Shoes have always been a necessary part of our wardrobe but in the past few years, there has been a growing trend of minimalism. This means that people are trying to reduce the amount of stuff they own and focus on quality over quantity. This includes their clothing and shoes. While some people might see this as a fad, it’s actually a great way to live your life. Not only does it save you money in the long run, but it also helps reduce the amount of clutter in your home.
One of the most popular items in a minimalist wardrobe is a good pair of minimalist barefoot dress shoes. While you might not need a lot of them, a good pair of shoes can really make an outfit.
Long before minimalist dress shoes became popular, men often had to end their everyday activities with sore feet, and the reason for this is quite simple. Modern trends for non-minimalist shoes are designed too narrow, stiff, and with a heel drop that makes staying in them for long hours uncomfortable.
Today, there are tons of minimalist shoes to pick from, but we have made a list of the ones we love and think almost anyone would love too. The minimalist dress shoe options on this list could make an excellent pick for those who want to appear dressy enough for black tie events: offices, weddings, meetings, etc.
However, not all of them can fit the formal lifestyle but are all a healthy choice compared to modern non-minimalist shoes. The barefoot dress shoes on this list are lightweight, designed to conform to the natural shape of the human feet, and have a zero-drop design with more open space at the toe region.
Here is a list of minimalist barefoot dress shoes that you should give a try.
To save some time, here are my top choices for the best minimalist barefoot dress shoes.
Freet Richmond (Unisex) – All-year leather shoe
They are characterized by:
- Zero heel-to-toe drop
- Wide toe box following the natural shape of toes
- A flexible and thin sole
- No arch support
- Lightweight
Carets ZETONE (Men’s) – Normal-looking dress shoes
They are characterized by:
- Stylish and professional look
- Zero heel drop
- Wide tow box
RA II (Men’s) – Great all round shoe that can be worn through most casual or even formal settings
They are characterized by:
- Zero heel height
- Flexibility
- No cushioning
- Wide toe box
- Minimal sole and insole
Black cap-toe Fer Oxford (Men’s) – The ultimate minimalist business shoe
They are characterized by:
- Classic dress design
- Zero-drop
- Comfortable
Lems Chukka Suede (Men’s | Women’s) – Great for wide feet
They are characterized by:
- Light
- Wide toe-box and mid-foot
- Generous volume
- Comfortable
- Zero drop
Prio (Men’s | Women’s) – Great for high-volume feet and can take you from work to play
They are characterized by:
- Versatile
- Minimal stack height
- Extra-wide toe box
- Premium look with full grain leather
Nine2Five (Men’s || Women’s) – Leather business-like barefoot shoes
-
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Profesional look
- Wide toe box
- Zero drop
- Flexible
The List of Minimalist Barefoot Dress Shoes
Freet Richmond
Shoes are one of the most important parts of our wardrobe and we all want to have a perfect pair that would match our style and needs. But sometimes it’s hard to find that perfect model. If you have wide feet, you know the struggle of finding dress shoes that would fit perfectly and would be comfortable at the same time. Then Freet Richmond might be a great choice.
The Freet Richmond is a simple yet stylish shoe that is perfect for a dress or a more sophisticated casual look. These leather barefoot shoes are fully flexible, which allows your feet to have room to breathe and to sit comfortably in the shoe. It is easy to fasten boots with laces. It has a wide toe box but is not as spacious as in some other Freet models.
They also possess a zero-drop, which means that the front of the shoe and the heel are the same height to enable natural movement in the shoe. The ConnectMax EVA 2mm midsole, ensures excellent ground connectivity when the shoe is worn without an insole. The 2.5mm insole can be removed to add to the barefoot feel but can be kept in to enable more comfort. As it works as a shock absorbent, cushions your feet when you’re on hard flat surfaces.
Freet Richmond is an all-year leather unisex shoe that is perfect for those with wider ankles and heels. It is made of full grain leather and is available in brown color. The sole is a MultiGrip performance outsole with a stack height of 6.5/7mm and a Flexile insole. The shoe runs large and we would recommend you order a size smaller than your usual size.
See more details and photos on the Freet Richmond here.
Carets ZETONE Plain-Toe, Black
If you are looking the normal-looking dress shoes that are also minimalist/barefoot/zero drop, then shoes from Carets might be a good option. The Carets ZETONE Plain-Toe is a classy minimalist shoe choice to complement your appearance for any formal occasion.
