1. A pair of boots – lately I’ve been obsessed with boots. All kinds of boots are just extremely cool to me and with new brands coming up like ankariflorus and thursday boots , boots have never looked so good. As I write this I am getting my finances in order to get myself a new pair. Now you may be wondering why I am in such a craze, and I’ll explain. Boots are a type of footwear almost as old as men’s clothing itself . From the American frontier to 18th century England to standard military attire dating back all the way to the early 90’s, boots have been an integral part of men’s footwear for decades. But now let me tell you why you need a pair, apart from the obvious appeal and aesthetical benefits. A boot is a lady magnet, and you may be wondering what I know about this but I can say with great certainty that I have not gotten more compliments on any piece in my outfits more than my boots from the opposite sex. Don’t believe me, try it yourself get a pair even if there not yours, pair them with a simple plain tee and jeans and go out and try to talk to a woman, seriously do it.
See boots, especially leather ones have the effect of making you look older and more mature and experienced, it’s the same thing a leather jacket does for your look. So boots are most definitely an essential and with all the different styles out in the market now, I guarantee that you’ll be able to find something you like and that works with your style. New boots go for from around ksh 3,000/= to around ksh 7,500/= in Nairobi cbd, but that’s just in regular stores you could definitely get more pricy ones at more high end stores like Sir Henry’s. A second hand pair could set you back between ksh 2,000 and ksh 5,500. When your buying second hand tho, make sure to inspect the piece very carefully to make sure that they are good quality. This would entail testing the leather, which you can do by bending it and looking at how it behaves when you let go. Good leather will revert to it’s original state in a few seconds. Also check for any holes or rips in the fabric and the stitching. Thank me later.
2. A hypebeast sneaker– okay, If you don’t know what a hypebeast is, you have probably been living under a rock since like 2010. But just incase you don’t, a hypebeast basically means people or items that are trendy in modern sneaker culture. So these are your yeezys, Nike air Max 95’s, and chanel×Pharel×adidas nmd’s. Okay, I went alittle deep there but these basically mean sneakers that are popping. I am personally not such a huge fan of trendy sneakers, I prefer older versions of dope shoes like Nikes and Jordans. But to have a well rounded collection of shoes it is important to have at least one hype beast shoe. I personally have a pair of air Jordan 1’s by Virgil Abloh under ‘the ten’ collection that I am really comfortable in and that I think express my style really well. Now the best thing about hypebeast sneakers is that there is alot of different styles and designs. So it’s super easy to go through them and find one you like.For a more laid back basic look, the plain white air forces may be a really good choice but if you want a more expressive look, sneakers like the new Jordan× dior collab and yeezy’s extravagant sneakers may be a little more your speed. Most hypebeast sneakers go for about ksh 3,500 all the way to up to ksh 15,000 depending on how exclusive they are and whether they are customized. I wouldn’t recommend shopping for these second hand but resale is a thing with these sneakers, but the only downside is most times they sell for even higher prices on resale.
3. A good dress shoe -If you’re gonna be in any official setting, and I believe we all are at some point, a good dress shoe is going to be the first basic component of your look. If you work an office job, you can’t live without a dress shoe. Whether it’s for work, a wedding, a funeral or an office party or gala. A good dress shoe will always do, up to and above to keep you looking sharp and dapper. A good dress shoe in my opinion should be made of leather and should be made in a European style. Ones I really like are the oxfords which are now made with variations by numerous shoe makers and Italian dress shoes which have to be the best there is. These can also be boots but should be in a more dressy style. Prices are usually similar to those of boots.
