23 best work shoes for men of 2021: loafers, laces, chelsea boots and more

We’ll forgive you if it’s been a while since you’ve thought about the best men’s work shoes. “Work” is a thin term these days, and the shoes you wear to walk around the house and sometimes half-heartedly slam on your laptop barely seem to qualify. The hooves are ascending. Slippers are essential. Hell, even trimmed Crocs can pass for proper office attire when the desk in question is the least crowded corner of your living room.

If your day job is to dodge steel beams and everything that comes close to a hard hat – you know, the kind of job your old man can be proud of – it’s probably not for you. (Try a pair of these hard-wearing boots instead.) But if you’re looking for shoes with more juice than regular sneakers and a slightly more dressy curvature than your favorite loafers, the selection here is hard to beat. To be clear, however, these aren’t quite dress shoes – think of it as a quality alternative to the hard stockings you’ve been refusing to wear for months, if said hard stockings came out of lockdown with a new cut of. punk hair and a healthy disdain for the Man.

Sufficient padding is a non-negotiable. Premium leather (often water resistant) abounds. And a welcome dose of funk is paramount. Even if your 9 to 5 involves a little more than strategically pausing and re-activating the mute button on Zoom, whether at home, in the office, or in a hybrid version of the two, it will pay off to have a pair of the best men’s work shoes. Luckily, your friends at GQ Recommends have rounded up all the worthy ones, from stylish work boots to sturdy laces – my dear old father’s approval is unfortunately not guaranteed.