The sole material of this ZETONE Plain is wear and tear resistance and has high elasticity along with excellent shock absorption. This makes it an ideal shoe for foot comfort while working, playing, or traveling for long hours.
The Carets ZETONE is lightweight and has intricate detailing that is unique and versatile enough to make any man wearing it appear stylish, elegant, and more distinguished. For as long as you keep this shoe on, the zero drop style will ensure that your feet are kept in the most natural position ever and the chances of developing sore feet eliminated.
These are stylish and modern-looking shoes that are perfect for skinny dress pants without looking like a clown. The shoe is generally quite high in volume, and the toe-box is wide and accomodating.
The only minor downside is the elastic laces.
See more details and photos on the Carets ZETONE here.
RA II MENS
The RA II is a subtle, elegant, and high-quality minimalist shoe that makes transitioning from work to play a lot easier. If you always enjoy the feeling of having your bare feet against the soft ground, the RA II has a 4mm active thin sole perfect for such underfoot freedom.
The flexibility of the shoe allows the foot to perfectly move as in a natural state. Additionally, the wide toe box allows toes to move freely and the minimal sole provides a good ground feel.
The Ra II is made with Wild Hide Leather, which is naturally scarred and durable. The shoe is designed to conform to the natural shape of the feet, strengthen your feet muscles and use the natural cushioning of the feet. This could help to reduce foot pain, knee pain, and back pain. This shoe also features a 3mm removable natural cork insole that is antibacterial and can prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
See more details and photos on the RA II here.
GOBI II
The GOBI II is a natural fit and super comfortable unisex shoe that will easily be loved and admired by anyone who appreciates quality and enjoys a minimalist sole that lets the feet do their thing. The GOBI II is well crafted with thick but soft leather that makes it suitable as a classic desert boot and also looks amazing when polished up for a dressy or formal look.
This shoe has high-quality leather, and the “Wildside markings” make it even more unique and distinguished for the minimalist lifestyle. This shoe is comfortable and suitable for hiking, walking, running, bike riding, sledding, dressing up, dressing down, traveling, and more.
See more details and photos on the GOBI II: Men’s || Women’s
Chukka Suede
These boots are made with a suede upper that is both stylish and comfortable. The lining is a polyester x spandex blend that is robust and soft, making these boots perfect for everyday wear. The insole is wide and removable, so you can customize the fit of your boots. The stack height is 13mm including the insole or 10mm without the insole.
The Lems Chukka Suede is a great quality-feel shoe with neat and consistent stitching throughout. The wide toe-box and mid-foot allow for a comfortable fit, while the generous volume provides ample space for your foot.
You may dress it up or keep it casual in absolute comfort because it’s one of our most adaptable shoes. The zero-drop platform and ultra-soft suede let you effortlessly move without stress. The IBR outsole of the Chukkas sparks users towards actions while keeping them very light and flexible. Your feet will be able to keep going even when you’ve just stomped out, thanks to the zero-drop design.
See more details and photos on the Lems Chukka Suede: Men’s | Women’s
Birchbury Men’s Bramfords
These shoes straddle that dress shoe/casual sneaker line well, so you can wear them to work and with jeans.
In terms of barefoot features, Bramford is considered to be a minimalist shoe not a barefoot shoe. The shoes come with a removable insole that has a heel rise and arch support, but they are zero drop without it. However, without the insole, the bottom is kind of rough and unfinished. It would be great if they also came with a barefoot insole you could swap out.
They are flexible enough to roll into a ball, but again not crazy thin and flexible. And the toe box, while wider than basically any conventional shoe is still tapered at the end.
The Bramford’s price is quite competitive and affordable compared to most similar styles of minimalist shoes, so it could be a great way to get your foot in the door of barefoot shoes if you’re looking for a non-threatening entry point. You can also get the Bramford in black and they have some other styles in the works!
See more details and photos on the Birchbury Men’s Bramfords here.
Fer Cap-Toe, Black
Black cap-toe Fer Oxford is the ultimate minimalist business shoe. It has a healthy zero-drop design, a comfy feel, and a classic design. The cap-toe on the Fer seems to tighten the toe box, giving it a sleek look. It’s perfect for an interview or presentation. Cap-toe Fer Oxford is a perfect pick for those who want formal yet barefoot shoes. A perfect example of a minimalist dress shoe.
