Patent shoes or not?

Sleek black wholecuts, well polished, would be perfectly appropriate, as would a nice, well polished captoe.

Technically, you should wear either black patent leather plain toe balmorals or opera pumps. These are the two traditionally correct shoes with black tie.

Having said that, I despise patent leather and have not been able to find an opera pump that fits my wide feet, so I wear a pair of plain toe balmorals that are highly shined. While not technically perfect, I think they are fine, and given the number of far worse examples I see at most black tie events, I can't be bothered to care. Sleek and well-polished black plain toe balmorals are fine for all practical purposes. Below is an example of the style (something sleeker would be better, but just to give you an idea).

http://www.aldenshoe.com/cat_ane2_932.htm

I would avoid shoes with any decoration on the toe (including a punch cap or stitch cap balmoral) as black tie shoes should not have these.

Bottom line: If your tuxedo fits you, you wear a proper tuxedo shirt, have a black tie that you tie yourself and vest / cummerbund to match, and you shine your shoes, you'll look better than 99% of the people there. Calfskin shoes won't sink the look.

^^^ What he said - and said very well, especially the bottom line.

Way too much broguing on those shoes for them to work with black tie. The entire toe area really should be plain. I believe this is my pair:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/salvatore-ferragamo-fedele-oxford/3096278?origin=category

You can probably get something for a better price, but this really is the rough style you want. I ended up with these because they were some of the few sleek plain toe balmorals that I could find with a EE/EEE width. If you either have more time to shop or don't have wide feet, you can certainly get something for less.

I'd wear opera pumps in calf (non-patent) polished to a shine.

I've purchased from Broadland Slippers and have been pleased. They have wide widths.

http://broadlandslippers.co.uk/Mens-Leather-Evening-Pumps

Brooks Brothers also has the appropriate shoes for a formal setting -- that might be easier if you're located in the States.

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/mens/formalwear/0235,default,sc.html

Right is the opera dress pumps in calf with a pinched bow -- I'm aware that the opera pumps are probably not to everybody's fancy.

But, there you have it -- patent vs calf.








Edited by bboysdontcryy - 3/1/13 at 7:33am

^^^Those pumps look good, and I'm typically not a fan of opera pumps. My preference in patent leather oxfords.

Personally, I like wholecut oxfords with a tuxdedo.  I've ordered these for a gala I'm attending in April.

 

http://meermin.es/ficha_articulo.php?id=1920

 

They're not the most expensive shoes around which is good for me since I doubt I'll wear them more than a few times a year.  If I could find an excuse to wear them more often I might step up a notch.

Very nice. I prefer the plain toe balmoral to the wholecut, but those look pretty good. Agree that as long as you have something nice to put on your feet, spending a fortune doesn't make sense if you don't go to many black tie events (probably should have heeded that advice myself, but oh well).

An excuse to wear those more often? How about any time you wear a charcoal suit?

Nice shoes, Meermin is a very good shoe for the money.