If you crept your way around menswear blogs, online forums, and Pinterest boards across the late 2000s and early 2010s (were we ever so young?), there’s probably a batch of #menswear trends you can rattle off in a heartbeat.
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, monk strap shoes probably make that list, don’t they? And yet, a deeper look shows that the best monk strap shoes of this day and age aren’t a passing fad. They’re actually a classic and classy dress shoe worth your time and consideration.
Long before Pinterest and yet centuries after monks first crafted crude variations offering more coverage than a sandal, British shoemakers like Edward Green would perfect the style for the turn-of-the-century gentleman. Today, plenty of brands make modern examples of the style, which replaces lacing with a buckle-from-inside-out look.
Back to those uber-online #menswear trends: We’re willing to let tightly cropped dress pants worn with bare ankles fall by the wayside, and the ‘urban lumberjack’ movement can be done much more subtly and stylishly, among other cycles in the world of men’s style. But when you consider monk strap shoes, heed the fact that the single or double-buckle design isn’t really that much of a hop, skip, or jump away from classic lace-up dress shoes.
And today, monk strap shoes are similarly refined, in both their single and double-buckle varieties. Let the menswear forums argue about which style looks better. Whichever speaks to you is the real correct answer.
Keep It Simple, Style ‘Em Simply
A world opens up when considering the monk strap shoe as part of the same family tree as crisply designed dress shoes.
Try yours out with suits of the spring-and-summer variety in place of loafers, or else rock a burnished leather pair with thicker wool or wool-blend suits. The buckles help add some visual heft, whether you look for a pair in leather or in suede.
The best monk strap shoes look most fashionable with looks ranging from business casual to more formal (that could be chinos, that could be wool trousers, that could even be a full suit). To get the most bang for your buck, you might try ‘em alongside dark blue jeans and a crewneck sweater this winter, too.
When you think of them through that lens (simply swap out your favorite dress shoes!), they become less of an online fad and more of a traditional menswear look. Trust me on that, and find a pair well-suited to team with your favorite tailored looks.
Photo via Johnston & Murphy
Johnston & Murphy Sullivan Double-Buckle Cap Toe Shoes
Want to dip your toes into the world of monk strap shoes? Blend affordability with quality you can trust from Johnston & Murphy. The shape and captoe design of these mirrors traditional brown leather dress shoes, a solid way to ease into the distinctive double-buckle style.
*On sale at time of publishing.
Photo via Thursday Boot Co.
Thursday Boots Saint Double Monk Strap Shoes
When in doubt as you scour the landscape for the best monk strap shoes, turn towards a footwear maker you already trust, like the ever-popular Thursday Boots. For a shade under $200, you’re getting a quality pair in rich brown leather with modern detailing.
Photo via Beckett Simonon
Beckett Simonon Hoyt Monkstraps
Don’t let the double-buckle design fool you. Beckett Simonon makes these direct-to-consumer dress shoes with the same high-quality (yet highly affordable) materials as the rest of its lineup, which is certainly easy to appreciate. The use of rich dark brown leather makes them about as easy to wear as traditional lace-up dress shoes (reminder: keep it simple, style ‘em simply).
Photo via Hawes & Curtis
Hawes & Curtis Chunky Suede Monk Strap Shoes
The same variety you’ll find in your go-to dress shoes surely exists across the spectrum of the best monk strap shoes for men, like the use of an appealing light tan suede by London’s one-stop shop, Hawes & Curtis. They’ve added a thick lugged outsole for visual appeal and better grip. This pair of stylish men’s monk strap shoes can suitably be worn with blue jeans and a shawl cardigan.
*On sale at time of publishing.
Photo via Paul Evans
Paul Evans Heston Double Monk Strap Boots
Just as your favorite lace-up dress shoes can be transformed into a boot like that *snaps fingers*, the monk strap indeed translates well to an ankle boot. This pair from New York City footwear maker Paul Evans boasts remarkably clean lines, a luxe shine and handmade Italian construction. If you look closely, James Bond himself even wore monk strap boots (in uber-formal black) in 2015’s Spectre.
Photo via Carmina
Carmina Shoemaker Plain Toe Monk Strap Shoes
As with any footwear category, there are levels to affordability and luxury in equal measure. One level even beyond luxury might be a pair of the best monk strap shoes from Mallorca-based Carmina, renowned for some of the finest footwear and leather quality anywhere on the globe (seriously, I’ve tried the brand). There’s an elegance to a pair of black single-monk strap shoes, which you can reliably wear for the most formal occasions on your calendar.
