4 quick (misc) questions

I know I could probably find this info with a couple simple searches, but I figure someone can probably answer these questions
1)Why no loafers with suits?
2)What color coat with navy suit?
3)Have we decided if brown shoes are acceptable for business (in town)?
4)What suit patterns are not acceptable for business? Assuming you stay with greys and navys.

*by business I mean banking/conservative.

1) too casual, and also because it's just not "traditional"
2) blue suit is a universal color, so any color coat will suffice, black, gray, and best of all, I think camel.
3) brown is very acceptable in town, but not apparently in London.
4) corduroy is too casual. I think any of the plaid MAY be too casual. Large bold chalkstripes may also be too casual.

Originally Posted by sartorially senseless

Click to expand...

I know I could probably find this info with a couple simple searches, but I figure someone can probably answer these questions
1)Why no loafers with suits? Why not?
2)What color coat with navy suit? Tan/camel/khaki
3)Have we decided if brown shoes are acceptable for business (in town)? Well...you ARE wearing a navy suit
4)What suit patterns are not acceptable for business? Assuming you stay with greys and navys. Floral jacquard

*by business I mean banking/conservative.

..

thanks for the reply lee.
socal, i guess thanks too

Originally Posted by sartorially senseless

Click to expand...

I know I could probably find this info with a couple simple searches, but I figure someone can probably answer these questions
1)Why no loafers with suits?
2)What color coat with navy suit?
3)Have we decided if brown shoes are acceptable for business (in town)?
4)What suit patterns are not acceptable for business? Assuming you stay with greys and navys.

*by business I mean banking/conservative.

By way of counterpoint I offer my predictable answers (expecting howls of dissent):

1. For the same reason you don't wear sneakers
2. I prefer a black or navy overcoat
3. NO NO NO (see my answer to Q1 for a reason)
4. Check and plaids of any kind. Even muted window pane checks are pushing it

nb a chalkstripe is really only wearable for business.

To be well dressed

1. Loafers are casual, you can wear them with odd trousers and jackets, not suits
2. Navy goes with anything, I'd not wear a black overcoat with brown shoes, camel is best
3. Yes, but If the formality of the occasion demands it stick to black.
4. Bold prince of wales and windowpanes, muted are ok.

1. Outside of the internet, people wear loafers with suits. Sometimes I think it looks fine but more often than not I think it looks lame. The aesthetic element trumps the traditonal one in my mind since, as I understand it, loafers have been business dress for the career lives of most desk jockeys currently working - in the US anyway.

2. Anything but black IMO. Personally, I'd go with grey and camel before navy with a navy suit.

3. In the US, no one will notice brown shoes 95-99% of the time. I'd say black is still considered more formal but brown is fine for most situations. Tan shoes in the dead of winter would be a bit more nooticeable. In London, black shoes are standard though I genuinely don't know if brown shoes would call attention to themselves.

4. Stripes, plaids and windowpanes all come in unacceptable varieties. Windowpanes aren't all that common and probably the most likely to stand out in a bad way. There are a lot of ugly, garish stripes that wouldn't fly in the US unless your conservative banking job is laundering mob money. I think that the more businesslike plaids are generally unappealing but that's purely a personal quirk. A big POW pattern with a lot of contrast looks better IMO but is less conventional as well.

I really can't believe that you guys are out there wearing navy suits and black shoes...what are you..American Airline pilots?

1. I did wear loafers to the office, but I have a go to hell attitude on this area, my clothing is generally in solid colors or subtle patterns so I feel I can get away with this. A lot of people look a lot worse.
2. Blue overcoat on blue suit is possible, but difficult. Tan,camel etc. very nice combo. Also a nice grey overcoat is smashing with a blue suit.
3. Brown shoes, I wear them with blue suits and light grey suits
Black shoes, I wear these with dark charcoal grey suits and very dark almost midnightblue suits.
4. Stripes I love them, stay away from high contrast garish designs, go for lesser contrast ones. Windowpane? My father wears them to work, looks good on him, I don't do it though.

this, I like........
click to enlarge pic..

edit: these pics do not show the coats in combination with a blue suit, use your imagination on this, like you do with my avatar..