Help needed - age old shoe/suit matching question (Francesco Benigno Brown Wholecut Brogues)

roloflex · Jan 29, 2013

hello, I've just bought these wonderful wholecut brogues online and still have the option of returning them. I am planning to wear them at work where I would usually combine them with a navy suit. My question is this, if they were dark brown I know I could match them wonderfully with a navy suit. However, as you can see these aren't dark brown, they're almost tan. What is your opinion on matching them with a navy suit / navy trousers? Would you say this is too casual (I work for a bank).

many thanks

PS: as you can see I'm relatively new to this forum so please let me know your thoughts as I'm unsure myself

roloflex · Jan 30, 2013

would be great to hear your thoughts

upr_crust · Jan 30, 2013

I am sure that they will be most striking looking with a navy suit, but if they are much lighter than the photos shown, they may be a little too fashion-forward for your work environment ("banking" is a very wide span of professional environments, from the very conservative to the very business casual).

FlaneurNYC · Jan 30, 2013

Thinking about my brother -- who works for a large investment bank -- I'd say that they are more fashion-forward than most of the stuff he wears. But my brother is very conservative in his dress at all times.

Being a creative, I'd wear them with a navy suit in a heartbeat.

cptjeff · Jan 30, 2013

As others have said, working for a bank encompasses such a wide range of office and dress cultures that it's utterly meaningless. If you want to give us more details, we might be able to help. But those are lovely shoes, and would look nice with a navy suit.

archibaldleach · Jan 30, 2013

At least from these pictures, they should go great with a navy suit or a grey suit. Worst case, if you're in an ultra-conservative investment banking firm where lighter brown shows would be frowned upon, you can wear them with cream trousers and a navy blazer on the weekend. They look beautiful. Don't return them unless they really wouldn't work in your office environment and you need the money to buy more shoes for office wear. I'd think they'd be fine in most office environments in any event.

As others have said, more detail on your work environment would help. In addition to what type of bank you work at, also consider your position. If you're an MD at an investment bank, you have a lot more leeway than if you're an analyst.

Trompe le Monde · Jan 30, 2013

looks dark enough on my computer hardware

Loudly · Jan 30, 2013

If you have any concerns, you can just stain them darker. A few hits of dark brown cream wax should tame the tan, maybe a hit of black if there's still a worry.

roloflex · Jan 30, 2013

Thanks for the excellent advice everyone. I really want to keep them and yes I've tried them with cream trousers and they look great. Just wasn't sure about a navy suit as it looked unusual when I tried it on (only been wearing black or burgundy shoes with the suits so far).
I know some of you asked about the type of bank and position - in my current role I can wear whatever I want so these shoes wouldn't be a problem at all but am likely to move into a new team soon where I've observed most guys were suit and tie although it doesn't look an overly conservative place.
Anyway, the advice has definitely helped and I can't see myself returning them - they're comfortable too!

Silhouette · Feb 14, 2013

Hi OP. I see that you've already got the answers that you looked for. I will be so bold as to ask some questions myself. As follows:

- What brittish manufacturer, last and model would you compare these to?
- Are they tan, brown or reddish?
- Is the last roomy or snug?

Thanks, hope to hear from you.

RogerP · Feb 14, 2013

You know your work environment better than anyone here, but based on how they present on my monitor, those look perfectly fine to wear with a Navy suit to me. They are not anywhere near a light tan.

roloflex · Feb 15, 2013

Silhouette said:
- Are they tan, brown or reddish?
- Is the last roomy or snug?

I bought some Kiwi polish for them today and after getting some advice from the sales person we agreed that 'mid tan' was closest to the darker tip of the shoe. He actually advised me to buy 'neutral' polish due to the gradual darkening towards the tip. So I bought mid tan and neutral and will experiment a bit.

After wearing them for the 1st time today I have to say they're neither snug nor too roomy. I have to say though that generally size 10s always feel a bit too big for me but I can also hardly put on a 9.5 because they're too tight. I bought these in size 10 (UK).

Silhouette · Feb 17, 2013

roloflex said:
I bought some Kiwi polish for them today and after getting some advice from the sales person we agreed that 'mid tan' was closest to the darker tip of the shoe. He actually advised me to buy 'neutral' polish due to the gradual darkening towards the tip. So I bought mid tan and neutral and will experiment a bit.

After wearing them for the 1st time today I have to say they're neither snug nor too roomy. I have to say though that generally size 10s always feel a bit too big for me but I can also hardly put on a 9.5 because they're too tight. I bought these in size 10 (UK).

Excellent, thank you for your reply.

Now that you've worn them. How would you compare them to other lables and/or manufacturers? I.e. how do they hold up against the following brands:

- C&J.
- Carmina.
- Septieme Largeur.
- Loake 1880.

Is the upper leather supple and genuine or somewhat plastically?

Kind regards.

GBR · Feb 17, 2013

What ugly looking shoes, return them. The colour would go with navy though that is no reason to keep them.

Help needed - age old shoe/suit matching question (Francesco Benigno Brown Wholecut Brogues)

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