The best shoes for toe-clip use are light trail shoes with few knobbly mouldings. A studded sole and side mouldings can catch. Laces should work in conventional holes, not sticky-outy plastic bits.
Use a clip of the right size. Plastic ones are kinder to your shoes, metal ones can be bent to increase the toe box size.
Leather straps are stiffer than nylon and hold their shape better. Dont cinch them tight.
There is still a place for toe clips but it is not at the start line to any race.