No lacing on one or two straps with buckles. Initially, they were men's shoes, now there are also women's models, including heels. The clasp in the monks is more of a decorative function, since the shoes are easy to put on and take off without unbuttoning. This model of shoes is made of leather and suede, it can have a stitched or smooth toe. There are monks (models with perforation). Monks can refer to both.
Monks are a fairly independent and noticeable shoe model, so it is better to choose simple enough clothes for them. Shoes with two straps are more versatile: they can be combined with both a classic suit and jeans. It should also be remembered that narrow and sleek monks are preferable for strict looks, while wider, suede, with colored soles are suitable for informal outfits.
Men's monks can be worn with or without socks. To prevent the shoes from clinging, it is preferable to combine them with slightly tapered cropped models (chinos or in italian style) or trousers with a small fold. Skinny jeans in combination with monks will add a touch of rock 'n' roll to the look. In the classic style, the trousers can completely hide the buckles of the shoes. Women's monks are best combined with skinny jeans, a T-shirt with an unusual print, a leather biker jacket or a short jacket, a cap and a messenger bag.
Shoes, which can be called the prototype of monks, began to be worn by monks in the 11th century. Monk is translated from English as "monk". The members of the clergy wore shoes with straps, which were easy to put on and take off. The predecessors of the monks were made of textiles. The tall model with an ankle buckle was worn by horsemen. Later, monks passed to other segments of the population and gradually became popular.
Monks can be identified by the strap with one or two buckles. The strap fastens at the outer boot. Monks with one buckle are the single strap monk or single monk. 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 monk. They feature a wider strap, lengthened 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.
The history of the origin of monkey shoes
Monk shoes get their name from the similarity of their buckles to the fastenings on sandals worn by monks (monk - monk). These sandals supposedly appeared in the 15th century from 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. Nowadays, they are quite popular - moreover, the option with two buckles is considered trendy today.
What are monks wearing these days?
Monks can become excellent choice for those who do not want to constantly tie and untie their laces. As Tim Gunn (an American men's style expert) wrote, “Men often ask whether it is imperative to wear classic lace-up shoes under a suit. No! My alternative to laces is buckled monks. They look formal enough to be worn under a suit. " Bernhard Retzel (author of the bestselling book "The Gentleman"), describing the pros and cons of monks, points out that "supporters love them for the tight fit of the foot and comfortable fasteners, while opponents consider them pretentious and unnecessary."
Talking about monks, Michael Anton (a well-known connoisseur of classic men's style) notes that “the dandies have always loved this model, paying tribute to its exquisite appearance and rarity, especially since the simple toe allowed admiring the polished brown leather, reminiscent of the old ordering riding boots ”. He further adds that the monks are "quite narrow and visually shrink the foot, so they are combined with suits made of lightweight fabrics and narrow silhouettes." Some monks, however, can also 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 reserved for suits and gray flannel pants.
Monks are usually worn with Italian-style tapered trousers, which are short enough so that there is no problem of catching the buckles when walking. It is fashionable to wear them with the top buckle unbuttoned, showing deliberate negligence, moreover, monks are one of the few types of closed shoes that look good when worn on bare feet. 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 look with a slight touch of casualness and chic. In case you want to create an elegant business look, choose a classic single monk (smooth leather and no perforation).
Have you ever heard of monk shoes? No? And, after all, they can forever change your idea of. We are here with one goal: to help you figure out everything and maybe convince you to enrich your wardrobe with one very stylish little thing.
History
As with many other garments, the exact origins of the monks are unclear, but the stories abound. According to some reports, the shoes are so aptly named after a monk from the Alps created a special form of sandal in the 15th century. Legend has it that this gentleman who visited England took notice of the shoes and took a pair for himself to take home. There he made changes to the design, adding a strap to them. On his return visit, the novelty charmed the British so much that it immediately became popular.
But if you stick to facts, not legends, then you can see that monks first appeared in 1901 as a patented design. Thus, it is more likely that it originated some 150 years earlier.
Today, this design is an integral part of the classic men's shoe wardrobe, and the double strap monks, which appeared later, even reached a considerable level of popularity. Especially in Mediterranean countries, where men often wear fully or partially open double monks to emphasize their unflappable look.
Design innovations
Monks with a single strap were considered traditional and no design experiments were undertaken until the advent of the double strap models. After that, some designers began to create unusual options with 3 or more belts. It is reasonable to assume that rapidly changing fashion will soon reject monks with more straps. If you want to invest in a sustainable wardrobe that can be worn 10 years from now without fear of obsolescence, then monks with one or two straps are the way to go.
