Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette!
Today's video is all about Monk strap shoes.
We discuss the single monk strap as well as the double monk strap, boots, we talk about
history, how to wear them, what to do, what not to do, and anything else you need to know.
First, let's start with the history.
Supposedly, in the 15th century, a monk in the alps modified a pair of sandals which
is why the monk got its name.
Unfortunately, it's hard to find records from the time and the kind of earliest evidence
we have as a brand came in 1901.
That being said, if you want to learn more about the monk strap shoe history, please
check out our detailed guide here.
Traditionally, the monk strap shoe had a single buckle and that's what the shoe looked like
for years.
Over time, men wanted to create a different style so they added a second buckle.
Sometimes, you can even see shoes with three buckles, maybe more.
In my experience, everything that has more than 2 buckles is very trendy.
You want to stay with a classic look, go with a single or a double monk.
No matter if you have a single monk or a double monk, the construction is very similar.
You have an upper vamp as well as a buckle strap and then the heel.
In this case, the shoe has some broguing, wingtip but that's entirely optional.
The same is true for the double monk shoe, the only difference can be that the buckles
in the straps can be in different positions, either here or there, the spacing between
the buckles can be different and the angles and the style can be different.
Personally, I think the spacing of about 2 inches is ideal because if it's too narrow,
it looks odd.
If the buckles are too parallel, it looks unadvantageous too.
Simply get a more dynamic look with straps that are not aligned or parallel.
Most monk strap shoes have a little part of an elastic, right behind here because it's
a very inflexible shoe and you still have to get in and out of it.
Naturally, not all feet are alike and therefore you can find certain holes in the strap to
adjust it to your foot.
For a single monk strap, that's basically the only adjustment you can make and therefore
it's more difficult to fit them right.
Because you have 2 adjustable straps on a double monk, it's a theory easier to get the
fit right though in practice, it doesn't make that much of a difference.
It's just important that you try on the shoe and make sure it's as close as possible, otherwise,
it will be an uncomfortable shoe that you don't end up wearing.
In terms of buckle designs, you find all kinds of shapes.
Thicker square ones, rectangular, round, half round, octagonal, hexagonal, you name it and
it will probably exist.
Off the rack, these buckles are usually made of brass and then either plated with chrome
or palladium or with a natural patina which is actually quite attractive.
If you go bespoke, sometimes they'll also use sterling silver or even solid gold which
makes the shoe more expensive but it's usually a collaboration with a goldsmith and it allows
you to get a very unique buckle design.
Ideally, you want to match the metal color of your monk strap buckle to your tie bar,
your cuff links, or your rings although, it's not always possible and you shouldn't stress
out about it.
In terms of material, of course, classic, plain calf leather is the number one choice.
It's easy to take care of, even get a nice patina and it's quite robust.
In terms of colors, I would suggest you start with something with a dark brown range or
maybe something reddish like burgundy because it's versatile and you can wear it with so
many outfits.
Once you've mastered dark brown and reddish brown, you can think about other colors such
as tan.
On top of that, a dark brown suede monk strap can be very good for a casual and business
casual wardrobe.
Personally, I don't have one because I have many other suede shoes but if I wouldn't have
them, I would probably invest in a dark brown suede monk strap.
A black monk strap shoe is only recommended if you wear greys and charcoals, otherwise,
I really suggest you stick with brown or burgundy.
Of course, once you've got these colors covered, you can play a little more and get a spectator
monk strap either with linen or with leather, you can even use tweed, basically, the possibilities
are endless.
Another somewhat popular monk strap shoes is exotic leather such as alligator and lizard.
If you go that route, ake sure you get a matte alligator leather or lizard because it looks
much more sophisticated and the shiny finish looks rather cheap and it's definitely something
you want to avoid.
Apart from the classic monk strap design with a single buckle, there's a style that evolved
in the last couple of years where the straps pint towards the heel, for the lack of a better
word, they call it the cutaway monk strap.
It's an entirely different look once you wear it and I think it works better with slightly
shorter pants so you end up seeing the buckle and it's basically a matter of personal choice.
Of course in the shoe world, you always want to be classic yet different and so someone
had the idea to do a double cutaway monk strap and it can look quite elegant although it's
a shoe that you can buy once you have all the basics covered.
Apart from shoes, you can also invest in monk strap boots which can actually look quite
elegant especially with one buckle.
Becaue it's a boot, the strap is slightly higher but you can also add a second or sometimes
a third strap and unlike with the shoe, it looks quite good.
At the end of the day, I would suggest you buy those only if you already have a chelsea
boot, johdphur boot, and maybe a balmoral boot because it's slightly more advanced.
So how do you wear a monk strap shoe?
Basically, it's a slightly less formal shoe than an oxford or a derby, that makes it very
versatile in today's day and age.
It pairs well with casual outfits, business casual outfits, blazers, sport coats, especially
combinations.
I also like to wear it with tweed and apart from that, it always gives you a unique look
because there are way more oxfords and laceup shoes out there than there are monk straps.
You should always stay clear of monk strap shoes for formal events, when you wear a three
piece suit, black tie or white tie, funerals or stroller suit.
it's simply not suited for the type of garment.
Even moreso than with regular shoes, it's extremely important to use a shoe horn to
put on monk straps.
Why?
A monk strap is cut higher on the foot and there is no real opening unlike with a lace
up shoe and so ideally, you should unbuckle your monk strap, get in with the shoe horn
and close it.
So with the double monk strap shoe that can be quite time consuming so if you're in a
hurry, use a shoe horn and pull so you get into the shoe easily without damaging it.
Let's recap.
If it's your first monk strap shoe, go with someting in dark brown, burgundy, or chestnut
brown.
Saty clear of black unless you wear a lot of grey and charcoal suits.
Buy shoes before boots and start with calf leather and then move to suede.
If you want to be particularly non-chalant, you can actually leave one buckle unbuckled
when you wear it and it gives you that sprezzatura and flair that you usually see at Pitti Uomo.
Because the monk strap is more casual in its nature, it's a perfect shoe to pair with unusual
socks, either striped, dotted, or patterned and in different colors.
Also make sure not to wear it with formal attire and always use a shoe horn when you
put them on.
If you're in need of s shoe horn, head over to our shop where we have like a 25 inch,
15 inch and travel size version so you can have a shoe horn with you wherever you are.
If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to our channel and for more details, nice
pictures on how to combine monk straps and inspiration, please head over to our full
fledged guide here.