For men, their fashion sense is in most cases black and white. When it comes to the shoes they wear, even more so. For this reason, sneakers according to men are the ideal shoe for summer time. It is comfortable, casual and easy to walk in.

However, casual shoes for men have a level of versatility. They say that you can tell a lot about the man by the shoes he wears. For this reason, let’s dive a little deeper into the gamut of casual shoes for men. We have one trump card in the lot that works just as well as a formal shoe as it does as a causal shoe, the Derby.

The more laid-back cousin of the Oxford shoe, Derby shoes are stylish, versatile and have an elegant design. They are often confused with the Oxford while buying formal shoes online. A quick tip to differentiate it would be by seeing the lacing system. Derby shoes have an open lacing system as opposed to the closed lacing system of Oxfords.

For the untrained eye, Derby shoes are the perfect fit for “dress shoes”. However, don’t let this fool you. Here are 5 mix-match styles to experiment smart to casual wear with Derby Shoes.

1. Funky Formals

Leave your traditional black suits behind. Pair a navy blue to grey suit with tan brown leather or suede derby shoes. This is unconventional and will make heads turn. You can pair both the suits with a baby pink shirt inside or a light blue would even work. If you want to be really funky, try your hand at printed shirts, however, look for shirts with minute detailing.

2. Street Smart

If you want to master the art of casual street style, choose a smart pair of grey suede Derby shoes. Since they have a lighter undertone, you can mix-match with darker hues. Pair grey derby shoes with tan shorts. Over the top, you can wear a cotton navy shirt. If the evenings get cooler throw on a beige sweater.

3. Ripped and Rogue

For a smart outgoing outfit, you can wear your favourite pair of ripped jeans. Choose a nice blue shade. Throw on a printed t-shirt and top the look with a smart blazer in a darker hue of blue to contrast the jeans. Pair this look with oxblood derby shoes.

4. Fashion Frenzy

Formal trousers in a dark grey shade. Wear a white shirt inside with a bright coloured sweater thrown on top of it. You can pair this outfit with dark brown derby shoes. The colour of the sweater can be in hues of orange.

5. Out of the Ordinary

Wear black skinny jeans. Throw on your favourite plain white t-shirt. Over this throw on a bedazzled coat. This can be printed, embroidered, denim or leather which would be the striking element of the outfit. To complement this look, pair it with dark green derby shoes.