🤵🏻‍♂️Is patent leather shoes the right choice for a tuxedo? The types and selection of truly formal "groom's shoes"👞

What "shoes" should the groom choose?

What kind of "shoes" do you plan to match with the groom's outfit, such as a tuxedo or morning coat?

Some may think, "It's a waste to buy new ones, and renting might not fit my feet, so maybe I'll just go with my leather shoes..."

However, when it comes to tuxedos, leather shoes are not considered "formal attire." (That said, everyone usually pairs them together!)

In this article, we will introduce the types of shoes for the groom and how to choose shoes according to formal attire. 👞

What is the groom's formal attire?

Before discussing shoes, let's first talk about the groom's formal attire.

Many people think, "The groom wears a tuxedo at the wedding," but traditionally in Western culture, a tuxedo is classified as "evening semi-formal attire."

(It can also be categorized as formal attire.)

Many may have heard that formal attire changes depending on the time and place, but here are the official classifications of formal attire.

✅ Frock Coat: Daytime Formal Attire

A jacket with the same length in front and back.

✅ Morning Coat: Daytime Formal Attire

A style that significantly shortens the front of the frock coat, gradually curving from front to back.

✅ Tailcoat (Tuxedo): Evening Formal Attire

A jacket that is shorter in the front and longer in the back, with a tail cut in the middle like that of a swallow.

✅ Director's Suit: Daytime Semi-Formal Attire

A jacket that is short in both the front and back, paired with gray and black striped slacks.

✅ Tuxedo: Evening Semi-Formal Attire

A jacket that is short in both the front and back, featuring lapels known as shawl collars. It is often made of satin or silk.

There are formal shoes too!

Just as with clothing, there are formal shoes that vary by time of day.

During the day, straight tip shoes are appropriate,

while evening attire calls for patent leather shoes or opera shoes.

✅ Straight Tip Shoes: Daytime Formal Attire

Leather shoes with a single line at the toe.

✅ Patent Leather Shoes (Straight Tip): Evening Formal Attire

Straight tip shoes made of patent leather (with a single line at the toe).

✅ Opera Shoes / Opera Pumps: Evening Formal Attire

Slip-on type shoes made of patent leather with a ribbon decoration on the upper part.

Just like clothing, what shoes to choose changes depending on the time of day.

If you want to have a look that follows formal attire at the wedding...

✅ For daytime: Frock coat or morning coat with straight tip leather shoes.

✅ For evening: Tailcoat with patent leather shoes or opera shoes.

This combination is correct, but these days, many people (even overseas) tend not to worry so much about formal attire and wear whatever they like.

I think it's good to consider whether you care about formal style or how you want to be perceived by guests (for instance, if you work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and invite many colleagues, following formal attire may be safer) before making a choice. 👞

Introducing stylish shoes for the groom ♡

Now, let’s showcase some stylish shoes for the groom.

Use this as a reference when considering the groom's coordination.

Patent leather plain toe shoes (plain toes have no line at the tip).

Plain toes are the second most formal shoes after straight tip shoes (which have a single line at the tip).

Beautifully gradient brown leather shoes.

Coordinating a navy tie, belt, and shoes ♡

Leather shoes with decorative perforations adding a playful touch. In America, this decorative hole is called a wingtip *(in the UK, it's known as brogue shoes).*

Stylish bit loafers as wedding shoes. *

Christian Louboutin's velvet slip-on shoes, perfect for a casual feel. *

Louboutin's spike design slip-on shoes, named "Roller Boat," priced at 165,000 yen! Perfect for stylish grooms who love shoes.

Shoes with a painted-like pattern on a black base. Matching with the tie ♡

Pairing patent leather loafers is also stylish, right? *

Let's be particular about the groom's shoes 👞

We've introduced the types and how to choose shoes for the groom. *

Choosing outfits and shoes that align with the time of the wedding is formal attire, but it seems that many nowadays choose styles they like rather than worrying too much.

That said, knowing the formal styles and making a choice based on that is different from making a choice without that knowledge (it would be shocking to later realize that what you thought was formal attire actually wasn't).

It's a good idea to keep this knowledge in mind.