CEOs and yuppies are saying NO to sneakers. More and more people are opting for uniform shoes.

After years of sneakers and colorful socks, business casual is back in style. Elegant, comfortable, and timeless business shoes are back in style, along with handbags designed for function, not just appearance.

We've already lived through the era of CEOs wearing neon socks with their suits . Company partners proudly marched to meetings in brand-new sneakers — Asics and New Balances reigned supreme, of course. And today? Everything points to a return to classics. Where did this suspicion come from? The dynamic expansion of Uniform-Shoes —a Portuguese brand specializing in business footwear —is taking off. Out of nowhere, the king of business is quietly but consistently conquering the international market.

Young woman in a light suit and tie. License: Street style photo / Shutterstock

After a decade of TikTok styles—from office sirens to neo-yuppies —young businessmen once again want to look like people with more important things to do than refresh the next drop. Business shoes solve the problem—they're so casual you won't notice them.

Business shoes by Uniform Shoes Photo: Uniform Shoes / Facebook

The business world has fallen in love with uniform shoes because, on the one hand, they allow you to stay on your feet for 12 hours, and secondly, they are universal - they match a suit , chinos , pencil skirts and shirt dresses .

The brand was founded in 2014 in Oliveira de Azemeis, under the wings of Cool Gray Lda. From the beginning, it has focused on " Made in Portugal " quality. Since 2023, the brand has supplied footwear to the Chateau de Versailles team, and in 2025, it extended the contract for another two years. Its client list also includes Lufthansa Group , Hilton , Rolls-Royce , and Austrian Airlines .

Uniform-Shoes is growing stronger, and although currently focused on Europe and the Middle East, it plans to expand to the United States in 2026. ISO 14001, SEDEX membership, and exports to over 50 countries are just confirmation that the footwear business is on the rise.

Business shoes from the Portuguese brand Uniform Shoes License: Uniform Shoes / Facebook

The trend doesn't stop with footwear. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi's new launch has made the classic "Grace Delight Tote" bag from Hamano (a Japanese manufacturer with a 145-year history) go viral.

Grace Delight Tote by Hawano License: Press Materials / Hamano

All-leather, weighing just 700 grams, it can accommodate a laptop while maintaining its impeccable form. The result? An avalanche of orders and delayed deliveries. After years of micro-handbags that held nothing more than a phone and Chanel Rouge , women are returning to pragmatism – a handbag should be functional, capable of carrying a laptop, notebook, and the ambitions of a worthy head of state . It should look elegant but not interfere with everyday life. The "Grace Delight Tote" speaks the same language as uniform shoes.