Top 10 Best Men's Casual Dress Shoes For A Smart Laid-Back Look (2024)

1. Beckett Simonon Leonard

Ethically crafted in Beckett Simonon’s workshop in Bogota, Colombia, the Leonard is made with premium Argentinian full-grain calfskin. The shoe is constructed with a Blake stitch and features a wholecut vachette lining for extra comfort.

We love the smooth finish with the subtle buckle detail. As a result, the shoes are very easy to wear casually but are also versatile enough for more formal occasions.

Thanks to a group made-to-order business order, the shoes offer exceptional value for money and you pick up a pair for just $170 with our code “BU20“.

2. Idrese Custom Shoes

When Jawad Malik founded Idrese, his objective was to provide people with Goodyear-welted shoes for the lowest price possible. Furthermore, the shoes were to be made with nothing less than full-grain Italian leather.

His ambitious project came to fruition as recently as 2019 and the shoes are manufactured in Almansa, Spain. With Idrese, the sky’s the limit and you can design your own dream pair of shoes starting at $335.

The result is a beautifully-constructed dress shoe that is designed and crafted according to your own specifications. Idrese also offers a wide selection of sizes and widths, which caters to people that are often overlooked by shoe brands.

3. Allen Edmonds Strandmok

Bespoke Unit’s Charles-Philippe adores these brogues and often comes back to them for a variety of occasions. Made with a Goodyear welt and featuring stylish red Dainite soles, they’re wonderfully outgoing and comfortable brogues.

These are probably the most versatile brogues that we have worn. Thanks to the stylish blend of colours, they can be worn quite formally but also as a casual shoe. Whether you’re wearing jeans or chinos, they’ll compliment the overall look.

Although only available in a single colour, the shoe features such a level of complexity that it becomes so versatile. The uppers are a shade of brown leather with a distressed effect, which gives a vintage finish. Meanwhile, a red Dainite style offers a splash of colour whilst the tan welt provides contrast.

4. Lethato Kiltie Loafer

Both original and versatile, Lethato’s Kiltie loafer is manufactured in an Indian factory in Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Constructed with a Blake stitch, it features a rich hand-painted finish.

Given the low price point, it offers excellent value for money. Although India may not be the first country to come to mind when shopping for shoes, bear in mind that many British brands like Grenson, Loake, and Barker also produce shoes there!

If you’re looking for something affordable and stylish, we recommend that you give Lethato a try!

5. Aurélien Suede Italian Driving Shoe

Even as a casual option, it may be pushing the limits by referring to a suede driver as a dress shoe. Nevertheless, Aurélien’s Italian loafers are a great option to consider if you want to wear something that is as close to casual as possible.

If you were to choose a suede leather loafer, we would highly recommend Aurélien’s Italian-made driving shoes. Thanks to the unique oil treatment, they’re supple comfortable to wear.

As driving shoes, they’re also very practical and great for running on errands thanks to the well-made pebbled soles. Whether you’re behind the wheel or not, they look great and offer a loose and comfortable fit.

6. Beckett Simonon Cohen

A more formal alternative to Aurélien above, Beckett Simonon’s classic penny loafer is far more versatile and more acceptable when worn for dressy occasions. These shoes are manufactured at the same workshop while using the same techniques and materials as the Leonard above.

They’re also available in a variety of colourways, which will significantly change their level of formality. While the tan shoes pictured above are the most casual, dark colours will render them more appropriate for more “serious” wear.

7. Ace Marks Hugo

Blucher boots are a great option if you’re looking for versatile footwear that can be worn for different occasions. Thanks to their sleek and elegant contours, Ace Mark’s Hugo is probably one of the best specimens that you can consider.

As mentioned above, darker colours will render them more formal. Meanwhile, a paler boot will be a great casual option that offers a premium flair. The premium construction and leathers used are indicative of its Italian craftsmanship. Indeed, they’re lined with calfskin with a full-grain upper.

8. Maglieriapelle Cunda Tassel Loafer

You’ll often hear brands claim that their shoes are handmade. However, in most cases, this only consists of some of the stitching whereas most of the assembly will resort to machinery.

Maglieriapelle is an Italian-inspired Turkish brand that doesn’t compromise on craftsmanship. Indeed, the shoes are entirely made by hand! The results speak for themselves and the shoes are finished with a dazzling hand-painted patina that reveals mesmerising brush strokes and depth.

Tassel loafers are an excellent casual option that offers both class and sophistication. The Cunda by Maglieriapelle is a great example of how its sleek design and profile can be worn to retain an element of elegance.

9. Wolf & Shepherd Breakaway Boot

As with hand craftsmanship, a lot of manufacturers love to boast about the comfort of their footwear. However, most aren’t quite as cosy as they claim. Nevertheless, Wolf & Shepherd is a brand where comfort is the foundation of its DNA.

Launched in 2014, Wolf & Shepherd shoes were inspired by athletic footwear technology. Following years of critical acclaim, the brand has now introduced a plethora of different shoe designs. One of favourites is the Breakaway boot.

A classic blutcher boot on the outside, they’re made with EVA heels, memory foam footbeds, and a lightweight PhoenixTECH rubber sole. As a result, they carefully brace the feet and don’t have much weight. Therefore, they can be worn for hours without causing aches or tiredness.

10. Beckett Simonon Lopez

At Bespoke Unit, we’re very fond of Chukka boots in general. However,Beckett Simonon has drawn inspiration from WWI heritage style to produce an elegant alternative.

The design is sleek with refined stitching details. The Lopez boot also features a rubber sole for added traction and durability. If you want a dressier alternative to the very casual chukka, here’s our first choice.

As you will have seen, we’ve mentioned Beckett Simonon shoes multiple times in this list. Indeed, their construction is admirable and they offer excellent value for money.

11. Trickers Stow Boot

Trickers is a celebrated English shoe brand that has been operating in Northampton since 1829. On its 160th anniversary, Prince Charles visited the factory to award the historical shoemaker with a Royal Warrant.

Indeed, Trickers is often credited with having created the first men’s country boot. This heritage lives on as the stow boot, which is made in England using 260 different processes including a traditional Goodyear storm welt, and Dainite rubber soles.

Although very premium, the Stow Boot is the ultimate example of a casual boot that has become dressier over time. Therefore, if you’re looking to wear a heritage style that’s versatile for both casual and semi-formal wear, the Stow Boot is an excellent option.

12. Taft The Saint Boot

Taft is celebrated for its rebellious and wild designs that are a little more outlandish and contemporary that many traditional brands. We’re particularly fond of the Saint boot, which is made from hand-woven leather that results in fascinating details.

Given the cost of hand-weaving leather, the Saint is constructed using a Blake stitch in order to ensure that its price is consistent with the brand. Nevertheless, the Blake stitch still offers excellent durability and function for many years.

If you want a versatile boot with a dressy construction and a casual flair, the Saint is something that will certainly turn heads!