navy suit, light brown belt & shoes

[Obsessed]

What's the verdict?

[DSB]

I think brown shoes look great with a navy suit.

[Groundhog]

I've read before that the navy/brown combo is acceptable, but I personally wouldn't wear it ....something about it just doesn't look right to me. I wear black shoes & belts with navy, charcoal, etc., and brown with more earthy colors. Now, I have seen cordovan with navy and it looked OK.

[rongo_mai]

If your talking about the new service uniform. All I can say is I'm glad I got out before they made that change.

[luvmysuper]

For me, I wouldn't wear light shoes with a dark suit. But that's just me.
A dark brown? I'd have no problem.

[Blondie]

No, no, no, never, never, never. Oxblood or Cordovan are really the best choices to go with Navy. I wouldn't even wear black with Navy.

[Obsessed]

I've read before that the navy/brown combo is acceptable, but I personally wouldn't wear it ....something about it just doesn't look right to me. I wear black shoes & belts with navy, charcoal, etc., and brown with more earthy colors. Now, I have seen cordovan with navy and it looked OK.


For me, I wouldn't wear light shoes with a dark suit. But that's just me.
A dark brown? I'd have no problem.

I hear you guys. I generally only wear black shoes with a dark suit, I was just contemplating mixing it up a bit.

[Austin]

Black shoes and belt.

[buddydog]

I never wear black shoes.

[Doug]

negative

[The Knize]

Frank Zappa wrote "brown shoes don't make it."!

My take is that about 10 years ago tan (or something lighter than dark brown anyway) shoes and belt with dark blue suits became fashionable, and now that combination is quite acceptable. It struck me as a little off at first, but now I like it a lot.

I do not think I like dark brown shoes and dark blue though.

[Obsessed]

Not to worry; I've decided against it. Sanity has prevailed. Thanks, guys.

[johnniegold]

It is a very British look and quite fashionable. I like it. You can even wear brown with a gray suit. It is a question of personal taste and style.

What would Flusser say?

Btw, I am referring to wearing this combo during the day and not in the evening. If it's to be worn in the evening then I would always wear black shoes.


Do you ever get the feeling that the world is a tuxedo and you are a pair of brown shoes? - George Gobel

[thunderball]

Not to worry; I've decided against it. Sanity has prevailed. Thanks, guys.

Disaster narrowly averted. :biggrin:

[Ru4scuba?]

Thats too bad...I'm in the camp with Bob here. I think a Navy suit/brown shoes combo is fine.

In one of those military jobs where I happen to wear a suit quite a bit...I see all kinds of navy/brown combos. I also have seen (and wear) oxbloods.

Dressing...like shaving, is all about YMMV!

[gone down south]

I think it can be done, but only if the suit is on the lighter and less formal side.

http://gallostyle.com/styletips/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/scan200012.jpg

[Cuttingboard]

Like the picture above, I wear dark brown shoes with navy and light and dark grey suits. I wouldn't wear light brown shoes with anything other than a light colored suit. I'm wearing black with my navy suit today, but most of the time I wear dark brown or oxblood colored shoes.

[Jasonian]

I never wear black shoes.

Almost all of my shoes are black.

[richmondesi]

I very, very rarely wear black shoes. I have 3 varieties of brown, and I wear them with everything except grey (don't own a black suit). Black shoes with a navy suit shows no flare, IMO... It's boring and indicates a lack of sophistication to MY eye... totally biased, I know, but how I perceive people. So, don't "correct" me :lol:

[O.G.]

Traditionally you would wear black soes with the navy suit at a stuffy office in my opinon the brown shoes bring life to a classic style and allow for the introduction of more color combinations in the suit.

[The Knize]

Obsessed, did you try running a Google search on this question? Lots of stuff out there on things like StyleForum and AskAndy.

I have not had enough time with it to come to any specifc conclusions except that lighter brown shoes (I am talking Cognac or so, I guess not really "tan" unless a dark tan) with a navy suit woud apparently be considered "fashion forward," so I guess my impression was correct that some time ago one started seeing lighter brown shoes with navy suits for the first time in lifetime. Apparently the old British rule was never anything but black shoes wih a navy suit--with actual Brits writing in on this to confrim that their fathers had stated this rule unequivocably, but there is debate over how old that rule is and whether it went away say 80 years ago. (I do not understand where cordovan and oxblood shoes would fit it to that. I thought the rule was that cordovan went with everthing.) But there are Continental Europeans writing in saying they do not like black with a navy suit and wear nothing but brown shoes.