Single or double strap design
The only difference between single and double monks is the number of straps used to attach the shoe to the foot.
Simply put, a monk is a traditionally crafted, form-fitting low shoe with a three-piece leather upper. For wearing comfort, the monk has a wider tongue than other shoes to better lock onto the ankle. This is important as no laces are used and the only fastener is the strap. In addition, double monks offer an additional strap that theoretically allows for a better fit - especially for smaller or narrower legs, although this seems questionable in practice.
Monks are different
Monk buckles exist different forms, thickness and dimensions. Classic options include square, rectangular, oval, and octagonal or hexagonal. Most are made of brass, while the rest are either chrome or palladium. Among the custom-made buckles there are buckles made of silver and even gold. When choosing a buckle color, remember that ideally it should match the buckle on your belt, tie, cufflink, collar pin, bag, and other metallic colors you have in your wardrobe. But in practice, you don't always need to adhere to this rule.
Monk with one strap
In addition to traditional design monkov, in last years a much more angular, cut-out version emerged, popularized by John Lobb Paris and Edward Green. Instead of pointing down towards the welt, the strap points back towards the heel. It's over unusual style and while it looks interesting, it doesn't look pleasing to the eye when paired with trousers.
Monk with double strap
Likewise, a double strap shoe has two buckles facing back. Personally, I find it more attractive than just one strap. But these are not the shoes that should be in the wardrobe at the first stages of its creation, as it requires.
More blades on a razor are on par with a single blade - very similar to straps on monk shoes. Anything with more than 2 straps is too trendy and luxurious, so it is advised to stay away from these styles.
Strap
While on a single monk the strap is positioned slightly higher or lower on the shoe, the strap of a double monk can greatly change the appearance of the shoe depending on distance and angle. As a rule, inexperienced monk wearers make the buckles parallel and, moreover, with a narrow interval, while a slightly changed angle of the straps with a large distance between them seems more elegant to the eye.
Of course, this is a matter of taste to a certain extent, but reputable shoemakers and shoe companies never parallel buckle and always leave them slightly misaligned.
Of course, there can be monks with both very narrow and very wide spacing between the buckles. They can be located either very low or very high on the side of the shoe. As with other men's wardrobe classics, such hyperbolic situations should be avoided because balanced proportions create an elegant, timeless look.
Color selection
What you wear and how it will look on you. Monks come in many colors, which is only a plus for them.
Combined with the material of the shoe, it creates a style that can stand the test of time:
Brown – universal color which ranges from light to dark shades. The great thing about brown is that it can be worn in almost any setting.
Oxblood / Burgundy - this shade goes very well with a navy blue suit. The oxblood and burgundy colors also look great when paired with blue jeans.
Black - not as popular as it used to be. Great for formal and semi-formal events. I would recommend including a pair of black double monks in your collection if you haven't already got one.
Leather is the best material for monks
Some fashion brands and designers have started using unusual man-made and synthetic materials. Others use exotic alligator or lizard skins for their shoes. But still the skin - best material for monks. If you're new to monk wear, plain calfskin suitable option... Of course, once you get comfortable with wearing them, you can also experiment with exotic leathers and contrasting linen or tweed materials. Dark alligator leather monks look good and classic, but still the choice is non-standard. And stay out of the overly slender alligator leather monks because they look cheap.
How to wear monks
Monks are formal shoes that are incredibly versatile too. In fact, it can be argued that it is the most versatile of the shoe. It is paired with casual, business and less formal outfits such as blazers, tweeds, navy and gray suits. Monks are not suitable for funerals and should not be worn with black or white tie ensembles.
One of the advantages of monks is that, despite the popularity of such shoes, they are still rare compared to the iconic and. Mid-level dressers don't wear monks, so the buckle and strap are a prominent feature of any gentleman's outfit. A well-chosen and polished pair of monks will surely be noticed. Since monks are a combination of classic style with a touch of originality, they are very popular with male fashion designers. For example, Luciano Barbera, whose taste is impeccable, is difficult to doubt, you can regularly see the same brown monks.
A quick guide to wearing monk shoes:
- Assess the situation: where are you going, who will be there, what will you wear, what will the weather be like?
- Choose monks with a single strap for a relaxed look, or double straps if you want to avoid simplicity.
- Opt for leather for any open or formal event.
- Choose brown, black or dark red shoes with dark jeans.
- Experiment: When wearing a plain top and jeans, try blue, gray, or patterned versions.
