Quote:
Originally Posted by
nickrut 
When you reference business casual, are you speaking to slacks and a button down? Or are we talking like Cords and a polo?
My office is business casual, which for me consists of the slacks and button down and I'd consider Park Ave's to be definitely okay for that setting.
Black PA are perfect for business casual assuming you wear for Business Casual the same items I do:
tropical worsted, gabardine, twill, or other wool trousers;
plain or patterned dress shirts including BD oxford cloth,
black, brown, or cordovan colored dress shoes with matching belt;
possible wearing of a complimentary colored wool or cashmere cardigan or V-neck pullover, sportcoat or blazer, and/or tie.
Black shoes go with everything including khakis and jeans, especially if your trousers for business wear are in business appropriate colors of some shade of grey, some shade of blue medium or darker, or some shade of brown tan/khaki or lighters, such as cream. Since business casual presents the opportunity to wear odd trousers, if is useful to know that black goes with all shades of brown, since dark brown pants are fine for business casual wear.
Black shoes are an outstanding choice if you plan on wearing some sort of business casual plaid or check trousers such a medium grey Glen or black and white houndstooth.
And they are the number one best choice for the all time best business casual trousers made from grey flannel.
Captoe oxfords go with trousers of any kind end of story. And shorts as well, assuming you are wearing the requisite knee socks and not entirely baring your legs.
It is silly to think that a captoe blucher/derby or boot would be business casual, but that a captoe oxford wouldn't. You can say the same for brogues oxfords as well.
In fact, my number one choice for business casual wear are half brogued captoe oxfords in black calf and my second choice are tassel apron loafers in black calf, and my third choice are penny or strap loafers, in again, black calf.
I don't hit brown shoes for business casual until my fourth and fifth choices, which are captoes and full brogue wingtips respectively both in expresso or bitter chocolate suede. I wear these are largely for sunlit social business meetings that are likely to be outside on a deck or veranda overlooking the ocean or a pool, more than inside a conference room pounding out a deal, an auditorium making a presentation, or for business casual evening wear inside or out, when I will be wearing black shoes if given the opportunity.
Executive Summary: expresso suede for daywear, especially under sunlight and black calf for insidewear and especially for eveningwear inside or out.
If you wear your black PA's with grey flannel trousers and a black V neck cashmere sweater with a navy stripe BD collar shirt under, no one will be better dressed than you in any business casual situation while remaining strictly casual.
