – and even luckier for you, our Chief Product Officer, Mike, has some answers. After 25+ years in the footwear industry, Mike has learned to keep his ear to the ground when it comes to the hottest new shoe trends. So in honor of the season of spring, Mike has prepared 5 New Men’s Shoes You Should Get This Spring, accompanied by his favorite lace recommendations (of course). Enjoy!
(Don't worry ladies, Mike's Women's Shoe Style Guide is coming soon.)
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After decades in the footwear industry, I’ve become very picky when it comes to shoes. Not all shoes are made equal, and some trends come and go much quicker than others. I’ve learned to keep an eye out for the real-deal design trends that are here to stay (for a bit at least), and shoes of this sort come from the biggest of brands to the smallest shoe operations out there. With this in mind, I have put together 5 shoes that I think you should look at buying this spring. There are 5 different categories represented here, so if you are looking to totally revamp that closet of yours, I’ve got you covered. Some are from today’s more well-known brands, as well as great new looks from some cool smaller brands with a hold on the market. These shoes look good, feel good, and – most importantly – look even better with a pair of Whiskers in them. Click any of the shoe titles to shop directly for each pair.
White leather shoes are a staple in the modern closet. They can go from work to the weekend with ease. The Roger is the first court shoe from ON and I have to say, they nailed it. Co-created with Roger Federer, this is a clean contemporary shoe that you can wear anywhere. Simple lines, but nice details that separate this shoe from the pack. Using ON’s CloudTec technology for cushioning, this shoe is lightweight and comfortable and made out of vegan leather. They look great with chinos, jeans, or shorts. The color shown here looks fantastic with our Hunter Green Flat 54” Laces. This dark green color is popping up everywhere in 2022.
CLAE is a great brand out of Los Angeles that has been producing some great street style shoes for over 2 decades. Retro running is big right now, and we love the Joshua with its clean lines and simple retro nods to the 70s. Made with recycled and vegan materials, this style will elevate any look and keep that green conscience clean. They work perfectly with jeans, chinos, or shorts. We updated this pair with our Teal & Purple 45” Flat Ticked Lace and we love it.
CROSSOVER LONGWING, BY WOLF & SHEPHERD
If you are looking for a fresh new pair of dress shoes, I highly recommend you try these. A lot of companies have tried to create the perfect blend of athletic shoe and dress shoe, and Wolf & Shepherd is one of the few, if not the only, to get it absolutely right. These feel like no other dress shoe, and rather more closely resemble your favorite running shoe. These are by far my favorite shoes in my closet. Made in Portugal using Italian Leather, these will take your style quotient to a whole new level. So fresh and modern, and feel absolutely great. You could walk all day in these and your feet would thank you (trust me, I’ve tested these out A LOT). This is a gamechanger for dress shoes, literally. Steve Nash wears these on the sidelines as he coaches the Brooklyn Nets. Shown here with our best-selling style, the Blue, Light Blue & Navy 33” Dress Laces.
These are yet another great pair of shoes by the Swedish brand, ON. If you need an all-purpose shoe to work out, walk the dog, and look & feel awesome in, the Cloudnova is for you. The Cloudtec has amazing underfoot comfort and the upper hugs your foot. For me, it was love at first sight with these. With these in your rotation, it’ll be hard for your other shoes to make the rotation (except the Longwings of course). We love our Red & Black 45” Flat Ticked Laces in these.
Hailing from Northern Italy, this six-generation cobbler knows what they are doing. The chukka is a must-have in your closet. Perfect for work or date night, this boot takes you there in comfort. The 100% natural rubber soles and soft Italian Leather suede make this a great boot that will never go out of style. So channel your inner Steve McQueen and rock these evergreen boots year-round. We definitely recommend our Camo 29” Chukka Boot Laces in these for a subtle, yet epic upgrade.
