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Affordable Men's Style

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How to wear it: The DSW Suede Single Monk

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DSW Aston Grey “Native” Suede Single Monk – $89.95

First featured over here, these single monks from DSW’s house brand “Aston Grey” are like a darker, more dressed up version of the Zaras from last summer. The DSW pair are slimmer through the toe, fit pretty true to size, and the buckle has a slight brushed/matte finish. The color is labeled as “tan” but there’s some warmer tones going on here too. They brighten up in the sun, while the color starts to look like drying sand indoors. Construction quality feels awfully good for ninety bucks.

Single monks (or monks of any kind) aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But, in case they do flip your skirt, here’s a few options that’ll showcase how versatile these unique, and awfully affordable single monks, can be. Note: Outfits have been pulled from the personal collection, so not all pieces will still be available.

 

With a Summer Suit

Aston Grey Suede Monk with a Summer Suit

Like suede bucks, only more interesting and sleeker than bucks usually look. The colorful belt adds a bit of visual interest, but stays hidden most of the time. Clean and simple. Summer outdoor wedding ceremony & reception appropriate. Add a tie if you’d like, but tieless works just fine here too.

 

The Modern, Low Key, Navy Blazer/Light Pants Combo

Aston Grey Suede Monks with Business Casual

Pleated Khakis + Clunky Dress Shoes + White Shirt + Oversized classic fit navy blazer = standard country club look for many men over 60 years old. This takes that too familiar setup, dresses it down a bit, and cleans up the lines… a lot. Go for a trim fit blazer, pick up one of those button down collar UNIQLO polos, and skip sad khakis in favor of a pair of white or off white chinos or mid to lightweight denim. Plenty respectable, without projecting that “I’m in the Cialis ad demo” vibe.

 

Untucked but not giving up

Aston Grey Suede Monks with casual attire

  • Shirt: Stafford Prep Micro Dot (sadly unavailable… pour one out for our homies Wooster + Ronnie J.)
  • Pants: Bonobos Oxleys – $98 (pair shown is from last year… not quite the same color as these. Got em’ during an extra 20% off sale promo.)

So you were going to lay super low some Friday or Saturday night, but you’ve instead invited a couple of friends over to hang out on the deck/patio, and you want to look presentable. Oxford pants are crazy comfortable and super breathable. And don’t brush off the dot-trend. Small dots (not big polka dots) on a shirt is a nice way to add variety to your collection of patterns.

 

With Jeans and a Blazer

Aston Grey Suede Monks with Jeans & Blazer

Easy. Standard. And still plenty sharp. Since the suede on the monks is a deeper, darker form of “tan”, they can still look plenty appropriate when the weather cools off. So whether you’re wearing jeans now, or won’t pull on a pair until September, they’ll work with denim.

DSW’s Aston Grey Suede Single Monk lists at $89.95, goes on sale from time to time, and ships free if you join their email list and use the code SHIPR. Big thanks to reader “Diversification” for the style tip on these shoes.*

*That is a complete lie.

Comments

  1. Timely – seeing as I just got these. I did find they run a bit long though. Typically an 11 in most dress shoes, 11 was noticeably big on me in this shoe. Taking them back for probably a 10.5. Really impressed with the ‘feel’ of them though. Seem to be higher quality than you’d expect at that price.

  2. I went full out retard this morning, grabbed a pair of green chinos, white ocbd and these shoes. Not too bad.

  3. That Uniqlo Linen/Cotton blazer is so chopped. When the model looks like he’s wearing his little brother’s jacket, you know that was intentional. Not for me. But I’m 6’2″ and an athletic 240lbs so there’s just some things I can’t do.

  4. I see you invested in a photography kit eh?
    Or was this a thing a long time ago and I just missed it.

  5. Does dsw ever run coupons or codes (beside the $5 off one recently) If these dip a little under $80 they’re mine.

  6. I also wondered why these looked so chopped, but I will get a better feel for it when they (hopefully) arrive today.

  7. Yes they are chopped or for us under 5′ 4″ perfect fit. To tailoring needed.

  11. For those of us who wear an S, they’re a great length. If you’re taller than 5’8″ish though, they will look chopped.

  12. My fiancee just got a postcard in the mail for $20 off her next purchase of $49. So they happen, just not as often as some other code-heavy retailers (I’m looking at you, BR).

  14. Banana’s shoes are decent (to me), as long as you stick with suede. As far as those go, Double Monks are a little more showy, and I personally think that they’ve placed the buckles a little high up on that model (closer to the top of the shoe than the side). But, it’s all personal opinion on the aesthetics. These Aston Greys though, quality wise, are really good. Added these to the personal collection and have worn them a good amount already.

  16. I’ll just point out to be cautious when combining raw denim with suede shoes. The jeans cuff can leave a navy stain across the shoes’ vamps if they’re new.

  19. Just curious… but how deep is that personal collection going now? What do you find yourself wearing the most?

  20. Personally, I wouldnt wear it at night. Especially if I’m going out to a random place where I can expect drinks getting spilled on the floor/shoes. But if you know where you’re going and its relatively clean, then go for it.

  21. Fun facts: those BR shoes, along with some of their other options, are made by the same company that puts out Aston Grey.