Dress shoes are footwear designed to look nice and formal for high end events, while providing comfort and style for the person wearing them. They come in many different styles, and womens shoes are notably different from mens dress shoes. Most high-heel-shoes are considered dress shoes. Dress shoes are used for many different occasions, from weddings and birthdays to job interviews and family parties.

For men, there are 5 styles that are most commonly worn. http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashiontip_300/303_fashion_advice.html They include: Oxfords, Loafers, Cap toes, Dress boats, and Monk Strap. They all are relatively similar. All feature a square or rounded toe with a sizeable heel. Oxfords are known for their stylish lacing and leather tooling, which can be elaborate with some brands. Loafers are known for their laid back styling, with no lacing and a slipper like aura. They can be used as both a dress shoe or a casual shoe. Cap toes are essentially a fancier Oxford. They are called Cap toes because there is more leather tooling over the toe area of the shoe. Dress boots can be worn either formally or casually. They are a simple ankle boot with a slightly higher heel than most other male dress shoes. Monk straps are another type of shoe similar to the loafer. They have a strap by the top of the shoe that is usually decorative.

Women's shoes can be quite elaborate. They range from flat shoes, to boots, to high fashion high-heeled-shoes. Depending on the occasion, women can choose shoes ranging in comfort, color, height, and even pattern. Different women prefer different styles. Heels can be worn at any time, from casual to formal. They can be worn to work, out on the town, birthday parties, weddings, and anywhere else shoes are required.

Some popular brands of dress shoe include:

• Prada
• Nina
• Unlisted
• Dolce & Gabana
• Jimmy Choo
• Nine West
• Steve Madden
• Rockport
• Clarks
• Dockers

Dress shoes can be bought both in stores and online. Some popular stores and sites are:

• JC Pennies
• Boston Store
• TJ Maxx
• Macy's
• Zappos.com
• DSW.com