The deck shoe, also known as the boat shoe, is a staple piece of footwear in many wardrobes, but this has not always been the case. Men’s deck shoes have evolved over the years from being purely work/utility wear to becoming an classic piece of footwear. Due to their unique design and aesthetic detailing they are the perfect footwear for casual occasions, especially during the summer months.

History of Deck Shoes

In the early 1930’s, Paul Sperry, a keen sailor, was struggling to maintain a firm foothold on the slippery deck of his boat and was determined to make a more slip-resistant sole. On a cold Connecticut day, Sperry had a moment of inspiration as he watched his dog run effortlessly across the ice-covered snow. Looking at the pad of his dog’s paw, he noticed they were covered with multi-directional grooves. Sperry decided to replicate this pattern on the rubber soles of his original boating shoes by using a knife. From this he was able to create a style of shoe that offered increased grip on the slippery wet decks of sailing yachts.

It was not until the 1980s that these shoes became more popular and transcended their original maritime purpose to become an essential footwear style. The deck shoe has moved on a bit in the fashion stakes since those early days, although the overall design has hardly changed.

How to wear Men’s Deck Shoes

How to wear men’s deck shoes is ultimately up to the wearer. With so many colours, patterns and textures to choose from there is plenty of opportunity to let your personality shine through. Be it the traditional tan leather deck shoe or a multicoloured variation, we have a few tips to help you style them.

Nautical associations mean deck shoes should be considered a shoe of leisure, not business. Of course that doesn’t mean that you can’t smarten up your look but they shouldn’t be worn to the office.

These perfect summer shoes are best paired with jeans, chinos or shorts. Add a polo-shirt or a button-down shirt in vivid colours or stripes for a traditional nautical look. Team your deck shoes with a pair of navy chinos for a timeless look that is suitable and flattering for most ages.

Style 1: Men’s deck shoes are perfect to wear with shorts when the tempertature rises. Add a vibrant Piqué Polo Shirt for an instant laid back look.

Style 2: Smarten up your Augusta deck shoes with a Bempton Twill Jacket in Navy or Stone, a classic Button-Down Oxford Shirt in nautical blue or a pale stripe and a pair of Twill Jeans. Why not finish off the look with a silk pocket square?

Style 3: The Creek deck shoe fits perfectly with this casual layered look. Team with a Cotton t-shirt, a Washed Piqué Sweatshirt in one of our new shades, and a pair of Denim Jeans for a comfortable ensemble.

Deck Shoe Characteristics

• They traditionally feature a functional 360° lacing system. This gives the wearer the ablility to clinch the shoe’s collar for better security on the foot.
• The laces are made from the same material as the uppers (leather).
• Leather uppers are treated to repel water and to be stain proof. This makes these shoes ideal for all types of weather.
• Traditionally, men’s deck shoes had dark brown leather uppers. Today, uppers are available in both canvas and leather in various colours.
• Hand sewn and top stitched.
• They normally have two or three eyelets per side, making them easy to slip on and warm weather friendly. Adding more eyelets would bring the tongue of the shoe up too high on the foot.
• Boat shoes are notable for their non-marking rubber soles. The soles are usually made of white rubber but modern boat shoes can have soles in a variety of colours.
• The soles are slip-resistant. To create this, a siping pattern that features multiple zig-zag or wave-shaped incisions is carved into the bottom of the sole. These moulded grooves encourage water to flow away from the sole’s surface as pressure is applied from the wearer’s foot.

To shop our full range of Deck Shoes click here.

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