Best of Philly

Best Men's Shoes

2021 Best Men's Footwear Designer

Style by Blain

Aside from being one of the best-dressed and best-named business owners in the city, Voltaire Blain has an unusually welcoming store — a historic Chestnut Hill home where the shoes are displayed not on racks, but on a pool table — and an equally impressive collection: Styleshoes by Alden, Paraboot, and Gaziano and Girling, some of which he designed himself. Read More »

8433 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website

2019 Best Men’s Shoes

Sherman Brothers

Yes, your dad once shopped here. But look past the old-school window display. Second-generation owner Ken Sherman has filled this shop with Alden boots, G. Brown loafers and Cole Haan brogues. (And he still delivers rare old-school service!) Read More »

1520 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-561-4550 | Website

2018 Best Showstopper Shoes

Blue Sole Shoes

The only things bolder than the bright orange walls of Steve Jamison’s boutique are the shoes on the shelves – washed alligator sneakers from Italian brand Dami, colorful kilim loafers by Res Ipsa, funky Jo Ghost boots, burnished blue leather Magnanni monk-straps. But don’t wait too long to make a purchase: Jamison only ever buys one size run-through of each pair, so when a shoe is gone, it’s gone. Read More »

1805 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-496-9244 | Website

2018 Best Custom Sneakers

UBIQ Lab

At UBIQ’s appointment-only “lab,” which opened this past winter, serious sneakerheads can design a pair of kicks in a completely custom color palette. (Deposits start at $500.) Need some inspiration? Consider taking those holy-grail Air Jordan 1’s and refinishing them in exotic crocodile or python. (Yup, they do that.) Read More »

1509 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-988-0194 | Website

2017 Best Men’s Shoes

ToBox

This men’s shoe mecca has always had a killer selection of high-end kicks, but, now, after moving to a new 3,000-square-foot outpost, it’s improved its selection: Find even more luxe shoe and accessory labels, new ready-to-wear apparel, a private speakeasy lounge—and, yes, their $6 shoe shines. Read More »

1822 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-644-9435 | Website

2015 Best Men's Shoes

ToBox

Memo to philly fellas: If you're going to wear shoes -- real grown-up men's shoes -- you're going to want to wear ones from ToBox. Can't afford a new pair of John Lobbs? Bring your old ones in, and owner Tung To will custom-paint them so they'll look out-of-the-box new. Read More »

25 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-644-9435 | Website

2014 Best Men's Shoes

ToBox

Boyds expat Tung To only stocks options with quality and style (handmade-in-Paris loafers by La Cordonnerie Anglaise, Scarpe di Bianco monk straps, John Lobb oxfords) and offers $6 on-site shoe shines. Read More »

25 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-644-9435 | Website

2013 Best Men's Shoes

Nordstrom

Guys can get fitted actually fitted, like man-on-the-stool-with-a-shoehorn for new pairs of Nikes, Toms and Cole Haans. We didnt get the hard (read: annoying) sell after browsing, either. Our salesman encouraged us to weigh our options and order later online, where free shipping and returns are standard. Read More »

King of Prussia and Cherry Hill malls Website

2012 Best Men's Shoes

Sherman Brothers

Brothers have been in the shoe biz since 1953, and it shows: Their solid selection (Red Wing, Cole Haan, Wolverine, Alden), frequent sales and helpful staff turn casual shoppers into regulars. Read More »

Call or see website for locations | 877-337-4637 | Website

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