When was the last time you paid close attention to David Beckham’s shoes? A style icon he may be, but it was more than likely a very long time ago. Perhaps it involved you wrestling with tears in a provincial shopping centre, begging for a pair of cream-coloured Adidas Predators (AKA the only thing standing between you and a professional football career)?
Or... maybe we're just projecting?
Whatever the case may be, David has moved on and so should you. Nowadays, the Messi-whispering Inter Miami co-owner is slipping his feet (once insured for £100 million, don't you know?) into a summer staple silhouette that's only growing in popularity: boat shoes.
Who?
The 48-year-old has a penchant for classic ‘fits – think: non-flashy suits (like his Wimbledon ensemble) and menswear staples – that are styled in a fashion-forward way.
Where?
In the shoe's natural habitat: a speedboat on the Amalfi Coast, on the way to dinner at Lo Scoglio.
What’s he wearing?
Half-The Talented Mr Ripley and half-Ibiza white party, Beckham (sporting a buzzcut reboot) dons a white linen shirt, matching shorts and a navy pullover (thrown across the shoulders, of course) for when the sea breeze picks up.
And with a look so precision engineered for sun-drenched decadence, boat shoes are an on point and practical choice. You've probably seen them pounding the pavements more and more over the past few years, so it's good to see the style return to its natural habitat.
LORO PIANA Sea-Sail Walk Suede Boat Shoes
Timberland Timberland® x Aimé Leon Dore Authentics Three-Eye Boat Shoe for Men in White
THE ROW Sailor Full-Grain Leather Boat Shoes
How do I recreate it?
Thankfully, you needn’t any sailing qualifications to get away with wearing them. You could go à la Becks and style it with an all-white, beach-appropriate outfit, or you could go head-to-toe, street-style approved prep – think: Aimé Leon Dore or Gant – as the kids on all social media platforms are doing with their #OOTD posts.
Mistakes to avoid?
The joy of this en vogue shoe is that it’s pretty hard to style it in the wrong way. You could go “old money”, or incorporate it with sartorial pieces outside of the nautical aesthetic. Though as Beckham proves, simple is sometimes best.
