The Suede Buck

Ask any Southern gent worth his sweet tea and he'll tell you that the suede buck is the quintessential shoe for spring and summer—appropriate for the office, summer weddings and any off-duty time that warrants real shoes instead of sneakers. The standard issue buck comes with a red-brick sole and a white or tan suede upper, though these days bucks seem to be coming in a spectrum of colors. High end brands like Mark McNairy and Dunhill are offering bucks with pops of preppy hues like yellow, green and blue. A more affordable option are these by Walk-Over, made in America with a supple calfskin lining and what's more, the soles are Goodyear welted—meaning you can swap them out for another color when you wear this one out.

Walk-Over suede derby, $225