Boat Shoes Are Boring. Wear These Instead
Sharpen your outfit with one of these easy swaps
Unless you’re actually about to set sail on your own private yacht, your boat shoes aren’t doing anything for your outfit. Wearing them to the beach or with your favorite chinos is fine—but you can look much more polished with a few simple swaps. Here are five of our favorite alternatives.
Orlebar Brown Sneaker
Boat shoes are made to be worn around water—so are these Orlebar Brown sneakers. The full coverage shoe is actually made to be worn in the water, but the sneaker silhouette is so much sharper than a true water shoe.
($150, orlebarbrown.com)
Allbirds Wool Runners
Allbirds sneakers are perfect for hot weather. Wool might not sound breathable, but it’s actually a great warm weather fabric. They’re soft enough to wear without socks, and they’re machine washable. Win-win.
($95, allbirds.com)
Toms Slip Ons
Love your boat shoes for hitting the beach? Opt for a pair of Toms canvas slip-ons instead. The casual shoe goes well with chinos or swimsuits—perfect for transition from the sand to the bar.
($59, toms.com)
Converse Modern Canvas
Converse’s modern canvas low-top sneaker is a sharp alternative that still goes well with your spring and summer wardrobe. They’re super lightweight and breathable, so you can minimize sweaty feet.
($100, converse.com)
Slip-on Sneakers
A pair of white slip-on sneakers goes with everything you’ll wear while it’s warm. They’re easy, comfortable, and versatile—we’d recommend getting a few.
($50, vans.com)
Christine Flammia writes about style, grooming, and more; she is the former associate style editor of Esquire and is currently pursuing a PhD in communications at Columbia.
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