Here are a complete list of minimalist barefoot dress shoes for men that you may like:
Minimalist Dress Shoes For Men
Carets Raptor Wingtip Oxford
Features
- Made for the Primal Professional.
- Lightweight
- Zero drop with a small toe spring.
- Flexible, for dress shoes.
- Wide: not like barefoot sneakerbut better than traditional dress shoes in wide.
What people are saying:
“These shoes are flat and low to the ground while still maintaining that dress shoe look. “
“Carets aren’t like other barefoot brands as they have a hidden heel which makes them look exactly like a conventional dress shoe – which could be a determining factor for a lot of people“
” I like alot of the minimalist shoes that have wide toe boxes and allow your your feet to move naturally the way they were designed cause I can’t hardly wear the modern day shoes that are out there cause of the heel problems I’ve had caused by modern day shoes. I was initially skeptical in width due to my excessively wide feet, but Carets are defiantly wide despite their appearance. “
“My husband has narrow/ medium feet, these shoes work great for him.”
“The drop is an illusion! The foot actually sits inside the fake “heel”. Basically looking like a typical dress shoe.”
DaVinci Lapworth
Features:
- Full grain leather upper
- Full Leather Liner
- Waxed Laces
- Oiled Finish
- 360º Stitch Down Construction for flexibility
- 5mm coconut rubber/leather sole
- Zero Drop Heel
- Lightweight
- Foot-shaped standard width toebox
What people are saying:
“Details –
DaVinci boots are designed in Los Angeles and made at Gran Barón in Léon, Mexico, with resoleable stitchdown construction and hand-finished leather.
Styling and Comfort –
The Lapworth looks the part of a luxury boot. The stitch detailing and thick full grain leather paired with stichdown construction, leather midsole and leather outsole all come together for a luxe feel. The tan laces matching the tan sole are nice, lending these black suede boots a unique versatility. They match nicely with outfits befitting both brown boots and black boots. The black suede Lapworth would also look great with black or grey laces.
The suede is quality, complementing the blucher derby cut and leather midsole. Relaxed and rugged enough for streetwear, but still dressy enough for smart casual. The detailing is even nice enough for fashion forward suit looks with laces swapped for a matched black color. That said, the suede is bolder and more casual.
The leather lining is supple and comfy! There’s no protruding seams on the interior, and the stitchdown construction means no exposed stitching. Nothing in the ankle of these 5 inch boots resists my movements negatively. The upper puts no pressure into the top of my feet and doesn’t pinch my toes. However, the stack height is 1 cm, with stiffer materials than the equally tall IBR outsole of my Lems Chukka. It mutes ground feel more than other barefoot shoes (only outdone by the 2.3 cm Altra Solstice). It should be durable and insulating from extreme weather, and the leather midsole may flex more with some wear, but the heft is apparent.
Their standard width is narrow for barefoot shoes, though still wider than ANI sneakers. The foot shape itself is good. I stretched the right boot by layering socks and putting my weight on it while carefully heating with a hairdryer, and that helped mine break in much faster. There are wide versions as well.
Value –
As a ~$125 sample sale, these boots were a steal, with luxurious style and construction quality that feels great. They’re built to last and feel fairly unique in the barefoot shoe market! ” – Source
Minimalist Dress Shoes For Women
ZAQQ Riquet Boots – Stylish Chelsea Ankle Boot
Specs:
- Model: Riquet
- Colour: Black
- Materials: Uppers: premium nappa leather
Inner lining: extra-fine leather, Fastener: Buckle strap, Sole: rubber - Sizes: 37-48
- Stack height: 3.9mm sole + 3mm insole = 6.9mm
- Toe-Box Shape: Sloping from the big toe
- Weight: 258g per boot (size 39)
Features:
- Flexibility: They have a very flexible sole.
- Zero Drop: Completely flat.
- Toebox Space: They have toebox space for average feet, however, these shoes don’t have very generous toebox with a lot of room for wide feet.
- Stack height: There is 6.9mm between the feet and the ground.
- Arch/Cushioning: They have no cushioning at the insole of any kind, just a slightly cushioned insole.
- Ground Feel: AVERAGE. This style strikes a good balance between durability and ground feel.
- Lightweight: 258g per shoes, which is quite light when you consider conventional chelsea boots.
What people are saying?
“This boot is a personal favorite of mine, I’ve been loving on it for a year and a half and I still regularly recommend it to people wanting a dressy black boot with personality.”
“Highly recommend, I love mine that I got this winter!”
Note:
Great for mountain shaped toe box, medium width.
These shoes are a smooth black, you can use a leather balm like Renapurs OR a suede spray like Nikwax to make them waterproof. Smooth black leather can take just about any leather treatment, so they won’t be affected by a waxy protectant.
