A Switch To Southern Style

by Ryal

On average, I still try to make about three or four annual trips home to my Yankee-ridden roots in East Lansing, MI. Almost each trip involves at least one of my friends or relatives asking me, “What the heck are you wearing?” “It’s a southern thing,” I always reply.

Living below the Bible belt has opened my eyes to a variety of new southern clothing opportunities, each of which has added to my growing repertoire of metro-sexual clothing. And yes, after months of disputing the term, I’ve fully embraced the term metro-sexual. I’ve realized that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a man taking a little time out of each day to improve the details of dress, grooming and individual style.

In an attempt to help my friends from home understand my newfound sense of southern style, I plan to write a series of Blogs examining southern attire. Today, I hope to shed some light on one of my new favorites, Boat shoes.

Boat Shoes, also known as deck shoes or top siders, have been popular casual footwear for men for decades. Today, you can’t take six summer southern steps (try saying that five times fast) without spotting a pair of Boat shoes. They’re everywhere and they’re great!

The original design inspiration for modern boat shoes is rooted in the Indian Moccasin, with its water-resistant hide, low profile and side lacing. Originally, boat shoes were worn while walking on the slippery deck of a boat. The leather uppers are treated with a water-repellant oil and special non-skid rubber soles add traction. The low profile, similar to that of a slipper or loafer, makes it easier to slid in and out of quickly.

Like it or not, my Michiganders, boat shoes have become fashionable footwear, falling somewhere between the formal dress shoe and the ultra-causal loafer. Worn with or without socks, these babies are stylish and here to stay.

Important Note: style experts suggest that loafers should be worn with ‘office casual’ attire such as jeans and a button-down shirt, while boat shoes should be worn with sportier ensembles including golf shirts, khaki shorts and polo shirts. Boat shoes are considered to be a three-season item, so they should not be worn in the winter.

Top of the line boat shoes are not going to come cheap, but they should last for several seasons without deterioration. Keep your eye out for brand names such as Rockport, Timberland or Sperry, with the latter being the cream of the crop and my current boat shoe of choice.

While I haven’t completely moved on from the clothing choices of my past, I am making a migration that is both swift and dramatic. For me, times and clothes… they are a changing.

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