# Women: Do you notice a man's shoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 27, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215 "2005-10-27T22:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/21 "2005-10-28T09:30:10Z")
Unless they’re really inappropriate for the setting (and white socks with sandals are really inappropriate for every setting), no. I won’t notice. I won’t notice brand or style or age or anything else. So long as I’m not questioning “why is he wearing flip-flops with a suit?” I’ve assumed that you’re shod well enough and have moved on. I do know that some women do notice. They _care_. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/22 "2005-10-28T20:37:42Z")
> [@myskepticsight](#): > > I notice when a guy is wearing a black shirt and brown shoes. Big no-no. Drives me crazy. AFAIK, the following ensemble is perfectly fashionable: Nice black polo shirt Brown belt Khaki pants Brown shoes Others’ MMV ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/23 "2005-10-28T20:43:48Z")
I like docksiders with no socks. And please wear your sandals without socks, too. And tidy up those toenails if you’re baring your feet! I notice appropriateness in men’s footwear. I like wingtips with suits, docksiders with khaki’s and athletic shoes with jeans. Doc Marten’s are ok, I suppose. I wouldn’t recognize designer mens’ shoes and don’t care. I do want understated, classy footwear that goes with the clothes. Oh, and alot of scuffs etc --yuck. I also notice how you treat your hands. I am not advocating manicures for guys, but ripped nails and bitten skin is nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/24 "2005-10-28T20:52:00Z")
I notice everyone’s shoes. I sold shoes for several years while in college…I still look at people’s shoes. I can usually tell if they are “quality” or not. But as for “designer” I don’t really care. I like guys’ shoes to be clean and taken care of, matching what they are wearing (or at least a good attempt), and appropriate for whatever they are doing. I really hate it when guys wear athletic shoes with non-athletic clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/25 "2005-10-28T23:32:40Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Unless they’re canary yellow, no, I won’t notice. > > Or care. > > And if your canary yellow shoes are designer, I won’t care either. > > Then again, I don’t notice or care about much of… well, anything. I might notice if you’re naked, though. _If_ your penis is canary yellow. But only maybe, even in that case, right? ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/26 "2005-10-28T23:48:10Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > AFAIK, the following ensemble is perfectly fashionable: > > Nice black polo shirt > Brown belt > Khaki pants > Brown shoes > > Others’ MMV I don’t know anything about real ‘fashion.’ but I think wearing the brown belt and shoes with that ensemble would look bad. Black shoes and a black belt would do good, I think. Change the shirt color to navy blue, then the brown in the way to go. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/27 "2005-10-29T00:21:26Z")
What if they don’t match his handbag? ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/28 "2005-10-29T00:35:37Z")
> [@Rooves](#): > > I’m a guy who owns over a dozen pairs of shoes, none too expensive. I try to wear shoes that fit what I’m wearing is all. > > I find it strange that guys will spend hundreds of dollars on rims for their cars (which are essentially shoes for cars) but walk around in filthy sneakers. No the tires are the shoes, the rims are more likes socks. 😃 I’ve got nothing else to add, no wait, I’m wearing a black shirt, Jeans and brown hiking boots as I type this. Am I improperly dressed? ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/29 "2005-10-29T01:11:49Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > But only maybe, even in that case, right? Maybe. Maybe. I’ve seen a lot in my day. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/30 "2005-10-29T03:16:53Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > What if they don’t match his handbag? _snerk_ OK, in an odd coincidense I was out with a female friend tonight and half way through the night she made a show of checking out all of the men’s shoes. Of course, she had already set the tone by making fun of the fact that 3 out of every four men there had a striped shirt that was not tucked in and a shaved head, but I thought it was odd that she actually checked out their shoes too - since I just started this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/31 "2005-10-29T03:18:27Z")
No, I barely even notice my _own_ shoes, let alone anybody else’s. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/32 "2005-10-29T04:21:14Z")
The only thing I notice about men’s shoes is if they’re clean and appropriate to the outfit. That said, I do have an eye for Converse All Stars, as I really like them and they’re so distinctive. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/33 "2005-10-29T16:00:24Z")
Not only do I notice everyone’s shoes–regardless of gender–I can decide, in less than a second, whether you’ll be spared when I take over the world based on how they look, what condition they’re in, if they match your ensemble, their quality, if they’re _sooo_ last season and if you wore them yesterday, too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/34 "2005-10-29T16:22:58Z")
With regard to a woman noticing a man’s shoes, I’m surprised that the size and its possible implications hasn’t come up. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/35 "2005-10-30T00:08:34Z")
What does the OP mean by ‘designer shoes’? From some famous label or tailor-made (well, cobbler-made…)? I wear the latter and they don’t look anything special, but that’s because of my feet - they’re orthotic rather than for show. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/36 "2005-10-30T01:10:31Z")
I am very lucky in that I live near a ‘designer’ shoe manufacturer (Allen Edmonds) and can buy $200 mens shoes for 1/3 that price. But, sadly, no one has ever noticed that I wear designer shoes and keep them immaculately polished( an old habit from my Navy days). Or, if they have noticed, they never mentioned it to me. ---
**Author:** ![PinkNailFile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@PinkNailFile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkNailFile)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/37 "2005-11-01T16:03:44Z")
Yes. All the time. I don’t like when guys wear sandals- can’t stand feet on anyone. I don’t like boat shoes. I don’t like loafers. I like skate shoes. I like All-Stars. I just… notice shoes. Out of all the boyfriends I’ve had and all the guys I’ve liked, every single one of them had shoes that I like. It’s become an in-joke. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/38 "2005-11-01T16:47:59Z")
To quote my grandmother: “You can tell a gentleman by the condition of his shoes.” It was drilled into us to have our shoes polished, heels replaced as needed, and shoes appropriate for the event and dress. So some women do, in fact, pay attention to mens’ shoes. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/39 "2005-11-01T19:40:11Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > I do notice men’s shoes, but I’m not into designer shoes. I judge men by their shoes–sorry, it’s shallow, but I don’t trust men with shoes I don’t like. Not expensive shoes, just nice shoes. I think it’s just plain oogy to wear shoes without socks, especially boat shoes. Socks with sandals–that’s weird, too. I was going to say exactly what she said, almost word-for-word. It was a watershed moment in my marriage when I bought him shoes and he really liked them. It was like renewing our vows. I wouldn’t know a designer shoe if it kicked me in the arse. I just like shoes to match well with clothing, style and body type. If somebody (male or female) is wearing dumb-looking shoes it is absolutely the first thing I notice about them, and I’m not very forgiving about it. I’m okay with this intolerance I demonstrate because it’s really easy to wear nice shoes, the ones I object to are either supposed to be trendy or distinctive (eg. $200 nikes, or pointy-toed ankle boots - although trendy/distinctive is not necessarily bad), or cases where the wearer really ought to know better (eg socks with sandals, ratty sneakers). Second thing I notice is hands. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215/40 "2005-11-01T20:50:37Z")
I wear white athletic socks with everything, including sandals. I like it. It’s comfortable I don’t care how it looks. Screw all y’all. The only times I wear any kind of shoe other than black sneakers (with velcro straps) is at a job interview or with a rented tux. Otherwise, it’s sneakers, even with a suit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-do-you-notice-a-mans-shoes/328215.md?page=3)