- ... Remember that both leather and suede require special care, so store your shoes in a box and use lasting shoes to correct shape lasted a long time
5 bows that prove the versatility of monks
During all this time, it has been said more than once that monks can be appropriate in almost any situation, both formal and non-formal. Now I would like to prove this with specific examples.
Monks add elegance to everyday life. The vibrant color of these shoes enhances the look and style.
Only a month is left until September. It's time to think about autumn wardrobe and shoes. When choosing shoes, pay attention to monks. These are classic shoes with one or two buckles. Buckles are used more for decoration, usually they are not even unbuttoned: the leg is already freely included in the last.
The name monka is consonant with the word monk for a reason. The prototype of the shoe was a textile shoe with straps, which monks wore back in the 11th century. They thought it was more convenient that way. And this is true, because you do not need to tie your shoelaces, as in, or.
Monks with clothes in classic and informal styles
Monks go well with a strict classic suit and casual sets. It all depends on the design of the model. If the shoe is made of smooth leather, and the last is narrowed, then it is intended for formal dress code... If the material is suede or perforated leather, then the style of clothing can be looser (cropped trousers, blazer).
It is believed that monks with one buckle should only be worn with suits. But models with two men can even wear jeans. Colored suede monks look good with informal sets.
How to wear men's monks
Elegant casualness is always relevant. With monks, it’s easy to achieve this stylistic effect if you don’t fasten the top buckle. But remember that negligence is not compatible with classic style... Choose informal items: sporty blazer with soft shoulders, blazer, skinny pants. If the monks have only one buckle, then it should still be fastened.
Monks can be worn with socks, because these are mainly autumn shoes. To prevent trousers from clinging to buckles, stylists advise choosing cropped trousers (for example, chinos) or with a turn-up. Skinny jeans look good with suede or brogue monks. If the suit is classic, then the buckles can be covered with trousers.
Women's Monks
Women's monks are less common than men's. But if you can find a suitable pair, you can create an extravagant look: tweed trousers, a colored vest, a jacket made of thick fabric, tie and shirt. If you like streetwear, wear skinny jeans and a printed T-shirt, biker jacket or a fitted jacket.
Monks (monks, monkstraps) are narrow shoes or low shoes made of leather or suede with elongated toes without lacing.
In its place are one, two or three straps with buckles. These elegant shoes have recently returned to fashion.
At the same time, monks are still rarely found in men's wardrobe. Many people still do not even know what it is, because the mass market does not indulge them.
Monkey is a great chance to stand out for anyone who follows fashion and has a sense of taste.
These shoes got their name due to the similarity of their buckles with fastenings on monastic shoes (English monk - monks, monkstraps - monastic straps).
Buckled boots, which were used by Catholic monks in the 11th century, were easy to take off and put on. They were made from textiles, were comfortable, cheap and durable.
Later, monks began to be worn by other segments of the population. Modern models incorporate the best features of monastic boots and riding shoes.
What to wear with
These shoes go well with both classics and casual.
Which option to choose depends on the style of the monks themselves, which can have both a strict classic look and a more informal one.
Bottom
Down can be worn: 
- classic pants;
- tapered trousers in Italian style;
- jeans;
- chino trousers;
- velvet pants.
Top
They go well with monks: 
- classic jackets;
- blazers;
- coat;
- raincoats.
It is better to wear black shoes with one strap together with dress pants, and models with two straps made of soft leather in brown, burgundy, yellow and other colors are suitable for jeans.
When in doubt about which to choose, wear a suit with ankle-length pants. This is a win-win.
How to wear
Pants or jeans that you wear with monks should be short.
Long pants are best tucked up. On the one hand, this is necessary in order to focus on shoes. On the other hand, this is a necessity: otherwise, the legs will catch on sharp buckles.
Monks with two straps can be worn with the top buckle open. This will add a touch of casualness and give it a slight hooligan touch.
Choice of socks
If you wear monks with short or rolled-up pants, great importance acquires a selection of socks. This is another important point worth paying attention to.
They can be monochromatic, polka-dotted, with a pattern - it all depends on your preferences and on what style you have chosen. Of course, you don't have to wear socks at all.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of monks:
- thanks to the original appearance monks in these shoes, you are unlikely to go unnoticed;
- monks perfectly emphasize the good taste and high status of their owner;
- These shoes can successfully complement both a classic look and a casual look.
Disadvantages:
Monks are original shoes that you need to get used to and know how to wear.
If you haven't had such shoes in your collection before, you should definitely get at least one or two pairs to please yourself with something new.
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