Black Dress Shoes for Boys – The Most Supportive and Versatile Styles!

Have you been looking for a pair of black dress shoes for your boy? Do you want the shoes to look dressy but be durable enough for your child to wear to school and run around comfortably? I have put together a selection of the best black dress shoes for boys based on my many years of shoe fitting experience, and I will show you these shoes shortly.

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience

I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for the last 10 years at a children’s shoe store that specializes in helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. We need to carry top-quality shoes that are available in different widths, as that’s the only way we can guarantee to fit every single child.

Most children tend to wear their dress shoes for very short periods of time and once in a while, but if the shoes are not supportive and the correct size you might end up creating several issues to their feet such as blisters, calluses, and corns. It only takes a couple of wears in the wrong shoe style or the wrong shoe size to create foot issues.

Black Dress Shoes for Kids – 6 Important Features!

We all know that most boys are very hard on their shoes, so we must find shoes that provide good support but are durable as well. Let’s take a look at the most important features that the kids’ dress shoes I recommend provide:

1️⃣ Supportive: For your child to be able to wear these shoes for longer periods of time and not just for a particular occasion, the shoes must provide enough support to reduce the impact that your kids’ feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.

2️⃣ Lightweight: While we do want your kids’ shoes to be supportive, they must be lightweight at the same time. Dress shoes, in general, tend to be stiff and heavy which might make your kids’ feet and legs tired more easily.

3️⃣ Flexible: Certain dress shoes tend to be very stiff and hard to bend. A flexible shoe will allow your child to run around on that particular special occasion or if he needs to wear it for longer periods of time.

4️⃣ Breathable: Shoes need to be breathable to prevent the build-up of bacteria inside the shoe and also prevent foot odors.

5️⃣ Traction: Shoes must provide good traction to prevent your child from slipping and falling.

6️⃣ Firm Heel Counter: The heel counter is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle support. The firmer it is the better, as it will cushion and support your kids’ ankles and prevent injuries.

Before I provide you with a selection of the best black dress shoes for boys, let me first show you how to figure out your child’s exact foot size so you can order the correct size online.

Parents tend to make the common mistake of buying their kids’ dress shoes larger as the child might wear them only once in a while and for a short period of time.  Providing your child with a certain amount of growing room is acceptable, but getting the shoes too large might create several issues that range from compromising your child’s stability to making your child more prone to developing foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.

I always recommend parents take their children to their local kids’ shoe store. The issue is that most children’s shoe stores have been closing so I created a list of the best remaining fitting kids’ shoe stores by state:

The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where To Go for Proper Fittings

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

If after looking at that resource you still can’t seem to find a shoe store in your area then take a look at the article below that explains the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s foot size from home:

How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width

In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.

Now that we have gone over the important features a dress shoe must provide and the importance of providing your child with the correct shoe size to keep his feet and legs healthy, let’s take a look at the best selection of black dress shoes for boys. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Black Dress Shoes for Boys ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The back dress shoes below can fit children with medium(M), wide (W), or extra wide (XW) feet.

What Shoe Size Should You Order?

In each of the descriptions of the dress shoes, I indicate whether you need to order a half size or a whole size bigger than your child’s foot size to provide the correct amount of growing room.

Black Narrow Dress Shoes for Kids – Do They Exist?

If you have a child with narrow feet and you can’t seem to find a single pair of black pair dress shoes that fit please contact me directly and I will help you find them:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

I know how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to find a pair of dress shoes for a child with narrow feet. The main reason for this is that shoe companies don’t actually make dress shoes in narrow widths for kids anymore.

The good news is that there are certain shoe styles and shoe brands that fit narrower than others. Some of the shoe brands I have fitted before and that you might want to start getting familiar with are called Naturino, Primigi, and Garvalin. I have found that these shoe brands are very effective when it comes to fitting the shape of a child with narrow feet.

In certain cases when the child has very narrow feet I recommend placing a tongue pad inside the shoes. Tongue pads help push the child’s feet back, securing them against the back of the shoes. You can learn everything that you need to know about tongue pads in the article below:

Leather Shoe Tongue Pads – Stop Heel Slippage

Loafers Dress Shoes – Are They a Good Choice for Kids with Narrow Feet?

Loafers are very good-looking dress shoes but you must know that they are not the most practical shoe choice for children, especially for kids with narrow feet. The main reason for this is that they don’t have any type of velcro strap or shoelace holding the feet in place.

A slip-on shoe or a loafer must be fitted heel to toe, which means that you won’t be able to leave any growing room. You can still provide your child with a pair of loafers, just be aware that you won’t be able to leave any growing room and your child will probably outgrow the shoes between 2 months or less.

There is actually one black loafer that is available in narrow widths and you can find it here:

Loafers Shoes for Kids with Narrow Feet – The Only Style Available in Narrow Widths!

Did you know that socks act as a barrier between your kids’ feet and the shoes which prevent the buildup of bacteria? It’s also important to have your kids wear socks with their dress shoes to prevent their feet from rubbing against the shoe, as dress shoes tend to be stiffer than sneakers.

Best Socks for Dress Shoes – Keep Your Kids’ Feet Healthy

One common mistake that I see parents make is to buy socks based on the “age” guidelines or the “sock size” guidelines, which leads to your child wearing the wrong sock size. You must always refer to where the “shoe size ” guidelines are and buy the socks accordingly. Take a look at the picture below for clarification:

Certain dress socks are made from higher quality materials and will provide better comfort to your child’s feet. If you need a pair of dress socks for your child please refer to the article below:

The Best Dress Socks for Kids – Seamless, Comfortable, and Durable!

Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?

If none of these shoes are available in your child’s shoe size or if you need the shoes to be made of a specific color don’t hesitate to email me at:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Have you found a particular pair of black dress shoes that have worked well for your child’s feet? Is there a particular shoe brand or shoe style that you can recommend? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.