Despite golf fashion’s evolution over the last few decades, there’s been one element of my on-course apparel that has remained a constant: My affection for an all-white shoe.
I’ve always been somewhat of a stickler for matching, and colorful shoes often presented a new anxiety: How could I coordinate them seamlessly with whatever else I was wearing? A white shoe provided no such conundrum. And so, I tended to stick with what I knew would always work.
But anyone who’s been paying attention to the fashion scene at large understands that flashy, colorful shoes are all the rage right now. And that’s why I was thrilled to receive a pair of Duca del Cosmas — a luxe Italian footwear and accessory brand that celebrates 20 years in business this year. The sporty, shiny, multi-colored golf shoes were well out of my usual footwear comfort zone, and I was excited to give them a run.
I was impressed with the model I received, the Olivera in Orchid/Pink, from the moment I opened the box. They are gorgeous, with an attractive mix of color-blocking and texture that gives them a unique and ultra-premium appearance.
Duca del Cosma Olivera (Orchid/Pink)
I was also thrilled with the feel on the foot. The memory-foam cushioning is excellent and supremely comfortable, and the thick sole gave me a bit of a lift, which is always appreciated. The shoes are also fully waterproof, and come with an additional set of complementary laces.
The spikeless outsole enables me to wear the shoes both on the course and off, and given the cool lifestyle appeal of this style, I fully intend to wear them everywhere.
My colleague, Jack Hirsh, tested a similar men’s style, and here’s what he had to say:
“I tried out the Davanti (Light Blue), which has the look and fit of a sneaker, and was similar-looking to a sporty basketball shoe,” he wrote. “The difference is the bright and fun pops of color throughout that could find a place in your shoe rotation as your white or light-colored shoes. The style goes nicely too with blue and orange.
“The most important consideration is fit, and mine fit well as a size 11, which is true to size for me,” he continued. “The Davanti finds a nice balance between slipping on and off easily and being stable through the golf swing. The lugs on the outsole provide excellent traction even in slippery conditions.”
Duca del Cosma Davanti (Light Blue)
The Olivera and Davanti are two of Duca del Cosma’s sportier selections, but the brand’s full range of footwear includes dozens of options, including loafer, boot, high-top and classic styles.
Oh, and the best news of all? They make an all-white pair too. Several, in fact. Though now that I’ve embraced the Olivera, I may be a colorful-statement-shoe convert for good.
