20 of the Most Dapper Monk Strap Shoes for Men

Whether you go single-strap or double-strap, monk strap shoes are a great choice of footwear for formal occasions thanks to their classic yet outspoken design that offers something a little different from your standard Oxford. We love the unique look of a monk strap and how subtly nuanced each design can be – It really brings something special to your wardrobe.

If you’re looking for a set of smart monk strap shoes for the men in your life or yourself, look no further than some of the recommendations we have in this list. We put this buying guide together so you don’t have to waste your time combing through the countless options available. We’ve found the very best, and there’s something in here for everyone, so let’s get started.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

BEST SINGLE MONK STRAP SHOES

Our favourite single monk strap is hands down the Johnston & Murphy McClain Monk Strap. The reason being it has a classically inspired but unique design that’s still highly versatile. It also comes with a soft sheepskin lining and removable insole – a nice touch.

BEST DOUBLE MONK STRAP SHOES

The Magnanni Lisbon Oxford Monk Strap Shoes steals the show in this category with very special attention to design that offers seductively stylish contours and optimal comfort. If you’re after a double monk strap that’s perfect for special occasions, these are the shoes for you.

BEST BROWN MONK STRAP SHOES

Paul Evans’ The Poitier Double Monk Strap comes in four rich brown leather tones (Oxblood, Marrone, Chocolate, and Brown) and has a distinctive style that will stand out from the crowd. As far as high-quality, Italian, brown monk straps go, you’ll struggle to find something that beats out this option.

BEST BLACK MONK STRAP SHOES

If you’re on the lookout for some tall black monk strap boots, The Paul Evans The Heston Double Monk Strap Boot will be what you’re after. These double monk strap boots come in a tasteful black leather with sophisticated detailing that’s definitely worth your attention (and that of anyone in the room for that matter).

1. Reiss Rivington Suede Monk Strap Shoes

A stylish suede twist on the classic double monk strap, the Rivington by Reiss is a truly standout piece of footwear built for the modern man with a keen sense of style. Available in a bold Air Force Blue or a more traditional Tan suede, this Italian-made shoe has an almond toe and brass-tone hardware that add to the shoe’s strong sense of debonair.

2. Beckett Simonon Hoyt Monkstraps

Made from full-grain, calfskin leather from one of Italy’s finest gold-rated tanneries in Arzignano, the Hoyt is a shoe to be reckoned with. Opting for a timeless yet simplistic design, this handcrafted double monk strap comes in five warm and tasteful colours with a breathable Vechetta leather lining to keep your feet fresh on any occasion.

3. Paul Evans The Poitier Double Monk Strap

You’ll struggle to find richer-coloured leathers than from the Paul Evans collection. The Poitier Double Monk Strap is no different with decadently warm earthy leather finishes painted by hand in Italy. This classically designed double monk strap is made from full-grain Italian leather using a Blake construction for a lighter, more flexible fit.

4. Deer Stags Cyprus Dress Monk Strap Shoes

Addressing a slightly more affordable price range that still offers plenty of quality, Deer Stags’ Cyprus Monk Straps are a great option made of synthetic leather instead of the real thing. They also have a breathable fabric lining, making them good for more active formal events like the wedding dancefloor. However, best of all is the memory foam-cushioned footbed, which provides plenty of support and circulation when you’re on your feet all day.

5. Base London Alfie Monk Shoes in Tan Leather

The Base London Alfie comes in polished tan leather and boasts more overt stitching reminiscent of classic dutch or germanic attire. Certainly something a little different and highly comfortable, this double buckle monk strap shoe has a leather upper and lining with a durable rubber outsole that will undoubtedly see you through years of regular use.

6. Paul Parkman Men’s Monkstrap Shoes

No stranger to the weird and wonderful art of unique shoemaking, Paul Parkman’s Twisted Leather Sole Monkstrap has a full leather sole that’s stylishly stitched into the outer rim of the boot’s upper layer. Coming in gorgeous antiqued tobacco leather, this single monk strap shoe is sophisticated enough to match any choice of formalwear but special enough to show that you mean business.

7. Nunn Bush Men’s Newton Monk Strap

The Newton Monk Strap by Nunn Bush has a sophisticated brogue-Esque perforation going for it that beautifully compliments the classic design of this single buckle shoe. However, visual appeal is not the only selling point of this shoe, with an extremely comfortable gel-cushioned heel that offers optimal support even on those longer days dressed to the nines.

8. Nordstrom St. Johns Double Monk Strap Shoe

Another stylish, functional double monk strap shoe with a brogue-inspired finish, the Nordstrom St. Johns feature beautiful perforated detailing, including a unique pattern on the cap of the toe. This exceptional quality footwear comes with a stepped heel for that little extra spring in your step and a rich, burnished leather outer that’s sure to turn heads.

9. Bottega Veneta Chunky-sole Monk-strap leather shoes

With an $1100 price tag, these shoes aren’t for your typical working man. However, for the trendsetters amongst you (and those with deep pockets), these unique monk strap dress shoes make a serious statement, and you’ll be sure that you’re never going to look like ‘just another guy in the room’. The Veneta has a chunky sole and a chunky upper-strap to boot, adding some serious visual weight to this uber-fashionable Italian footwear.

