Dress shoes for work, a wedding or a party: smart and affordable
An important meeting, a wedding, a family celebration: you need shoes that look sharp, last the whole day and do not empty your wallet. If you are searching for “dress shoes Brussels”, our store on Place du Jeu de Balle, in the Marolles, has a wide choice for men and women at fixed outlet prices. Below you will find the classic styles, the colours that work together, and our advice on comfort and leather care.
The classic styles
Depending on deliveries, you will find dress shoes for men and women in our store, including styles from Geox and Ecco. The current selection is on our dress shoes page.
For men
The Oxford is the most formal lace-up: its lacing is closed, with the eyelet tabs stitched under the front of the shoe. It is the safe choice with a suit, for a job interview or a ceremony. The Derby has open lacing, looks a little more relaxed and is easier to adjust to a wide foot or a high instep.
The loafer slips on without laces and works at the office as well as at a summer party. A Chelsea boot in smooth leather, with elastic side panels, also goes with a suit in winter.
For women
The court shoe, or pump, remains the reference for a ceremony or an evening party. For a long day, a mid-height block heel, smart ballet flats or leather loafers are often more pleasant. A smart ankle boot completes the wardrobe in autumn and winter.
Smart casual
In many offices, a plain, well-kept sneaker in smooth leather is accepted with chinos or suit trousers. For a wedding or a formal dinner, it does not replace a proper dress shoe.
| Style | Fastening | Formality | Occasions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | Closed lacing | Very formal | Ceremony, wedding, interview |
| Derby | Open lacing | Formal | Office, party, suit |
| Loafer | No laces | Formal to casual | Office, summer party |
| Court shoe | No laces | Very formal | Ceremony, evening party |
| Leather sneaker | Laces | Smart casual | Office, weekend |
Colour and combinations
The colour of the shoe sets how formal your outfit looks. A few simple rules of thumb:
- Black: the most formal. With a dark suit, for a ceremony, an evening event or a funeral.
- Dark brown: versatile. With a navy or grey suit, at the office and at a wedding.
- Tan and light brown: more relaxed. For a daytime or summer wedding, with a light suit or chinos.
- Burgundy: an elegant alternative to dark brown, with grey and navy.
- For women, neutral shades (black, beige, navy) go with most outfits; a bright colour lifts a simple dress.
Match your belt to the colour and finish of your shoes. Socks should follow the trousers rather than the shoes. For a wedding, check the dress code on the invitation first: a daytime outfit calls for different shoes than an evening reception.
Comfort for a whole day
A wedding often means a ceremony on your feet, a reception and an evening of dancing. A beautiful shoe that hurts by midday spoils the day. These points make the difference when you try them on:
- Try shoes on later in the day if you can, when your feet are slightly larger.
- Bring the socks or tights you will wear on the day itself.
- Your toes should move freely and your heel should not slip when you walk.
- Check the width as well as the shoe size: a fit that is too narrow will not fix itself.
- A rubber sole grips cobblestones better than a smooth leather sole.
Leather moulds to your foot, so wear new shoes at home for a few hours before the big day. Geox is known for its breathable sole. Ecco has a reputation for supple leather made for long days; our article on Ecco at outlet prices tells you more.
Sizes vary from brand to brand: if in doubt, try the next size up as well and compare. If you have foot pain that does not go away, ask a doctor or a podiatrist for advice.
Leather care
A dress shoe is judged by how well it is looked after. First, check the material: the label inside the shoe uses pictograms to show what the upper, the lining and the sole are made of. Our guide on real leather vs synthetic shoes explains how to read it.
- Before the first outing, apply a nourishing cream in the right colour, then a waterproofing spray.
- After each wear, brush off the dust and put wooden shoe trees inside to keep the shape.
- Polish smooth leather regularly with wax: it shines and is better protected against rain.
- Brush suede and nubuck with a suitable brush, never with cream.
- Let wet shoes dry away from the radiator, with newspaper stuffed inside.
If you wear them to the office every day, alternate with a second pair so that each pair dries out completely. Our full leather shoe care guide covers every step.
Dress shoes Brussels: last-minute? We are open every day
The wedding is on Saturday and you still have no shoes? We are open every day from 10 am to 3.30 pm, Sundays included. You try them on in the store, compare a couple of sizes and leave with your pair.
We buy in bulk in Italy, directly from large retail chains, and sell those shoes in our Brussels store at discount prices. These are fixed, permanent prices all year round, not a temporary promotion. Depending on the brand and style, our shoes cost between about €20 and €150. They are new shoes in their original box, from recent collections of those chains.
For page boys and flower girls, our kids’ shoes section has styles from Naturino and Primigi, depending on deliveries. For the rest of the family, browse our men’s shoes at outlet prices and our women’s shoes at outlet prices.
The store is at Place du Jeu de Balle 40, on the square of the flea market held there every morning, about a fifteen-minute walk from Brussels-Midi (South) station. STIB metro, tram and bus services stop nearby (Jeu de Balle and Chapelle stops). All the details are on our store and directions page: come and try them on, it is the best way to find the right pair.
Your questions about dress shoes
What shoes should you wear to a wedding?
For men, an Oxford or Derby in smooth leather: black for an evening event, brown or tan for a daytime ceremony. For women, court shoes with a mid-height heel or smart ballet flats, depending on how long the celebration lasts. Always follow the dress code on the invitation.
Are your dress shoes new?
Yes. They are new shoes in their original box, from recent collections. We buy them in bulk in Italy from large retail chains and sell them at fixed outlet prices all year round.
How can you make new dress shoes more comfortable?
Wear them at home for a few hours with the socks you will wear on the day, so the leather moulds to your foot. If they pinch as soon as you try them on, choose another size or a wider style instead. New leather softens, but a fit that is too narrow will not fix itself.
Where can you buy affordable dress shoes in Brussels?
At Outlet Chaussures Bruxelles, Place du Jeu de Balle 40, 1000 Brussels, in the Marolles. We are open every day from 10 am to 3.30 pm, Sundays included, and you can try shoes on in the store.
