Double monk strap with navy/blue suit?

CKPL · May 28, 2014

Hello!

Please excuse me for the beginner questions, but this will be the first time I wear a suit, dressed shoes etc.

My high school graduation is in a few weeks and I am looking for some advice regarding shoes to wear with my suit.

I'm going to be wearing the following navy/blue suit (the pictures are before alterations were made):

Now, I'm not entirely sure about what shoes to wear and this will be my first pair of dressed shoes. I do however really like double monk strap shoes and I picked up a pair from Magnanni today:

Would the shoes work with the suit? Or are monk shoes not worn with suits? My "concern" was that they were too light in color - but I was given a cognac shoe cream from the store clerk and was told that a slightly dark color would be achieved by using the cream. I don't know if that is true.

Any advice is appreciated,

CKPL

ter1413 · May 28, 2014

Shoes are nice. Can be worn with a suit.
Consider this:

HS graduation. Loads of pictures being taken. Excitement. Group pictures. People stepping on your shoes. People jumping up and down. People stepping on your shoes!

Claudio · May 28, 2014

Personally think both look fine (although I do not know how formal your High School Graduation should be as I got banned from mine :slayer:

). If you are meant to be formal then go with the black shoes, if not the brown ones are fine. try getting a tie that has some similar shade either in a pattern or as a base colour. That said I do not see a problem with wearing double monk with a suit (I do and I certainly do not care if there are silly 'rules' like these). I know you said the suit still needs tailroing but make sure the trouser break is right (sitting nicely on the shoe and no folds, especially for a young man like yourself)

Cleav · May 31, 2014

Double monks work, careful with the tie

archibaldleach · May 31, 2014

Black shoes are more formal / conservative and may be better suited for a graduation ceremony. Double monks can be worn with a suit, though the absolute best option if you want to be conservative is a pair of black oxfords. IMO the color of those double monks is a bit light for a navy suit; a darker brown would be considerably more elegant. If you want to be conservative, black shoes. If you are okay being a bit more fashion forward and possibly drawing attention to your feet, the double monks can work.

archibaldleach · May 31, 2014

Black shoes are more formal / conservative and may be better suited for a graduation ceremony. Double monks can be worn with a suit, though the absolute best option if you want to be conservative is a pair of black oxfords. IMO the color of those double monks is a bit light for a navy suit; a darker brown would be considerably more elegant. If you want to be conservative, black shoes. If you are okay being a bit more fashion forward and possibly drawing attention to your feet, the double monks can work.

CKPL · Jun 1, 2014

Cleav said:
Double monks work, careful with the tie

Would you mind explaining for a beginner in what ways I should be careful with the tie?

Putonghua73 · Jun 1, 2014

I like cognac [colour], but it involves a more thought to get right, than say a dark brown - such as Cleav is wearing in his images - which is a lot more versatile. I'm not keen on double monks at all, although I would admit that cognac monks are a handsome shoe.

In terms of the sartorial rules / guidelines, since this is a HS graduation then you have a lot more leniency than a work environment (especially conservative business dress). Your shoes will work with your suit, although a dark brown would work better and would be more versatile. The latter is important when you first start out and lack a basic wardrobe. By focusing on items that you can wear with a multitude of other items, allows one to get much more mileage out of a limited budget and wardrobe.

I would suggest another blucher rather than double monks straight off the bat, but given your age and that you are most likely not going to immediately enter the workplace, you can utilise the double monks with a smart casual outfit (navy blazer, grey or tan trousers / chinos, etc), as well as a suit - although there are better choices dependent on the level of formality required.

One suggestion would be to swap out the white shirt (very formal) for a light blue shirt. The white shirt intonates a level of formality that requires oxfords rather than double monks. A light blue shirt works with your suit and shoes, and is more relaxed than a white shirt. In any case, you will definitely need to wear a belt that matches your shoes in colour.

As for ties, I believe that Cleav's gentle warning was to choose a sedate tie that complements both the suit and shoe colour, without being brash or gaudy. Feel free to peruse the Tie Basics 101 thread for ideas.

If you like how you look at your HS graduation and receive the compliments that your outfit deserves (you'll certainly be better dressed than most of your contemporaries - especially given that your suit doesn't look like you raided your dad's wardrobe and that your trousers are not puddling around your feet), feel free to peruse the SF 101 Primer to get some grounding in the basics as you continue with your sartorial education.