1O. Beckett Simonon Hoyt Water-repellant suede Monkstraps

With a stylish suede finish that’s soft-to-touch, the Hoyt is a shoe that’s made for strutting your stuff through the streets of New York, London, or Paris. While suede is known for being harder to keep clean in rural environments when compared with its full-grain counterparts, these men’s monk strap shoes are water repellant, making muddy puddles less of a concern for those unexpected rural trips. Like other boots in the Beckett Simonon collection, the Hoyt Monkstraps are made with leather from only gold-rated Italian tanneries.

11. Mr Porter George Cleverley Pebble-Grain Monk Straps

Boasting a stylish pebble-grain leather finish and a slightly higher boot-cuff, the George Cleverly Pebble-Grain Monk Strap is the pinnacle of British craftsmanship. These high-quality men’s monk strap dress shoes come with rich, gold-tone hardware, weather-durable Dainite® rubber soles, and even their own dust bags for dust-free storage. Crafted at George Cleverley’s specialist London studio by skilled shoemakers, you know you’re getting quality with this product.

12. La Milano Formal Men’s Double Monk strap

If comfort is a priority, we highly recommend checking out these La Milano monk straps, which feature a padded collar and super-comfortable hybrid insole. The insole is made with a layer of cushioning memory foam and a layer of soft, cool, latex which work together to provide a tailored bed for your heel and sole. La Milano is available in a selection of warm earthy leathers that combine soft, tumbled napa leather with premium full-grain.

13. Beckett Simonon Leonard Monkstraps

Expect only the best from Beckett Simonon, who source all of their leathers from environmentally sustainable, gold-rated tanneries in the town of Arzignano, Italy. The Leonard Monkstrap offers an elegantly contoured, minimal design with the classic, single monk strap fastening. Beckett Simonon uses the Blake method to construct this shoe to ensure the best flexibility and a lightweight fit, which involves a chain stitch directly from sole to footbed.

14. Paul Evans The Heston Double Monk Strap Boot

The Heston has a distinctly western look, with a raised collar, flat toe, and subtle brogue detailing. Of course, no such footwear would be complete without a stepped heel and gorgeous, silver-tone hardware to compliment the full-grain Italian leather. A closed-channel leather sole is also used to match the leather upper for a complete and seamless finish. Every Paul Evans shoe is handcrafted in Naples, Italy, and painted by hand.

15. Cole Haan Men’s Wagner Grand Monk-Strap Loafer

There’s something about the hand-antiqued leather on this double monk strap that has a distinctive vintage feel. The Cole Haan Wagner Grand Monk-Strap Loafer benefits from chunky metal hardware and a leather/rubber outsole that keeps the overall design lightweight. The rubber sole doesn’t sacrifice on that classic wood-to-ground feel of your typical wood heel, though, thanks to a tastefully done veneered heel. Somehow, this shoe manages to strike a great balance of style and feel with form and function.

16. George Cleverley Thomas Cap Toe Monk-Strap

George Cleverley shoes are certainly not second-class footwear with wearers like Tom Wolfe, Charlie Watts, and Daniel Day-Lewis. The lower-profile ‘Thomas’ cap toe monk strap is a great example of the classic yet innovative design that makes these shoes so desirable. This double monk strap comes with a cap toe, silver buckles, and a custom set of dust bags included. Made by hand in England from black calf leather, this is the shoe of a man to be reckoned with.

17. Johnston & Murphy McClain Monk Strap

Johnston & Murphy’s McClain comes with a traditional single strap fastening but with a less-conventional rounded buckle hardware for a design that blends the classic with the unique. While a classic tumbled, full-grain leather coats the uppers and outers of this shoe, the inside is lined with a beautifully soft sheepskin lining. A removable cushioned insole – which is also made from sheepskin – offers added comfort.

18. Allen Edmonds St John’s Double Monk Strap

It’s no coincidence that there are two St Johns on this list. After all, he is the patron saint of loyalty, after all, and with a shoe with the quality of the Allen Edmonds St John’s Double Monk Strap, you needn’t look elsewhere for another pair of quality, formal footwear.

Sophisticated brogue detailing embellishes this shoe alongside silver-tone hardware. With a premium leather upper and conjoined double-buckle monk strap, this is an option with a firm fit but no compromise on style. But perhaps the most appealing part of this shoe is the CustomCork™ insole which slowly conforms to the shape of your sole with extended use, making this shoe more comfortable the longer you wear it.

19. Stacy Adams Men’s MacMillan-Cap Toe Monk Strap

Another option that focuses on comfort, the Stacy Adams Macmillan-cap Toe Monk Strap, has a traditional and unassuming single-monk strap fastening and a square toe. However, the real selling point is the cushioned foam insole, which uses memory foam to find the most supportive shape and firmness that doesn’t restrict circulation, keeping your feet supported and blister-free throughout the day.

20. Magnanni Lisbon Monkstrap Oxford Shoe

We absolutely adore the gently contoured design of this double monk strap Oxford. Every detail makes it clear that this shoe was designed to complement a classic formal ensemble but with a gentle twist that will make you stand out in the room as someone special. Brushed metal rounded-square buckles, a beautifully rolled seam, and rich full-grain leather. This Spanish-made footwear deserves a special place in every man’s shoe rack for special occasions.

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