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Welcome to Stylish Dad Week, GQ Recommends’ celebration of the people and products that make dad style more than a punchline. Whether you’re looking for non-corny dad shoes, parenting gear the experts swear by, or are just trying to land on an excellent gift idea ahead of Father's Day, we’ve got all the thoughts, takes, and, yes, recommendations you need to toast dear old pops—or jack his inimitable swagger—like you've got a squadron of rugrats tugging at your shirttails.
The days of Ryan Gosling gleefully chucking a pair of New Balance dad shoes over a mall balcony feel like a distant memory—and not because the scene that launched a thousand ad hoc makeovers took place a decade ago. In the years since, the type of unabashedly chunky kicks spurned by the Gos God in Crazy, Stupid, Love went mainstream, catalyzing a shift in sneaker proportions the industry is still grappling with. Today, the casual cobblers up in Boston sell an assortment of patriarch-approved versions, but they're far from the only ones making big—nay, gargantuan—moves in the space. Take a walk down any bustling city street, and it's hard not to bump toes with options Gosling would've tossed into the food court without a second thought.
What do all these dad shoes have in common? An emphasis on good ol' fashioned comfort, often expressed through exaggerated proportions and downright geriatric design flourishes. (Think extra cushioning, multi-fabric paneling, and much, much more.) Not exactly the ingredients you were thinking of when it comes to cheffing up a sexy summer fit, huh? Think again. Because we rounded up the best of the bunch on the market, and whether you're a dad, dad-type, daddy (or, uh, zaddy), there's a pair here that'll change your mind.
Oh, and if you happen to be looking for a last-minute Father's Day gift, text pops and surreptitiously ask for his shoe size now—even without expedited shipping, he'll be unwrapping a box-fresh pair of kicks long before the 19th.
The Best Dad Shoes Shopping Guide
The Classic Dad Pick
Made famous by notable wearers like Steve Jobs (and your neighbor Bill, who spends weekends coaching Little League), New Balance's prototypical dad sneakers remain the pinnacle of the genre. The most classic version, as Jobs would attest to, comes in gray, but it's hard to go wrong with that made-in-USA construction no matter which color you choose. The best way to rock ‘em? Make like Steve and reach for some stone-washed jeans (steer clear of any pairs that veer into skinny territory), though we'd swap out the turtleneck in favor of a hoodie to avoid full-on cosplay.
The Rich Dad Pick
You know dad sneakers have made it big when the team at Common Projects is hopping on the wave. But the brand's riff on the style is decidedly more elegant than your average pair of geriatric stompers. Those Italian leather uppers feature just a few soft curves, in perfect proportion to the thick dad-like midsoles. Even the naysayers won't deny these are good-looking—and they'll only look better paired with some relaxed chinos and a slouchy, Armani-inspired jacket.
The Grandad-Approved Pick
Forget dad shoes: Mephisto’s handcrafted lace-ups are archetypal grandad shoes, the kind you see on drippy Boomers with a hard-earned appreciation for heavy-duty arch support. Built from the same grain leather as your swankiest dress shoes, they're specifically designed for blissful, bunion-free wear, down to the heavily-padded toplines and specialty rubber outsoles. If you're looking to score some style inspiration from the coolest members of the generation before your dad's, start here.
The Outdoorsy Dad Pick
If your weekend hangovers have given way to daydreams of bucolic cabins upstate, it's time to acquaint yourself with Merrell's genre-defining Moab 3, the brand's latest update to its most evergreen silhouette. If you're already a fan of the Mother of All Boots we don't have to convince you of its bona fides, but if you're new to style, think of it as the Toyota 4Runner of dad shoes—practical, reliable, and equipped with a rugged sole designed to withstand miles of adventuring with a squadron of ungrateful kids in the back seat.
The Cool Dad Pick
Despite its Y2K-doused looks, the Zoom Vomero+ 5 isn't that old: it first debuted in 2011 as a performance shoe designed to help speed demons shave seconds off their mile times. The Vomero has been re-released a few times since then in limited numbers, but now Nike seems committed to capitalizing on its potential, dropping a slew of widely-available versions designed to stoke a frenzy of chatter online. Sure, it boasts the requisite performance-oriented specs and design flourishes that sync up easily with baggy cargos and tricked-out gym shorts, but its retro vibe also means it can anchor ginormous khakis and crisp dress shorts with equal aplomb.