Only other advice, is to be very careful when using the mensroom to avoid splash damage on your lovely new shoes.

If anyone thinks it would be funny to christen your new shoes, a pre-emptive slap works wonders.

CKPL · Jun 1, 2014

Putonghua73 said:
I like cognac [colour], but it involves a more thought to get right, than say a dark brown - such as Cleav is wearing in his images - which is a lot more versatile. I'm not keen on double monks at all, although I would admit that cognac monks are a handsome shoe.

In terms of the sartorial rules / guidelines, since this is a HS graduation then you have a lot more leniency than a work environment (especially conservative business dress). Your shoes will work with your suit, although a dark brown would work better and would be more versatile. The latter is important when you first start out and lack a basic wardrobe. By focusing on items that you can wear with a multitude of other items, allows one to get much more mileage out of a limited budget and wardrobe.

I would suggest a another blucher rather than double monks straight off the bat, but given your age and that you are most likely not going to immediately enter the workplace, you can utilise the double monks with a smart casual outfit (navy blazer, grey or tan trousers / chinos, etc), as well as a suit - although there are better choices dependent on the level of formality required.

One suggestion would be to swap out the white shirt (very formal) for a light blue shirt. The white shirt intonates a level of formality that requires oxfords rather than double monks. A light blue shirt works with your suit and shoes, and is more relaxed than a white shirt. In any case, you will definitely need to wear a belt that matches your shoes in colour.

As for ties, I believe that Cleav's gentle warning was to choose a sedate tie that complements both the suit and shoe colour, without being brash or gaudy. Feel free to peruse the Tie Basics 101 thread for ideas.

If you like how you look at your HS graduation and receive the compliments that your outfit deserves (you'll certainly be better dressed than most of your contemporaries - especially given that your suit doesn't look like you raided your dad's wardrobe and that your trousers are not puddling around your feet), feel free to peruse the SF 101 Primer to get some grounding in the basics as you continue with your sartorial education.

Only other advice, is to be very careful when using the mensroom to avoid splash damage on your lovely new shoes.

If anyone thinks it would be funny to christen your new shoes, a pre-emptive slap works wonders.

Wow! Thank you for a very detailed and thorough response! I will definitely use this information as I prepare for the graduation and other events.

EliodA · Jun 1, 2014

@archibaldleach is right, but since we're talking about a HS graduation, perhaps you'd be better off playing it a little less formal, i.e. use your monks. Personally, I think the cognac colour can work really well with navy (see example), even if it is admittedly not so classic a combination as dark chocolate brown. If you decide to go that route, follow @Putonghua73 's advice for a light blue shirt. BTW, congrats on your graduation!

Cleav · Jun 1, 2014

CKPL said:
Would you mind explaining for a beginner in what ways I should be careful with the tie?

Yeah, you'll have some sprezz going on with the DMs so if you jazz up the tie it will compete for attention and it'll look like you're trying very hard. I'd love to see a brown grenadine for example.

The light blue shirt advice is spot on. I may have said it earlier, or inferred as such by posting those fits, or on another thread. Nonetheless, @Putonghua73 is quite right.

Our friend @EliodA shows you the way home there with a great example. He can rock a PS like that cos he's Elio, YMMV. You could go white linen or cotton TV fold. You could go for a complimenting PS, but not match-matchy or you could go PS less. There are lots that say get all the other basics right before going on to PSs.

Congratulations then on your graduation and if you have time then pics of your final ensemble would be smashing :nodding:

Good luck in all you do.

CKPL · Jun 2, 2014

Thank you guys!

I will go shopping for a pocket square, tie and a matching belt tomorrow.

Cleav · Jul 20, 2014

CKPL said:
Thank you guys!

I will go shopping for a pocket square, tie and a matching belt tomorrow.

That's quite a shopping trip, you back yet?

Last known co-ordinates?

PCK1 · Jul 20, 2014

double monks in that color definitely work.

its graduation...its not a business meeting or a wedding...so formailty/conservatism is not an absolute must.

that being said, black always looks good.

but...if its a nice summery day i would go with those lighter colored double monks...add a little sprezz.

as cleav said...you need to make a good tie choice as well.

if you go black shoes...i'd wear a white shirt.

if you go the dub monks...i'd go powder blue.

Double monk strap with navy/blue suit?

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