Have you ever heard of monk shoes? No? And, because they can forever change your idea of stylish men's shoes. We are here with one goal: to help you figure everything out and maybe convince you to enrich your wardrobe with one very stylish little thing.
Content:
- History
- Innovations in design
- Monks are different
- Strap
- Color selection
- Leather is the best material for monks
- How to wear monks
- 5 bows that prove the versatility of monks
- Finally
History
As with many other garments, the exact origins of the monks are unclear, but the stories abound. According to some reports, the shoes are so aptly named after a monk from the Alps created a special form of sandal in the 15th century. Legend has it that this gentleman who visited England took notice of the shoes and took a pair for himself to take home. There he made design changes by adding a strap to them. On his next visit, the novelty charmed the British so much that it immediately became popular.
But if you stick to facts, not legends, you can see that monks first appeared in 1901 as a patented design. Thus, it is more likely that it originated some 150 years earlier.
Classic Vintage Monk Style
Today, this design is an integral part of the classic men's shoe wardrobe, and the double strap monks, which appeared later, even reached a considerable level of popularity. Especially in Mediterranean countries, where men often wear fully or partially unbuttoned double monks to emphasize their deadpan look.
Innovations in design
Monks with a single strap were considered traditional and no design experimentation was undertaken until the introduction of the double strap models. After that, some designers began to create unusual options with 3 or more belts. It's reasonable to assume that rapidly changing fashions will soon reject monks with more straps. If you want to invest in a durable wardrobe that can be worn 10 years from now without fear of obsolescence, then monks with one or two straps are the way to go.
Single or double strap design
The only difference between single and double monks is the number of straps used to attach the shoe to the foot.
Simply put, a monk is a traditionally crafted, form-fitting low shoe with a three-piece leather upper. For wearing comfort, the monk has a wider tongue than other shoes to better lock onto the ankle. This is important as no laces are used and the only fastener is the strap. In addition, double monks offer an extra strap that theoretically allows for a better fit – especially for smaller or narrower legs, although this seems questionable in practice.
Monks are different
Monk buckles come in a variety of shapes, thicknesses and sizes. Classic options include square, rectangular, oval, and octagonal or hexagonal. Most are made of brass, while the rest are either chrome or palladium. Among the custom made buckles there are silver and even gold buckles. When choosing a buckle color, remember that ideally it should match the buckle on your belt, tie, cufflink, collar pin, bag, and other metallic colors you have in your wardrobe. But in practice, you don't always need to adhere to this rule.
Monk with one strap
Monks with one strap
In addition to the traditional monk design, a much more angular, cut-out version has appeared in recent years, popularized by John Lobb Paris and Edward Green. Rather than pointing down towards the welt, the strap points back towards the heel. This is a more unusual style, and while it looks interesting, it doesn't look pleasing to the eye when paired with trousers.
Monk with double strap
Monks with double strap
Likewise, a double strap shoe has two buckles facing back. Personally, I find it more attractive than just one strap. But these are not the shoes that should be in the wardrobe at the first stages of its creation, as it requires knowledge about the care and storage of shoes.
Monk with triple strap
Monk with triple strap
More blades on a razor are as good as a single blade – very similar to the situation with straps on monk shoes. Anything with more than 2 straps is too trendy and luxurious, so it is advised to stay away from these styles.
Strap
While on a single monk the strap is slightly higher or lower on the shoe, the strap of a double monk can greatly change the appearance of the shoe depending on distance and angle. As a rule, inexperienced monk wearers make the buckles parallel and, moreover, with a narrow interval, while at the same time, as a slightly changed angle of the straps with a large distance between them, it seems more elegant to the eye.
New monk design with one strap
Of course, this is a matter of taste to some extent, but reputable shoemakers and shoe companies never parallel buckle and always leave them slightly misaligned.
Of course, there can be monks with both very narrow and very wide spacing between the buckles. They can be located either very low or very high on the side of the shoe. As with other men's wardrobe classics, such hyperbolic situations should be avoided because the balanced proportions create an elegant, timeless look.
Color selection
Color plays a key role in what you wear and how it will look on you. Monks come in many colors, which is only a plus for them.
When combined with the material of the shoe, a style is created that can stand the test of time:
Brown is a versatile color that ranges from light to dark shades. The great thing about brown is that it can be worn in almost any setting.
Oxblood / Burgundy – This shade goes very well with a navy suit. The oxblood and burgundy colors also look great when paired with blue jeans.
Oxblood double monk
Black is not as popular as it used to be. Great for formal and semi formal events. I would recommend including a pair of black double monks in your collection if you haven't already got one.
Leather is the best material for monks
Some fashion brands and designers have started using unusual man-made and synthetic materials. Others use exotic alligator or lizard skins for their shoes. Still, leather is the best material for monks. If you are new to monk wear, plain calfskin is the way to go. Of course, as you get comfortable with wearing them, you can also experiment with exotic leathers and contrasting linen or tweed materials. Dark alligator leather monks look good and classic, but still the choice is non-standard. And stay out of the oversized alligator leather monks because they look cheap.
How to wear monks
Monks are formal shoes that are incredibly versatile too. In fact, it can be argued that it is the most versatile of the shoe. It is paired with casual, business and less formal outfits such as blazers, tweeds, navy and gray suits. Monks are not suitable for funerals and should not be worn with black or white tie ensembles.
One of the advantages of monks is that, despite the popularity of such shoes, they are still rare compared to the iconic Oxford and Derby. Mid-level dressers don't wear monks, so the buckle and shoe strap are a prominent part of any gentleman's outfit. A well-chosen and polished pair of monks will surely be noticed. Since monks are a combination of classic style with a touch of originality, they are very popular with male fashion designers. For example, Luciano Barber, whose taste is impeccable, is difficult to doubt, you can regularly observe the same brown monks.
Barbera in a beige SB blazer with gray pants and a blue striped tie paired with monks by Sartorialist
A quick guide to wearing monk shoes:
- Assess the situation: where are you going, who will be there, what will you wear, what will the weather be like?
- Choose monks with one strap for a relaxed look, or double straps if you want to avoid simplicity.
- Choose leather for any open or formal event.
- Choose brown, black, or dark red shoes with dark jeans.
- Experiment: When wearing a plain top and jeans, try blue, gray, or patterned versions.
- Take care of your shoes. Keep in mind that both leather and suede require special care, so store your shoes in a box and use lasting to keep them in shape
5 bows that prove the versatility of monks
During all this time, it has been said more than once that monks can be appropriate in almost any situation, both formal and non-formal. Now I would like to prove this with specific examples.
Pair a denim jacket with white jeans with double monks to create a chic, glamorous look. 
Monks add elegance to everyday life. The vibrant color of these shoes enhances the look and style. 
With jeans and a tank top, double monks look perfect. Put on your blazer and enjoy a cozy and comfortable walk. 
Monks for men are comfortable and stylish shoes to be worn with formal office wear. Burgundy shoes go with formal wear. 
I watched another episode of Force Majeure and was inspired by Harvey Specter's wardrobe. Full professional look with double monks available. And of course the glasses.
Finally.
So we see that monks are fantastic shoes that can transform a wardrobe. It doesn't matter one strap, two or more – it's a matter of taste for everyone. The main thing is that these shoes will show your individuality and character, give your style a seriousness and gentlemanly charm. So feel free to add them to your wardrobe and enjoy.
