THERE are great loves, and then there are addictions.

My Achilles’ heel is shoes.

Undeniable good-looking companions that add sass to one’s strut, and make a statement when you step forward.

So much so that when I size a man up, inevitably there is the cursory but critical glance downwards.

A man’s sartorial choices in footwear is so subtle, yet telling. It distinguishes the savvy from the slob, the dandy from the rake, and the men from the boys.

The wrong shoes can crimp a man’s style.

Chunky, square-toe rubber loafers are unforgivably awkward and can ruin a handsome business suit.

But pair street-cred sneakers with that same suit – now that spells rebellious style and adds razor-sharp wit to your dress sense.

And really there is no excuse to be slack in the shoe department.

After all, trainers these days are performance footwear, driving shoes are more than mere slip-proof pedal pushers and sneakers now conquer more than the basketball court – they are like frat jackets to establish one’s cool clout, and entry into the inner circle.

This season, French footwear designer Christian Louboutin launched his red-sole goodies for the boys, with a collection of funky and lux, animal-print and spiked sneakers.

Admittedly these will rob a man’s wallet of a grand and counting – I love how it equalises shoe spending to get the beaus off our cases.

The men’s range is available at the Christian Louboutin boutique here (02-12C/D Ngee Ann City) and there are plans to bring in next season’s collection as well.

The Malaysian-born, London-based king of shoes, Jimmy Choo, has collaborated with popular high street fashion label H&M to do a wallet-friendlier collection of clothes, bags and shoes for women and men.

The collection was launched yesterday at select H&M stores globally, and from the looks of it, would have been snapped up quickly. The men’s shoes – impressive high-top boots and mock snake-skin low-cut boots – make you sit up and take notice.

Luckily the men don’t have to miss out on the snazzy offerings by G-star.

Newly opened multi-label store, 33 Thirty Three, at Paragon, is now the hip address to G-star’s Raw Footwear range, with three main categories of designs – Military, Utility and Sport.

The denim high-top sneakers and high-cut leather boots are good investments. Prices start from just under $300.

The store also carries Double Identity, the London-based cult footwear label, by Johnny Tsiattalou, whose signature motifs boast innovative perforations and laser-cut designs. Levi’s is also making good strides with its sneaker range.

Here, street cred meets vintage flair.

There are military-inspired parachuting shoes with their chunky and aggressive-looking sole units and reinforced toe caps; sneakers with fashionable, pointy-toe silhouettes and even a premium limited-edition calf and nappa leather range of shoes, with its handcrafted outsoles and heels, and a distinguished patina.

A friend of mine who has already pounded the pavement proudly in his Levi’s sneakers, swear by their comfort factor and sharp good looks.

This article was first published in The New Paper.