The name of this type of shoe is as extravagant as it is. But once the monks were completely conservative - in any case, so say the few legends that envelop these shoes with an aura of mystery. All that the monks could tell about their owner at the beginning of their history, numbering almost ten centuries, was belonging to the clergy and the desire to put on shoes without visible effort.
Today, monk shoes are a convincing confirmation that its owner is successful, has impeccable taste, and knows how to achieve his goals. In other words, these are high-status shoes that occupy a worthy place in the collections of modern designers and on the shelves of people who care about their image.
The name of the shoe comes from the English word monk - “monk”. A distinctive feature of this type of shoe is the absence of laces. Initially, these were the most simple shoes or boots with a wide strap and buckle. At the dawn of their youth, monks were made from textiles. The main thing that was required from such shoes was cheapness, convenience and durability. The fact that today not everyone can afford to buy monks shows that the requirements for this model that were made many centuries ago were justified. Today monks (monks) - shoes are far from cheap, but very practical, stylish, durable, and most importantly, never losing their relevance. Agree, a very funny metamorphosis - the shoes, in which they once prayed, have become an icon of style.
Men's Monks Loake Cannon Dark Brown
Modern models of monk shoes are a mix of monastic boots and riding boots, taking all the best from both prototypes. To date, there are two types of monks: monkstrapshoe - models with one strap, and doublemonkstrapshoe - models with two straps. The second type is transformed into low shoes, as the straps cover the tongue. The strap and fasteners perform a purely decorative role, the shoes fit perfectly on the foot even without them.
Another characteristic feature that monk shoes have is an elongated silhouette, rather narrow along the entire length. This is especially true of classic models released by companies that honor the traditions of this style. The shape of more modern models can vary significantly depending on the overall design direction.
All other criteria for real monks remain the same: this is a mandatory leather or suede texture, stitched or smooth toe. Young designers allow broaching of their models, that is, decoration with patterns from small holes. But this is more a tribute to fashion than style.
Convenience and practicality, due to the lack of laces, is far from the only reason to buy monk shoes. The owner of at least one pair acquires the status of an elegant, extraordinary person who knows how to surprise.
Monks are classic shoes, but in the wardrobe of a modern man they are perceived rather as exotic. They look quite specific, so pret-a-porte manufacturers do not spoil the public with them often. But this season, traditional monk shoes are on the crest of the fashion wave precisely because of their originality.
The monks have a graceful shape that allows you to wear them as dress shoes. Instead of the usual lacing, their design uses 1-2 short straps that fasten with a buckle. It is customary to wear monk shoes with short trousers, and some specially tuck the edges of the legs for this, so that they do not cling to the front fastener. Since the attention of others is focused on socks, you need to make sure that they harmonize well with your set of clothes and do not open your bare legs every time you try to sit down.
Monk shoes look quite formal and certainly do not belong to the universal type of shoes. Perhaps the historical background left its mark (in the old days monks wore such boots, hence their name). Therefore, your image with shoes should be as restrained and even prim as possible. Lacquered models are worn exclusively with classic pantsuits, while suede monks can be combined with straight-leg jeans and chinos.
Mustard brown and mahogany shoes are the most fashionable option for monks this year. In summer, you can often find golden-straw options. Models with perforation are also relevant, with bright inserts on the toe, different from the main skin color, unusual buckles, fringe. With monks it is impossible to “stay on the sidelines”, the mere presence of shoes in the image adds several points to the image.
Luxury men's shoes are a separate area of the fashion world, where every designer strives to maintain the chic and reputation of a traditional brand, while making fresh changes to each collection. Fashion trends in 2016 return to the shelves of shoe boutiques such a classic style as men's monks.
These are exquisite, expensive and stylish shoes that vividly declare the financial condition and good taste of the owner.
The online store provides a large selection of the most famous and high-quality brands, each of which has released several pairs of similar models in the new season. You can get low prices for men's monks with seasonal promotions and sales that offer discounted prices on the best shoes in the collection.
Monks are narrow men's shoes or low shoes that use a buckle instead of lacing. The execution material must be natural and high quality, so only leather or suede is used. The classic color is brown or black, although modern production uses mustard, coffee, dark chocolate shades, and sometimes even burgundy, blue, green colors.
The history of this style has been going on for many hundreds of years - the very name of monks (monks) is translated from English as "monks". The fact is that in the 11th century, monasteries invented special shoes, for which a strap served as an alternative to lacing. It was simple, comfortable and, most importantly, did not distract attention from good thoughts and did not take extra time for putting on shoes.
Due to the fact that such shoes are used to be seen mainly on the clergy, the name was born by itself, and over time, monks migrated to the world of high fashion. True, the shoes of English monks were made of textiles and were primarily cheap and practical - and its modern counterpart has become an analogue of solidity, luxury and refined taste.
Every worthy men's brand considers it its duty to include at least a few of these models in the new collection. They are produced in two types:
In the style of a monk, both a shoe and a boot can be made - in the latter case, the clasp is attached to the ankle. Another decorative element can be brogging (the design of small non-through holes along the contour of the toe and border).
Such a model attracts enough attention on its own, so the clothes matched to it should be as neutral as possible, but at the same time maintain the proper style.
Single strap monks can be worn:
The bottom of any pants should be tucked up for stylistic and practical reasons - this allows not only to draw attention to the shoes, but also prevents the edge of the leg from clinging to a sharp buckle.
Monks with two straps look less conservative, and therefore you can add to the wardrobe options that go with them:
You can wear any monks with plain or patterned socks, as well as on bare feet. The upper part of the wardrobe can be supplemented with:
By purchasing monks for men in the online store, you make a choice in favor of a favorable price and excellent quality. An online order will be delivered to any of the cities as soon as possible.