I think your gut and my gut feeling is black shoes with a navy suit is the "rule." My feeling is that it is okay to break a rule for "fashion." It is less okay to break a rule for me just because I think it looks okay. Like lots in life, I want the impression to be that "I know how something show be done and have consciously chosen not to do it that way, rather than I do not know how something is supposed to be done!"

I would say that gray suits are a whole other thing. I am frankly not convinced that blue suits other than navy ones are!

[richmondesi]

Obsessed, did you try running a Google search on this question? Lots of stuff out there on things like StyleForum and AskAndy.

I have not had enough time with it to come to any specifc conclusions except that lighter brown shoes (I am talking Cognac or so, I guess not really "tan" unless a dark tan) with a navy suit woud apparently be considered "fashion forward," so I guess my impression was correct that some time ago one started seeing lighter brown shoes with navy suits for the first time in lifetime. Apparently the old British rule was never anything but black shoes wih a navy suit--with actual Brits writing in on this to confrim that their fathers had stated this rule unequivocably, but there is debate over how old that rule is and whether it went away say 80 years ago. (I do not understand where cordovan and oxblood shoes would fit it to that. I thought the rule was that cordovan went with everthing.) But there are Continental Europeans writing in saying they do not like black with a navy suit and wear nothing but brown shoes.

I think your gut and my gut feeling is black shoes with a navy suit is the "rule." My feeling is that it is okay to break a rule for "fashion." It is less okay to break a rule for me just because I think it looks okay. Like lots in life, I want the impression to be that "I know how something show be done and have consciously chosen not to do it that way, rather than I do not know how something is supposed to be done!"

I would say that gray suits are a whole other thing. I am frankly not convinced that blue suits other than navy ones are!

I'd totally disagree with wearing black shoes with navy because that's the "way it's supposed to be done". It isn't. It can be done, but all of the clothiers that I've talked about this kind of stuff with say it is ok, but brown is much preferred with Navy suits.

[bishop]

Cordovan is the way to go. I always look at black or brown shoes with a navy suit and think the wearer must have dressed in the dark. Sort of like wearing black socks with blue pants.

[Cuttingboard]

I always look at black or brown shoes with a navy suit and think the wearer must have dressed in the dark. Sort of like wearing black socks with blue pants.

Unfortunately, I have to get dressed in the dark because I get up so early in the morning that my wife is still asleep. I think I'm going to buy red socks and wear them with everything and show some flare...:w00t:

[richmondesi]

Unfortunately, I have to get dressed in the dark because I get up so early in the morning that my wife is still asleep. I think I'm going to buy red socks and wear them with everything and show some flare...:w00t:

:thumbsup: :lol:

[rgc]

Traditional business attire for the city would be black shoes with a suit. Keep in mind traditional attire for city suits also would be navy, grey or maybe black pin stripe.

[Holton181]

Traditionally you would wear black soes with the navy suit at a stuffy office in my opinon the brown shoes bring life to a classic style and allow for the introduction of more color combinations in the suit.

FTW!

Come on guys... Even the stuffy suits over here on the Hill wear brown shoes with Navy suits. It breaks up the white shirt/red tie combo that EVERY staffer wears EVERY DAY... sigh.

[richmondesi]

FTW!

Come on guys... Even the stuffy suits over here on the Hill wear brown shoes with Navy suits. It breaks up the white shirt/red tie combo that EVERY staffer wears EVERY DAY... sigh.

The guys that say that black shoes is just "how it's done" are either old or not paying attention (if not both) :tongue_sm

[Cuttingboard]

FTW!

Come on guys... Even the stuffy suits over here on the Hill wear brown shoes with Navy suits. It breaks up the white shirt/red tie combo that EVERY staffer wears EVERY DAY... sigh.

Don't forget the boring light blue tie with white shirt combos!:Yawn:

[Devil Doc]

Black or cordovan. Never brown with navy blue. I should know:wink2:

Doc.

[RoyalKooparillo]

Black with navy for a more formal or conservative look. Cordovan can look very good, but it's overdone IMO. Brown is just fine for a confident, fashion-forward look (as another said), but it requires matching the shade of brown correctly with the suit ('poo' brown never seems to go well). I personally like the look, when it is done well. I have a pair of brown shoes with an antiqued cognac finish that looks devilishly good with with a navy suit. :biggrin:

[Cuttingboard]

I really like chocolate brown cap-toes with a grey suit and blue dress shirt.

If I were going to a more formal or evening event and wearing a navy suit, definately black shoes. But during the day to work, dark brown and oxblood are perfectly fine and very european.

[marvin100]

I never wear black shoes.