Shapen Ivy
Specs:
- Brand: Shapen
- Model: Ivy
- Colour: Black
- Materials: Upper: smooth cow leather, Heel part: patent leather
Footbed: pigskin leather, Sole: rubber - Sizes: 36-43
- Stack height: 3.5mm sole
- Toe-Box Shape: square toe box shape, they work well for people with all foot types, even the most difficult to fit square shaped foot.
Features:
- Toebox Space: Lot of room to spread, ideal for medium and wide feet.
- Outsole: The flexible outsole is 3 mm thick with an anti-slip effect.
- Comfort: The shoes are made form soft leather which is great for sweaty feet as these fabrics are naturally breathable. With thermal foam all around the inside part of the shoe and under the footbed, your feet will warm and comfortable throughout the winter time
- Warmth: Ivy boots are suitable for dry winters. They have some water-resistancy, but you can also use waterproof spray if you want more protection.
What people are saying?
“I love my Shapen Ivy! I have avg width, low volume feet but appreciate the extra space. My concern is that the treads dont seem like it would last a long time but I plan on wearing it mostly in the office so Im ok with them.”
“The Shapen Ivy is wider than the Zaqq Riquet, and the traction is about the same. The Ivy materials are a little bit stiffer, and the Ivy is warmer than the Riquet. “
“They are made from high-quality leather. The stitching and the overall design is done very thoroughly.
If you’ve taken a look at ZaQQ’s website, you will know that there is an abundance of styles that you can choose from. However, some of them seem to have more generous toe box than the others. If you choose the right size, you should have enough space without your toe getting squished. I have quite wide feet and I had enough room. I did size up in the end, to allow space for thicker socks. I also generally had a lot of space above my toes, but this is a common problem for me. With thick socks they would fit great.
I think overall these boots would accommodate moderately high instep over the toes, but not very high volume feet and wide ankles overall. Those would probably have an issue with getting the foot in, as the opening is not too wide. Having said that, they may loosen a bit with use.
There is a hidden elastic part around the ankle, so that gives a bit of room to get in, but I would say it does not play a significant role here. You can also loosen or tighten the shoe to get a narrower and sleeker-looking ankle, but then again, it is a bit difficult to get in and out.
For reference, my feet are 25.7 x 10.3 and I went for size UK 9, which is, according to the website, 27.2cm. This is generally more than what I usually go for, but with thick socks they would have fit well. ”
Note:
The leather around the ankle opening is stiff at first. So if you have sensitive Achilles’, it’s recommended to use moleskin until the leather breaks in.
The shoes are made with smooth leather, so you can use otter wax or chamberlain’s leather milk as waterproofing agents for this type of leather.
Womens Groundies Bella
Specs:
- Brand: Groundies
- Model: Bella
- Colour: 6 available neutral colors, good option for weddings or other dressy occasions.
- Materials: Upper: leather (inside and out), Sole: Groundies’ True Sense rubber
- Insole: No removable insole
- Sizes: 36-43
- Stack height: 4mm sole with 3mm base and 1 mm Profile
- Toebox Space: generous toe box give you some leeway
- Comfort: The shoes are lined in thin leather and feel great on the skin. They are very flexible, with good ground feel.
What people are saying?
“For me personally, finding nice barefoot flats is the biggest challenge. Although these days there are several options available, I am having a hard time finding my perfect pair.
The first reason is the shoe width – many brands run quite narrow, making their flats not an ideal option for my wide feet.
Secondly, I am extremely picky with the style and for when I am back in the office, I need some options that go well with dresses and formal dress code.
I was therefore quite excited to try Groundies Mandalay II flats. They look like a good classic option that can be combined with literally anything. I ordered my usual size 41, which on the website is listed as being 26,8cm long and 9,8cm wide. Now the width appears to be technically less than my foot (10.4cm), but the width itself is not the only factor. I have quite a low instep and often find that even shoes with slightly less in width can fit me well. Also, when the leather is soft, you can gain a few millimetres this way too, as the leather expands with your foot. They could definitely be a bit wider but given how difficult it is to find flats, I am willing to compromise on that as long as my toes are not squished.
Unfortunately, I had to return this model because of how they fit in the heel. This shoe is definitely not suitable for those with skinny heels and/or ankles, as they are quite wide and slip off the foot. You can see this on the last picture, that I can easily place a finger next to my foot. Sadly they are not secure enough and slip off when walking. Smaller size would already compromise the space for my toes, so these ballet flats are not an option for me.
If you have relatively wide heels and ankles, I encourage you to try this shoe. If you have narrow feel and/or heels, be aware that they might be too loose. They seem to be well made and the leather is thicker than some other flats, making them a good, long-lasting option.”
“I’ve been transitioning slowly into mostly barefoot, wide toe bed shoes over the last year or so. I finally got a pair of ballet flats that meet the bill.”
” I just received my Bella flats in black leather and they are a little big, even though I measured and went according to the size chart. I thought I might put a pair of thin insoles in them.”
Note
They are great for wide feet and especially wide heels and ankles, so people with low volume feet can use insoles.
For a full list of barefoot shoes, check our list page.