Maybe clothes don’t always say more about us than we think, but in the case of monk shoes, one quick look at their owner’s feet is enough to find out a good half of his biography. If you have monks, then at least one of the following statements will be true, or even all at once:
However, if you didn’t have monks, they won’t judge you badly: no, as they say, there’s no trial.
Brown monks can be safely called the most popular model.
The men at both this year's Pitti Uomo shows often wore them. Source: gq.com
Monks come with one strap and buckle. Source: gq.com
They also come with two straps. Source: guerreisms.com
They look equally good with socks, especially colored ones... Source: gq.com
... and without socks. Source: guerreisms.com
Monk shoes were not always elite shoes, in the beginning of their history (made up mainly of a few myths, legends and inaccuracies) they were more than utilitarian. The list of characteristics that these shoes could report about their owner was limited to his belonging to the spiritual class and the desire to save time on tying and untying shoelaces. In the 11th century, Catholic monks wore simple shoes with a wide strap and buckle closure, which were equally easy to put on and take off without putting any effort into it.
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Seen most often on monks, these shoes were associated exclusively with them and eventually got the appropriate name: the word "monk" in English means "monk". The monks were made not from leather, but from textiles, they were cheap and durable. So durable that, apparently, over time they were rewarded for their years of service by being upgraded to the highest class shoes. Modern models of monks are most likely descended from high boots with the same strap and buckle at the ankle, which were previously used for riding. |
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Be that as it may, as a result, the shoes, which were once prayed in, were reclassified into a fashionable object, for which some are ready to pray.
Now there are two varieties of monks: with one (monk strap shoe) or two (double monk strap shoe) straps that cover the tongue of the boot and are fixed on the back of the foot with one or two buckles. These straps are a decorative detail, the boot keeps well on the foot even without them, allowing it to be put on and taken off as easily as loafers or any shoes without lacing.
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Another distinctive feature of monks is an elongated narrow silhouette, almost all models, except for the most modern ones, released not by old shoe companies, but by relatively young designers, seem to be twice as narrow as fashionable brogues. The rest of the characteristics of the monks are more familiar: they can be leather or suede, with a smooth toe or stitched, sometimes even brogged, that is, with a pattern of small holes, but this is rather an unnecessary embellishment for monks, which themselves attract a lot of attention. Comfort based on the rejection of laces is not the main reason to buy these shoes, at least for men who are not indifferent to stylistic experiments. They expect more poetic advantages from clothes in general and monks in particular: the notorious elegance and unusualness. |
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Spending on a pair of faithfully hand-sewn monks, they will get them, and much faster than any other way.
Of all the classic men's shoes, monks are the most non-trivial and the most independent, in the sense that they can take full responsibility for the image as a whole. Whatever they are, the monks do not tolerate competition, they always pull the blanket over themselves and, like it or not, place accents in their favor, so all other things worn at the same time as the monks should remain as modest as possible.
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It may seem counterintuitive, but monks, like all dress shoes these days, can be both business and casual. With jeans they are worn less often, but the trend is gaining momentum. Monks with one strap are traditionally considered more strict, they should be worn complete with a suit. Monks with two straps are equally well worn with a suit and with jeans, however, there is still a difference: smooth and very narrow monks are the lot of more strict looks, and suede, wider, with colored soles and generously stitched in more than one row give a little relaxed and suitable for informal combinations. |
Monks can be recognized by a strap with one or two buckles. The strap is fastened on the outer beret. Single buckle monks are the single strap monk or single monk model. In this model, the tongue of the shoe is closed with a rather narrow strap. Monks with two buckles are called double strap monk, in our country they are known as double monks. They feature a wider strap, extended by two buckles at the top and bottom of the tongue. Unlike single monks, in this model the strap also covers part of the vamp.
Monk shoes got their name from the resemblance of their buckles to the fastenings on sandals worn by monks (monk - a monk). These sandals appeared presumably in the 15th century among the Alpine monks, and they came to England later - they were brought from the Alps by an English gentleman who liked them. More or less modern monks saw the light even later - in 1901. They are quite popular these days - what's more, the double buckle option is trending today.
Monks can be a great choice for those who don't want to constantly tie and untie their shoelaces. As Tim Gunn (an American men's style expert) wrote, “Men often ask if it is necessary to wear dress shoes with laces under a suit. Not! My alternative to laces are monks with buckles. They look formal enough to wear under a suit." Bernhard Retzel (author of the best-selling book The Gentleman), describing the pros and cons of monks, points out that "supporters love them for their snug fit and comfortable fasteners, while opponents find them frilly and unnecessary."
Talking about monks, Michael Anton (a well-known connoisseur of classic men's style) notes that “dandies have always loved this model, paying tribute to its sophisticated look and rarity, especially since a simple toe allowed one to admire polished brown leather, reminiscent of old, sewn on ordering boots for riding. He goes on to add that the monks are "quite narrow and make the foot look smaller, so they pair well with light weight suits and slim silhouettes." Some monks, however, can be worn with jeans, chinos, and unpaired wool flannel trousers. For combinations with frankly informal trousers, choose burgundy, red or brown models; black monks are best left to wear with suits and gray flannel trousers.
Monks are usually worn with Italian-style skinny trousers, which are short enough to avoid the problem of buckles catching when walking. It is fashionable to wear them with the top buckle unbuttoned, demonstrating deliberate negligence, besides monks are one of the few types of closed shoes that look good when worn barefoot. In essence, they are one of the semi-formal types of shoes, although with proper design they are quite capable of making the perfect set for a business bow with a slight touch of casualness and chic. In case you want to create an elegant business look, choose a single monk in a classic design (smooth leather and without perforation).
