Black or Brown Shoes

[Obliviax]

Spent way too much money upgrading the wardrobe. Dude at the store convinced me that the only time you wear black shoes is at a wedding or a funeral today. Brown shoes with navy, gray, and all other colors are the look of today. That caused me to get brown shoes & belt along with new flat front pants with no cuffs. Two jackets, three pairs of pants, a half dozen shirts (not to mention now I have to coordinate sock colors with my shirt or tie, not the shoes or pants) and I walk out a heck of a lot lighter then when I walked in.

In my business, I have noticed that almost all the guys wear brown shoes. Also, watching shows like NFL pre/post games, they all wear brown shoes. Although, I still see lots of dudes with the blacks too, but that seems out of style.

What say you?

 

[ram2020]

He is right, black is only for weddings and funerals anymore. That includes suits

 

[bmw199]

Spent way too much money upgrading the wardrobe. Dude at the store convinced me that the only time you wear black shoes is at a wedding or a funeral today. Brown shoes with navy, gray, and all other colors are the look of today. That caused me to get brown shoes & belt along with new flat front pants with no cuffs. Two jackets, three pairs of pants, a half dozen shirts (not to mention now I have to coordinate sock colors with my shirt or tie, not the shoes or pants) and I walk out a heck of a lot lighter then when I walked in.

In my business, I have noticed that almost all the guys wear brown shoes. Also, watching shows like NFL pre/post games, they all wear brown shoes. Although, I still see lots of dudes with the blacks too, but that seems out of style.

What say you?

I think black still goes with gray pants and black pants. Other than that brown. I just don't like how the brown looks with grey pants.

 

[Nashville Lion]

I tend to disagree....in many settings, black shoes are still very much in...especially in the business world and government. You may not win any fashion contests but quite honestly, some fashion trends I want no part of....like Skinny jeans. LOL.

I have both brown and black. With a gray or black suit, I think black is a must. For a tan or olive suit, I think brown is a must. With navy blue, I think you can go either way honestly. I tend to do black with navy but that is just my style.

I tend to wear black shoes with dark slacks and brown with tan and lighter shades.

 

[fairgambit]

One should own a tuxedo. One does not wear "brown shoes" with one's tuxedo. One wears black formal pumps, or black balmoral oxford dress shoes. While a tuxedo may be worn at a wedding, one does not wear one to a funeral. One does wear a tuxedo to the opera, or the ballet, or the symphony, or in countless other occasions where men, and women, of distinction gather. One may also wear one when making one's "BWI College Football Pick'Em". I hope that answers your question. Seriously, you can never go wrong if you wear Black. Of course, I'm an old traditionalist, so what would you expect me to say?

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

Cordovan - goes with brown/beige and gray slacks. Some "people" even wear them with shorts, provided the collar on their Polo is unfolded in an erect position.

 

[Nittany Security]

Never liked Brown shoes but they look kinda spiffy in the above photos

 

[Nashville Lion]

I agree about the tuxedo.....I purchased one a few years back. I tend to go to a lot of fundraisers and black tie events with my wife....and I realized that rather than renting one and paying $100...I should just go ahead and buy one for $500. I can wear it to weddings and other black tie events. Plus, I feel more confident knowing that I am the only one who has thrown on those pants and that jacket....LOL.

 

[Nashville Lion]

I respectfully disagree with the black shoe thing. I have several very expensive pairs of black shoes and I wear them all the time

Sincerely,

Allen Edmonds.

Agreed...black is just timeless!!!

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Brown is more versatile IMO - they work with navy, grey, and brown (and jeans, depending on the kind of shoe you're talking about - loafer vs. wingtip, etc., and how formal they are). There are also 'shades' to brown (unlike black) so you can mix and match depending on the season. Black shoes work well with black, charcoal, and grey, but with navy and brown they're a more difficult look to pull off (if we're talking with suits). I tend to think of black as more formal and I don't think they work as well with jeans (unless you're in a 50's biker gang).

My advice is to invest in a few pair of good shoes, and prepare to get them re-soled. I have on hand:

- Brown loafers (for shorts, jeans, less formal work looks)
- Brown wingtips
- 2 pair brown monk-straps (one buckle and two)
- Black wingtips
- Black dress shoes
- Black monk-straps (one buckle)

If you must have only 'one' pair of really nice work shoes, I'd go with brown.

 

[Nashville Lion]

In terms of shoes, you certainly get what you pay for. I am a big believer in buying nice shoes and they will last and look better. I have some Black Johnston and Murphy shoes that look good years after I bought them.

I am not one of these people that has one pair of shoes and expect them to work for every occasion. I think most men need a pair of brown shoes and a pair of black. And while we are in this discussion, then some casual shoes or chukkas.

What I wear with jeans I would not necessarily wear with a suit or slacks. I think most men need probably 4-5 types of shoes....not counting running shoes if you work out, some sandals to wear to the pool, and some top siders to wear in the summer with shorts or jeans.