Guh?:001_huh:

[scottish steve]

Hey GDS, for a moment there I thought that was a pic of Morrisey and therefore automatically acceptable. I didn't realise until just now that I had that attitude. Anyone else consider Morrisey a style icon?

[The Knize]

Hey GDS, for a moment there I thought that was a pic of Morrisey and therefore automatically acceptable. I didn't realise until just now that I had that attitude. Anyone else consider Morrisey a style icon?

Had not really thought about it, but he is not bad, at least after the sheer shirt and band aid over the nipple era.

[Kouros]

Blue goes well with earth tones (brown, green, orange) while black looks best with grey, white, red, or purple. Navy and black should only be mixed on a job interview or if you are military IMO.

[The Knize]

Blue goes well with earth tones (brown, green, orange) while black looks best with grey, white, red, or purple. Navy and black should only be mixed on a job interview or if you are military IMO.

So one should only look, what exactly? for a job interview, and no other time?

Here was a January 2005 GQ on-line answer to this quesiton: "There are many older men who will go to the grave believing that wearing brown shoes with a navy suit is morally wrong. Actually, it is wearing lighter brown shoes with a navy suit that is wrong. Your shoes should be at least as dark as your suit. If your brown shoes are of a darkness approaching black, you are okay. If they are tannish, the old man is right, and you should be banned from the executive washroom."

I agree with the first sentence that this is what some older American guys think. I am pretty well conveinced that the second sentence is now wrong, although I suppose if one is a bit away from true navy it might make a difference.

This have been a really interesting thread. I do think the old Briitish rule was black shoes in the city and brown shoes in the country. And I do think there was a move away from black shoes for anything on the Continent.

[Midlander]

No, no, no, never, never, never. Oxblood or Cordovan are really the best choices to go with Navy. I wouldn't even wear black with Navy.

I second this - Oxblood with Navy is the standard.

However, I've seen an increase in Brown with Navy, hence this post. It works sometimes, but other times it fails. Maybe it depends on the shirt/tie combo.

[Barbarian]

The guys that say that black shoes is just "how it's done" are either old or not paying attention (if not both) :tongue_sm

+1 Depends on if you are an old traditionalist or not. There is nothing wrong with change, as long as you have the self-confidence to handle it.

[The Knize]

+1 Depends on if you are an old traditionalist or not. There is nothing wrong with change, as long as you have the self-confidence to handle it.

Nothing wrong with change. Like everything else. Depends on the signal you want to send. I thnk everyone in these matters wants to say "I know the rule, but I choose not to follow it," rather than "I am so oblivious I do not know the rule!" If one's boss is some hide bound tradtionalist, one might as well go with tradition, if it matters. You are going to the trouble of wearing a suit so you might as well take the trouble to accomplish whatever you want to with it.

Rememeber I am one of the ones that thinks cognac with navy is perfectly fine and trendy.

I like Cordovan and oxblood with a navy suit, too. Not sure whether I would wear that to say Court though. I like Cordovan and oxblood with most suit colors, especially the former.

[TstebinsB]

Cordovan is the way to go. I always look at black or brown shoes with a navy suit and think the wearer must have dressed in the dark. Sort of like wearing black socks with blue pants.

Cordovan is expensive though. Not everyone can afford a pair. Black and dark brown are fine. Black isn't adventurous but it's certainly not wrong.

[The Knize]

Cordovan is expensive though. Not everyone can afford a pair. Black and dark brown are fine. Black isn't adventurous but it's certainly not wrong.

True that re expensive. I guess I was thinking of the color more than of the actual horsehide shell leather though.

[Kouros]

I might add that you should wear socks that closely match the color of your pants. It will make the legs appear longer when the socks are visible.

[Alacrity59]

I know I will be hit on the head for saying this but some shades of oxblood and brown come across clownish . . . black is black you can't go wrong. Then again with good taste the brown done right is all about calm steady professional who will be there like a friend rather than the sharp edged black shoe guy. I hope this is a subtle thing as my formal shoes are black . . .

[Monkeydad]

I think brown shoes look great with a navy suit.

While I always go black with navy (wearing that right now actually), I'd say dark brown is a yes, light brown...no way!

[The Knize]

I happened to download a relevant video podcast from the ITunes web site put out by men's.style.com, which if I recall is the GQ web site. The Podcast show is "In the Closet" and the particular episode "Job Interview Edition," dated February 2, 2009.

