No offense to MacLowlife, I would only want plain toe in shell cordovan.

I like the second photo you offered oriinally. Traditional, not ostentatious, but very dressy. Top grain leather will take a shine you can use to part your hair. (I assume you know how to do a military shine.)

Few things look better for more occassions. My cap toes are my goto shoes for a suit, and the rounded tow--as opposed to the slightly squared toe--never go out of style. Never.

This is the pair I wear, Florsheim. I was about to order a pait of Allen Edmunds, but these came up for sale at a very attractive price, so I bough them.



Finally, I like leather soles with leather heels that have a small rubber insert on the back of the heel to keep down wear. I used to wear leather heels with a steel wedge in the back corner, but I haven't seen that for years.