 

[fairgambit]

I agree about the tuxedo.....I purchased one a few years back. I tend to go to a lot of fundraisers and black tie events with my wife....and I realized that rather than renting one and paying $100...I should just go ahead and buy one for $500. I can wear it to weddings and other black tie events. Plus, I feel more confident knowing that I am the only one who has thrown on those pants and that jacket....LOL.

I always assumed you were a man of good breeding Nashville.

 

[Nashville Lion]

Thanks buddy!!! I appreciate that. My parents raised me to always try to be overdressed rather than underdressed...for example, I was at a conference this week....and there were probably a few hundred people there. I was one of a maybe dozen people there in a suit every day. I just feel more confident being over dressed. I tend to dress more conservatively than others too...just because of the way I was raised. I would rather have a timeless look than a trendy look.

One other quirky thing....I wear my shirt tucked in....haha...unless in a t-shirt or dressing really casual. Growing up...my father was always like...if you are leaving my house, that shirt better be tucked in and you better have a belt on. LOL.

 

[Cruising Route 66]

Neither. For the Hamptons it's light grey, champagne, or navy rose Billy Reid Espadrilles

 

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

Spent way too much money upgrading the wardrobe. Dude at the store convinced me that the only time you wear black shoes is at a wedding or a funeral today. Brown shoes with navy, gray, and all other colors are the look of today. That caused me to get brown shoes & belt along with new flat front pants with no cuffs. Two jackets, three pairs of pants, a half dozen shirts (not to mention now I have to coordinate sock colors with my shirt or tie, not the shoes or pants) and I walk out a heck of a lot lighter then when I walked in.

In my business, I have noticed that almost all the guys wear brown shoes. Also, watching shows like NFL pre/post games, they all wear brown shoes. Although, I still see lots of dudes with the blacks too, but that seems out of style.

What say you?

The most important thing to remember is that our fashion trends are set by people who are gay.

Black.

 

[fairgambit]

Thanks buddy!!! I appreciate that. My parents raised me to always try to be overdressed rather than underdressed...for example, I was at a conference this week....and there were probably a few hundred people there. I was one of a maybe dozen people there in a suit every day. I just feel more confident being over dressed. I tend to dress more conservatively than others too...just because of the way I was raised. I would rather have a timeless look than a trendy look.
One other quirky thing....I wear my shirt tucked in....haha...unless in a t-shirt or dressing really casual. Growing up...my father was always like...if you are leaving my house, that shirt better be tucked in and you better have a belt on. LOL.

I feel the same way. Being well dressed is never out of style. I am not suggesting I would wear a suit to a baseball game, although there is certainly a time when that was common, but there are many occasions where you can dress up, or down, and I alway chose the former. My wife and I recently attended a black tie charity event and even the average women looked hot when well dressed. Perhaps if I was of a another generation, I would feel differently, and I don't look down my nose at others who prefer a more casual look. To each his own.

 

[Nitwit]

For dress, you need black for dark grey or black suits. Brown for blue, brown, or light grey is fine. And remember to match all your leathers, belt and watchband included (unless it's stainless of course). A tux should have black patent leather, not just black dress shoes. For casual attire, anything goes, but again don't mix the leathers.

 

[bmw199]

I feel the same way. Being well dressed is never out of style. I am not suggesting I would wear a suit to a baseball game, although there is certainly a time when that was common, but there are many occasions where you can dress up, or down, and I alway chose the former. My wife and I recently attended a black tie charity event and even the average women looked hot when well dressed. Perhaps if I was of a another generation, I would feel differently, and I don't look down my nose at others who prefer a more casual look. To each his own.

Every few months my friends will do a Suit Up Saturday where we wear our best suits out for the night (it is my impression that it used to not be an occasion to wear a suit out for night out of partying). I've done well for myself on Suit Up Saturdays, if you know what I mean.

 

[PhillipintheValley]

The most important thing to remember is that our fashion trends are set by people who are gay.

Black.

Why is that important?

 

[fairgambit]

Every few months my friends will do a Suit Up Saturday where we wear our best suits out for the night (it is my impression that it used to not be an occasion to wear a suit out for night out of partying). I've done well for myself on Suit Up Saturdays, if you know what I mean.

That's actually a neat idea. I play softball with some younger guys and I'm going to suggest it. Some of these guys need all the help they can get.

 

[Nashville Lion]

Why is that important?

Take this to the test board....don't start a fight, please!!!!!

 

[fairgambit]

Every few months my friends will do a Suit Up Saturday where we wear our best suits out for the night (it is my impression that it used to not be an occasion to wear a suit out for night out of partying). I've done well for myself on Suit Up Saturdays, if you know what I mean.

Perhaps we should have a Joe Paterno dress up day for a game to harken back to the days when Joe coached in a coat and tie. Ask all fans to honor Joe by dressing up (men in coats and ties, women in dresses) for a game.

 

[PhillipintheValley]

Take this to the test board....don't start a fight, please!!!!!

Maybe instead he should delete the post.

 

[Nashville Lion]

Maybe so...this is a good discussion. I just don't want it to get out of hand with people arguing over political stuff. That's all.

