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AEs too light for suit wear?

post #1 of 20
1/29/12 at 3:24pm
Thread Starter 
I have a shot at picking up a pair of pre-owned AEs at a respectable price. My problem is that I'm not sure whether this particular model is flirting with the "too stylish for work" line given it's relatively light color. For background: I need the shoes for work as a legal aid for an elected official at city hall in a major east coast city. Needless to say, I'm not trying to make any fashion statements here.

All I have now are some Macys-esque burgundy cap toes that already look so much older than they are and a pair of passable black dress shoes. I concluded that a pair of brown wing tips is what I need most. I'd like to be able to wear these with: navy blue suit, grey suit and on the occasional night out.


I apologize in advance but I can't track down the model name of these shoes. What do we think? buy and wear with the above or hold off and look for something a shade or two darker? - E63
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post #2 of 20
1/29/12 at 5:02pm
IMO too light. Black is safest for business, followed by I suppose burgundy and dark brown.
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post #3 of 20
1/29/12 at 6:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajmanouk View Post

IMO too light. Black is safest for business, followed by I suppose burgundy and dark brown.

I agree black shoes are safest.
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post #4 of 20
1/29/12 at 6:50pm
I believe those are Cliftons. I own the same shoe in the same color.I wear these shoes with suits all the time. Love them. I even wear them with dark suits. These are great shoes and the color works with anything in spite of what others may tell you. Go for it.

cliftonsmall.jpg
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post #5 of 20
1/29/12 at 6:59pm
I happily wear shoes of a similar shade with navy blue suits. BUT only in the summer, and only in circumstances in which I feel confident that I'm not expected to look proper. And also note that wearing light colored shoes will draw attention downwards - so you need for the top half of your outfit to be graphic/strong.

Otherwise a darker color shoe is advised.
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post #6 of 20
1/29/12 at 7:45pm
Here's a pic of the shoes with a suit. Thought this would help. Yes, the suit is on the lighter side. But the shoes work with darker suits as well.

hickeyfreemanmadisonuh5.jpg
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post #7 of 20
1/29/12 at 7:53pm
Looks fine jcriswel. ^^ If memory serves, Allen Edmomnds name for this colour is Cognac. They'll work with most any colour of suit or pants except black.
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post #8 of 20
1/29/12 at 8:38pm
That looks very nice jcriswel. I have worn lighter shoes in business settings as well; but I've never had to worry about losing business or my job over my attire either.

Embargo63, I believe those are the Sanfords; I'm guessing this based on the perforations on the cap. Going off of jcriswel's pick, I can't see how an ensemble like that would draw negative attention toward you; I certainly would buy and wear it. But I also don't really care if people don't like what I wear either. I just assume they're uncouth poo heads smile.gif.
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post #9 of 20
1/29/12 at 9:45pm
I have to disagree in that I don't think light brown shoes work well with grey pants.
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post #10 of 20
1/30/12 at 1:59am
@Embargo63: jcriswel's example is really great. But it's a somewhat bolder statement that not everyone can pull off and it's IMHO not really adequate for a dark navy suit. Look for a darker shade of brown if you want something more versatile (which I think you need in this case).
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post #11 of 20
1/30/12 at 2:23am

as a legal aid, you're safe with black shoes.

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post #12 of 20
1/30/12 at 7:54am
bloody hell folks, those are sanfords in walnut.
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post #13 of 20
1/30/12 at 11:22am
Those are most certainly Sanfords in walnut, as others have stated. Much like the Cliftons, but with details on the toebox.

I have a pair of Cliftons in walnut that I wear with a navy suit quite often. While it's not my favorite combination, that has more to do with the shape of the shoe than the color, and I find the contrast pleasant. I don't know that I could pull of that color with gray, but jcriswel makes it work.
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post #14 of 20
1/30/12 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt1 View Post

as a legal aid, you're safe with black shoes.

+1 cmon OP these are great shoes but pick something else up for work.
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post #15 of 20
1/30/12 at 2:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liquidus View Post

I have to disagree in that I don't think light brown shoes work well with grey pants.

I completely agree. The walnut color, at least for me, works very well with jeans, chinos, and light grey slacks. For someone in a corporate environment, you can't go wrong with the black park aves and a brown fifth ave as your second pair.
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