Which shoes do best in Black

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeH 

Which black shoes does the well dressed man need, or at least need to consider? I'm a person who doesn't generally like black shoes. I hate the very idea of black wingtips - shortwings, longwings, or any other wings you can conceive. I like browns, and I like burgundy, but in spite of the fact that I have what I think is a SF approved dislike of black shoes, I think we all need some in the closet. The cap toe oxford seems almost obligatory. There are few shoes I think I would actually rather have in black than something else, but what are the shoe styles that either SHOULD be black, or that work particularly well in black. In short, which styles should be black, even in the wardrobe of those of us who prefer brown?
Pics are, of course, welcome, even desired. I'd feel obligated to start the thread with some, or even one, but frankly, I have no black shoe pics to share. If I had, perhaps I wouldn't be starting this thread.

Specialized numbers like court shoes  -  formal pumps  -  and ball room dancing patents should

be black.    

Ox caps  r hard to beat in black.

And mebe I got no imagination but can'tsee these Wentworths looking better in another color.

As others have said, a formal pump or patent leather shoe should be black. 

Anything else can be black but does not have to be black.  Much like you for years I had an aversion to black.  I would look at shoes and find that you could see more of the leather's natural beauty in brown or burgandy.  However, all men must have some good black shoes in their wardrobe.

A nice brogue always looks good in black.  I also like have owned a black monstrap that is made from one piece of leather and is simple and smooth without any extra stitching or designs on it.  I also have a pair of double monkstraps that are beautiful.  I find cap toes classics that can be in any color (but often I find their toe boxes cuts across my foot do to the placement of the "cap"), hence I usually prefer a wingtip to a cap toe. 

I think a simple black shoe with very little in terms of perforations and stitching can be incredibly elegant in a nice smooth calfskin.  But if you are looking for something that looks more rugged and which will be worn with greater frequency, then I like a wing tip or similar design in a pebble grain leather.  The textures, stitching and other pieces of leather that sometimes overlap on a wing tip help hide scuffs and scrapes. 

For me slip on shoes (loafers) work best with casual clothes, such as a driving shoe or as a rubber soled shoe from brands like Paraboot.  They can look fine with jeans, khakis or cords depending on the cut.  Also if you are going to choose a slip on shoe skip the tassels, they are dated and silly.  Go for something clean and simple. 

Since you do not like wing tips this should not be a problem for you, however, I think its a big mistake when people buy a "dressy slip on."   With the exception of true formal wear slip ons are not dressy. I really dislike wingtip loafers/slip ons.  They are very 1980s and always look like something a sleazy used car salesman would wear with a suit.