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Are brown shoes less "formal" than black shoes for the workplace?

post #1 of 13
10/27/11 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 
Before I embark on purchasing a nice pair of cap toe shoes, I'd appreciate your opinion on this matter. I have read somewhere (I believe it was from Bernhard Roetzel's "Gentleman") that, in more sartorially inclined cultures, brown shoes are not appropriate for many occasions, including work (even on Fridays). While such guidelines are certainly not adhered to in my current workplace (hello black pants + brown shoes), I'd still like to be informed about these practices should I eventually transition to a place that acknowledge these conventions. It also just feels nice knowing that I am adhering to some gentlemanly sartorial conventions with history smile.gif

Also, personally, whenever I see someone wearing a (nice) pair of brown shoes, I think "douche" and "1%" (a la #ows). I guess they both count as complements in my opinion.
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post #2 of 13
10/27/11 at 12:54pm
Brown shoes are fine for the workplace.
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post #3 of 13
10/27/11 at 12:56pm
Black leather is more formal than brown leather. Brown shoes should work for most workplaces, but not at a conservative workplace. If you're wearing black pants, go for black shoes.
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post #4 of 13
10/27/11 at 1:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vimsig View Post

Black leather is more formal than brown leather. Brown shoes should work for most workplaces, but not at a conservative workplace. If you're wearing black pants, go for black shoes.

If you're wearing black pants, go home and change.
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post #5 of 13
10/27/11 at 6:27pm
Brown is considered less formal but not really.. Cap toes are more formal and monk straps are less formal - all my dress shoes are either dark brown or black so the color of the shoes is usually irrelevant.
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post #6 of 13
10/27/11 at 6:33pm
The way I see it:

Some people think that black shoes are formal and brown shoes are not.

Other people think that black shoes are formal and brown shoes also are formal.

Therefore, black shoes are a safe bet when you cannot predict which of the above two groups you will be surrounded by. If you are the sort to play it safe, wear black. If you are the sort who likes to eschew the safe bet and play it a bit risky, then wear brown.
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post #7 of 13
10/27/11 at 7:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by js4design View Post

If you're wearing black pants, go home and change.

lol. So true...
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post #8 of 13
10/28/11 at 3:25am
For so long I was wearing only black shoes at work (Most of my work life). Until this year, I have finally started to feel comfortable wearing brown shoes at work. On the train when going to work, I see most people wearing black work shoes. Yeah what is it with work shoes being black ??? Cheap shoe stores or Kmart / Target only store black office shoes (I wouldn’t call them dress shoes) . But I guess I used to have only one pair of office shoes for so long as well.
And if you have only have one pair of work shoes they gotta be black!! Do we agree?
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post #9 of 13
10/28/11 at 4:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by js4design View Post

If you're wearing black pants, go home and change.

^ You are working in a restaurant


Black shoes at a funeral. Otherwise its pretty open.

Nobody has mentioned burgundy, which are less formal than black and more formal than brown.

There is more area for interpretation with brown, since you have lighter and dark browns. I take more care with light brown and what I wear it with. I view dark brown and black as pretty interchangeable.
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post #10 of 13
10/28/11 at 5:14am
I don't work in the most formal office environment in North America; I find dark brown dress shoes work in over 90% of the environment I am in, including board presentations, investor meeting, and court depositions.

In general, I find that my dark brown shoes work on casual days and after hours activities just as well.

I stay away from lighter hue brown shoes.
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post #11 of 13
10/28/11 at 6:34am
Also, if I notice a guy that ONLY ever wears black shoes I start to think he's the type that ONLY does missionary too.
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post #12 of 13
10/28/11 at 7:40am
OP - what industry are you working in?

Go look at the WAYWRN thread. You will see black shoes with dark charcoal. Any other color suit/pants - navy, lighter grey, olive, brown, etc - you're going to see a mostly brown shoes.

Historically, from what I've read, black shoes were "city" and brown shoes "country." That's the UK point of view. But then look at the Italians (check out The Sartorialist blog), brown shoes everywhere.

Then you have the daytime night time view - guys like Sinatra would say that an evening event always calls for black.

It's really a matter of preference. Personally, I never wear black with a navy suit because to me it looks like a police uniform. (but I'm attending an evening wedding in a few weeks and am thinking 3piece dark navy pinstripe with black captoe). With my grey suits I chose brown (both dark and walnut) or black based on the shirt-tie colors. I have a friend who is in a back office job and he wears the same pair of Aldo black shoes with every single outfit. He's doesn't care much about clothes. So to each his own.
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post #13 of 13
10/28/11 at 7:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by daspianist View Post

Before I embark on purchasing a nice pair of cap toe shoes, I'd appreciate your opinion on this matter. I have read somewhere (I believe it was from Bernhard Roetzel's "Gentleman") that, in more sartorially inclined cultures, brown shoes are not appropriate for many occasions, including work (even on Fridays). While such guidelines are certainly not adhered to in my current workplace (hello black pants + brown shoes), I'd still like to be informed about these practices should I eventually transition to a place that acknowledge these conventions. It also just feels nice knowing that I am adhering to some gentlemanly sartorial conventions with history smile.gif
Also, personally, whenever I see someone wearing a (nice) pair of brown shoes, I think "douche" and "1%" (a la #ows). I guess they both count as complements in my opinion.

 

How is "douche" a compliment?
 

 

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