The upper is made from full-grain aniline cowhide, while the liner is also full-grain aniline cowhide. The insole is made from Poron, and the outsole is 4.5mm polyurethane. The weight of the shoe is 10.6 ounces (mens size 9), and the drop is 0 mm. The stack height is 9mm total (including the 4.5mm polyurethane outsole + Poron cushioning and leather). The shoes are available in sizes 7 US to 14 US
These shoes are flat and low to the ground while still maintaining that dress shoe look. They are zero-drop, and defiantly wide despite their appearance. They use the illusion of a hidden tapered heel, and a hidden pointed toe box, making it look like a conventional shoe.
They’re flexible if you compare them to a conventional shoe, not if you compare them to a barefoot athletic shoe. If you’re after a classical dress shoe with all the benefits of functional footwear, these shoes are your guys.
See more details and photos on the Fer Cap-Toe here.
ADDIS
Addis is handcrafted and designed for free-spirited feet. The Addis is minimalist ergonomic footwear manufactured in Ethiopia for amazingly comfy wherever you go next. Retro lace-up design with a hand-stitched design that provides a barefoot sensation for everyday spontaneous interaction.
See more details and photos on the men’s Addis here.
Prio All-Day
Undoubtedly, these shoes are highly comfortable. They’re water-resistant and lightweight. It has a professional appearance and can be worn for long periods. It also supports your feet and helps in the soreness of the feet. Prio All-Day allows your feet to do what they do best – bend, move, flex, and feel – resulting in comfort with durability. All Xero footwear includes non-elevated “zero drops” heels for good posture and a minimal style for optimal balance. It also provides ample flexibility that provides “just right” support so you can stretch, move, and flex.
If you’re looking for a versatile, comfortable, and stylish shoe that can take you from work to play, then you need a pair of Prio all-day shoes. Made from durable full-grain leather, these shoes are built to last and will look great with jeans, khakis, or shorts.
It also has a flexible outsole that is grippy. Plus, the wide toe box is great for people with wider feet.
See more details and photos on the Prio: Men’s | Women’s
Nine2Five
If you’re like me, you’re always on the lookout for business shoes that are both comfortable and professional looking but getting a little tired of all the options that seem to be either one or the other, but never both. Enter Lems NineToFive shoes.
These business-appropriate, zero-drop dress shoes are not only super comfortable, thanks to their wide toebox, but they also look great. I bought two pairs to wear around the office, and I’ve been extremely happy with both. I can wear them with low ankle socks without issue, or taller socks if I want a little more coverage. Either way, they look very stylish.
Apart from having a wide-toe box, Lems NineToFive shoes don’t look too different from traditional business shoes. In terms of sizing, you can follow a sizing chart on their website. For example, I am a US 9, which translates to a Lems size 43. They are available in Black and Mocha.
A lot of other manufacturers are coming around to the wide-toe box trend, so NineToFive shoes don’t look goofy at all. In fact, they look quite modern and sleek. So if you’re like me and you’re looking for a comfortable, stylish barefoot dress shoe that won’t break the bank, I would highly recommend checking out Lems NineToFive shoes.
See more details and photos on the Nine2Five: Men’s | Women’s
Conclusion
There are a few things to look for when you’re shopping for barefoot dress shoes. First, you want to make sure they’re made with quality materials. This means that they’ll last longer and look better over time. Second, you want to look for shoes that are versatile. This means that they can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Third, you want to make sure they’re comfortable. This is especially important if you’re going to be wearing them for long periods of time.
Once you start wearing barefoot shoes, there is no going back. The blissful feeling of moving your feet freely and without any discomfort or pain. However, all of your dress shoes are suddenly unbearably uncomfortable! The real struggle is to find minimalist dress shoes that best suit you. It is good to know, with the modern technologies available. They will make you feel like shoe styles appear to have been developed by the footless. A wide range of minimalist dress shoes is available in the market; you can have them effortlessly through online shopping. Hope on to our journey in search of the right one for you. They’re referred to as professional, dress, or office barefoot shoes.
For a complete list, check out our List of Minimalist Barefoot Shoes.