4. A pair of plain white sneakers – Now, you could choose to ignore everything I’ve said until this point, but don’t ignore this. A plain white sneaker is the most versitile sneaker that exists and I can say that for a fact. If you had to build a small wardrobe on short notice and could only have one shoe, this should be it. What’s also really cool about white sneakers is that they are common and made in as many different styles as there are mammals. So it’s easy to find one that suits you, make sure to get one that is made of good quality fabric and that is easy to clean. Depending on your style the spectrum moves from ones that are made of cotton to ones made of suede and leather. Also they are super cheap as a new pair in Nairobi goes for from around ksh 1000/= to around ksh 2000/= which is at regular stores. Second hand you could get your hands on a pair from ksh 300/= or less, to about ksh 800/=, anything above that is an overprice.
5. A pair of Chuck taylors/all stars – first off if you don’t know what these are you have probably been living under a bigger rock than the guy who doesn’t know what hypebeast are. Chucks have been a favourite in pop culture and consumer fashion for as long as I can remember. A good quality and well fitting pair of chucks will do great things for any man’s style. I personally own a red pair that I completely love, these are comfortable, cool looking and super functional. These might set you back alittle more than the white sneakers but I promise they are so worth it. Also these aren’t an age specific flex, they are in so many shapes, sizes and colours that every man can find a pair they like. With low tops and high tops and a whole array of different designs and variations, there is a Chuck for everyone. For rap fans, wiz khalifa on the complex show, we went sneaker shopping, says that chucks are his favorite sneaker of all time and that he loves to wear them around. A pair of these goes for a pretty reasonable price even new. A new pair goes for ksh 1500 to about ksh 3000/= for a custom pair. Secondhand you could find these at from ksh 200 all the way to ksh 1000.
6. A pair of vans – vans are alot like chucks in that they are an every day kind of sneaker that almost anyone can rock. They are comfortable and easy to wear and are pretty sturdy to walk in. They also work with all kinds of different looks, from casual all the way to official. A good pair of vans will last a long time if it’s taken care of. The suede material is something I really like and the unique logo makes the shoe in my opinion quite handsome. Also because they are usually used for skating you can easily get away with owning an older more beat up version. A pair usually goes for from around ksh 2500/= to ksh 4000/= depending on the type and whether it’s customized, I’ll add a few links at the end of the article for good places online to shop for these and other shoes on this list. A second hand pair could go for from around ksh 500/= to ksh 1500/= depending on where you’re shopping.
7. A good gym shoe – if you’ve gotten this far, first off thanks for reading this and finally I will bestow this last piece of sneaker knowledge on you. A good gym shoe is an essential even for guys who don’t necessarily go to the gym. A good gym shoe can always substitute as a weekend sneaker and a shoe to just wear regularly. A good gym shoe here means one that is well fitting, has a sturdy sole and is snug around the foot. This is important to maintain balance and to ensure a good handle on rough terrain. I own a pair of Nike prestos and a pair of Adidas running shoes that I completely love. They are both perfect running and exercise shoes as they are very sturdy and maintain a good handle on the ground with ease.
The best thing about gym shoes is also the wide variety they come in. There is surely something for everyone. These, depending on where you buy them vary in pricing from ksh 1000/= all the way to the tens of thousands. Secondhand they could go for from ksh 300/= to ksh 1500/= depending on where you are shopping. What’s important though is to find a pair that is good quality and in good condition at a fairly reasonable price, it’s also important to be able to distinguish between a running shoe and a hype beast sneaker.
Places to shop for shoes: Running/Gym shoes – http://www.runnerspoint.co.ke/ Hypebeast sneakers – Anthony’s Fashion kenya (afs_ke) on instagram
Boots and dress shoes- Bata Kenya stores around the country.
Anyway, thank you guys so much for reading this if you like my writing and found it helpful, like this article and share it with a friend who you think it would help. Also if you would like to read more from me, follow me on WordPress to get notified when I make new articles. Also leave a comment down below on what you think about my list and what shoes I should have added or which ones you think I shouldn’t have included. Finally have a nice rest of your week and stay dapper.
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Aesthetic Ian 
Hey .such an amazing article .Enlightening the mandems 💯
Dope 😊
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Yes, yes…glad you liked it.
Love.
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