Their advice for job interviewees: "There are only two colors of suit you can wear: grey or blue, but it should have no pattern ... Wear lace-up shoes, anything lace up is fine, wing-tip, cap toe, or plain. Either black or brown shoes are fine . . . wearing brown is maybe a little bit more of a stylish choice . . . ." Now the guy dressed up to interview on the show is wearing charcoal grey suit, not a navy one, but I would say the shoes his is wearing a pretty much a medium brown. Not too light, but definitely a long way from dark brown. Now one could say that they do not get down into any detail about differences between a navy suit and a charcoal one. But still, if it seemed important I think they would have said something, particularly since they refer to brown shoes as essentially "fashion forward." Also, their emphasis is to dress in way so you seem that you would "fit in" and not "rock the boat." So they are somewhat purporting to set out what would be unquestioned standard stuff to wear.

Now anyone that actually watches this is going to say the guy has no credibilty given the socks he is wearing. He may be joking around on that anyway. I have seen him wear all kinds of different facial hair and including sans facial hair, and the particular arrangement he has here seems a little jokey for a job interview.

I have seen these guys before. They seem to do these with a nice sense of humor and I have not seen them go too wrong to my mind, except those socks!

[redrako]

I was told my a mentor back in the early 80's that formal business wear was always a navy or gray suit, conservative in cut and polished black shoes. (Harp Music - Remembering those heavy, leather-bottomed wing-tips).

The exception was the old Boston Brahmins, who always wore brown shoes. Since I was not old or a Brahmin, I opted for the black wing-tips.

[The Knize]

I was told my a mentor back in the early 80's that formal business wear was always a navy or gray suit, conservative in cut and polished black shoes. (Harp Music - Remembering those heavy, leather-bottomed wing-tips).

The exception was the old Boston Brahmins, who always wore brown shoes. Since I was not old or a Brahmin, I opted for the black wing-tips.

<The exception was the old Boston Brahmins, who always wore brown shoes. >

I had never heard of that! That seems very interesting. The most staid of the staid. One might think they would be closer to the Brits. Any idea what the basis for brown and no black was? A subtle signal so that they would know who was part of the club and who was not? A ridiculous thought as I am sure that this was a group that knew exactly who was who. No need for "gang signs" here.

Ever hear the rule that wing tips should never be worn after 6:00 pm? I would love to know the origin of that one. Wing tips strike me as about as business wear as one can get.

Maybe the idea is that a gentleman does not do business after 6:00 pm!

Is that the way your mentor dressed? My mentor, whom I still miss every minute of my professonal life, dressed in a very specific and expensive way, although I imagine that because he had the same suits for decades (always Oxxford) that his clothing costs were no more than mine. He never wore wing tips. Instead he wore Brit slip ons. And they always shone like a mirror. I could never figure out how he got his shoes to shine like they did and I coudl not do that with mine. It was years before I figured out that he was wearing Church (at the time MacAffee) with a "bookbinder" finish, had an amazing shiine. I know that this finish is a turn off the Andy's Forum folks, but it impressed me at the time! For that matter I have a burgundy pair of Church wing tips in a book binder finish. It has held up and does not look any kind of phony to me!

[RichGem]

What's the verdict?


I don't care for the look. Black or cordovan w/ navy, imho.

[strat1117]

Like the song says:

Brown shoes don't make it.

(Quit school, why fake it.)

Brown shoes don't make it.

[The Knize]

Like the song says:

Brown shoes don't make it.

(Quit school, why fake it.)

Brown shoes don't make it.

Yeah, for sure. How many people these days even recall the satorial column he wrote for the San Francisco Oracle in the heyday of the Haight? As with respect to music and politics, and so many other things, Frank Z took a strong interest in and had very strong views concerning such matters--to the extent of being rather personally condemining of a guy simply based upon what FZ considered to be an ill-advised choice in footwear. But such was the man's passion! We miss you, Frank! We need you here to guide us!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kTObUFWzaKA/SQpc5tQ_EUI/AAAAAAAABN4/x2_boorb9e8/s400/Zappa-milk-cookies.jpg

[Bill Smith]

I wear a navy pinstripe with a pair of Walnut coloured Allan Edmond Dress Shoes and I get lots of compliments on it.

I would not wear tan shoes with a navy suit but I think a medium brown is more than acceptable for Navy, grey and even charcoal. It will depend on your personal style and personality. I aim for a bit more of a European look with my formal business attire.

[Hughies_online]

Black shoes and belt with navy = classier look.
Brown shoes and belt with navy = poorly dressed.

[The Knize]

Well looks like we have a definitive answer of sorts. No matter what color shoes one wears with a navy suit, one runs the chance that someone with think that they are the wrong color! I guess the bottom line is to go gray.