 

[KC-KS-Lion]

Cordovan shoes are the most versatile and preferred color for navy, and works for the rest. Just don't find most styles in cordovan.

Brown shoes are good with the lighter greys, but black is fine too.

Brown or black shoes are acceptable for olive.

Black shoes are still good for greys or navy, as well as obviously black.

In general, a lot of the old rules of fashion (no more than 2 of 3 jacket, tie, shirt being patterned, socks matching pants or shoes, no pinched line in midsection of buttoned jacket) don't apply.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Why is that important?

It's not 'important', but it is somewhat factual. Consider Tom Ford was the 2015 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year and he, and other gay men (Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Christopher Bailey) have been setting fashion trends for men for the past couple of decades.

It's either this....

(Brad Pitt in Tom Ford)

or this:

 

[Ten Thousan Marbles]

Why is that important?

The second most important thing to remember is that there is a reason that we laugh at the way people dressed and wore their hair 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago, etc.

 

[bmw199]

Perhaps we should have a Joe Paterno dress up day for a game to harken back to the days when Joe coached in a coat and tie. Ask all fans to honor Joe by dressing up (men in coats and ties, women in dresses) for a game.

I love that, but not in September or November. That is an October idea. I believe at a number of southern and SEC schools the fraternities and sororities do in fact go formal to games. That's what I have been told anyway.
I wouldn't mind seeing the students do a Joe look a like day either. Khaki floods, black sneakers, blue tie, and a wind breaker. I wouldn't mind seeing how the CO EDS edit the classic look for style.

 

[fairgambit]

The second most important thing to remember is that there is a reason that we laugh at the way people dressed and wore their hair 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago, etc.

Um, I still dress and wear my hair the way I did 40 years ago. Maybe that explains some things.

 

[Nashville Lion]

I actually looked up the number of homosexual fashion designers and was actually blown away at how many. Michael Kors, Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior, Perry Ellis, Tom Ford, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and many many more.

 

[Coultr77]

Every few months my friends will do a Suit Up Saturday where we wear our best suits out for the night (it is my impression that it used to not be an occasion to wear a suit out for night out of partying). I've done well for myself on Suit Up Saturdays, if you know what I mean.

I don't get what you mean, please expand on your post

 

[Leo Ridens]

Thanks buddy!!! I appreciate that. My parents raised me to always try to be overdressed rather than underdressed.

Two quotes for your consideration:

“Being perfectly well-dressed gives one a tranquility that no religion can bestow.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If I am occasionally over-dressed, I make up for it by always being immensely over-educated"
- Oscar Wilde

 

[cjrugger]

The only thing worse than black shoes with a navy suit is pleats. Good job listening to the salesman

 

[ILLINOISLION]

In terms of shoes, you certainly get what you pay for. I am a big believer in buying nice shoes and they will last and look better. I have some Black Johnston and Murphy shoes that look good years after I bought them.

I am not one of these people that has one pair of shoes and expect them to work for every occasion. I think most men need a pair of brown shoes and a pair of black. And while we are in this discussion, then some casual shoes or chukkas.

What I wear with jeans I would not necessarily wear with a suit or slacks. I think most men need probably 4-5 types of shoes....not counting running shoes if you work out, some sandals to wear to the pool, and some top siders to wear in the summer with shorts or jeans.

I was about 18 or 19 when my Dad bought me my first "good" pair of black dress shoes.....Johnson and Murphy. Also a pair of cedar inserts.

When I joined the business world years later, bought another pair.....I was taught to NEVER wear the same pair two days in a row.

 

[91Joe95]

Perhaps we should have a Joe Paterno dress up day for a game to harken back to the days when Joe coached in a coat and tie. Ask all fans to honor Joe by dressing up (men in coats and ties, women in dresses) for a game.

I heard most people have no idea who that is. It was on the internet so it must be true.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

The only thing worse than black shoes with a navy suit is pleats. Good job listening to the salesman

Are pleats out? They are so distinguishing....they are what separates the casual euro-slackers from the blue-blooded aggressive accomplishers.

 

[Obliviax]

Are pleats out? They are so distinguishing....they are what separates the casual euro-slackers from the blue-blooded aggressive accomplishers.

The rule of thumb is pleats = cuffs, no pleats = no cuffs.

Seems to me the fashion today is slim, flat front, no cuffs. Problematic for older (read "heavier) guys who like the larger fit of pleated pants around the thighs.

I suspect the readership if this board is older, as there is an overwhelming vote for black shoes. But if you watch almost any TV announcers or read any fashion conscious magazines (GQ, Men's Health, Playboy, etc.) you see brown shoes with every color on pants except formal. I believe the tide has turned on this from being a "fashion statement" to being "what is expected."

 

[Victor E. Bell]

The Chairman would not even tolerate people around him wearing brown shoes, let alone wear them himself. That's good enough for me.

 

[Obliviax]

The Chairman would not even tolerate people around him wearing brown shoes, let alone wear them himself. That's good enough for me.

As I understand it, ole' blue eyes' rule was "never where brown shoes after 6". Of course, I don't wear a fedora either!

 

[Woodpecker]