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Basketweave shoes for office wear?

unsuitable

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Grenson Xaviers

GrensonXavier.PNG

Non in general, these particular shoes in brown. My question can I get away with these for casual office dress? As in: wool slacks, shirt, blazer. I have a full wardrobe with most all of the basics covered (some many times over).

I am sure they would work fine with khaki chinos but I am trying to justify them for a higher level of dress before I commit to buying a pair. Usually when I start to justify stuff to myself its time for a second (sane) opinion.

Thank you for your opinions (of all types).
 

mintchox

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I think these are unsuitable for just about any occasion I can imagine. Perhaps someone else can enlighten.
 

jts287

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I think those would work in a business casual setting. I dreamt of BV Intrecciato loafers in the past, but could never find my price.
 

unsuitable

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I think these are unsuitable for just about any occasion I can imagine. Perhaps someone else can enlighten.

This is just exactly what I was afraid of. They seem a bit "neither fish nor fowl" to me too. I appreciate you all giving me your unvarnished opinions. Its nice to get reaction previews from a group that (might) represent what people around an office will think.

This may have all the disadvantages of faux lizard (or croc, ostrich, etc) without any of the breath-ability that an actual basket-weave might have (as I think they stamped). I wish I did not like the look of them.

The foot wants what the foot wants? Is that an expression?
 

unsuitable

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I think those would work in a business casual setting. I dreamt of BV Intrecciato loafers in the past, but could never find my price.

I can absolutely see these with very casual attire. Example; I am on-site today at a company where the local employees routinely wear jeans to the office. I have on cotton stone trousers (RTW) and suede chukka boots. I struggle to dress down enough to be inconspicuous but still maintain some self-respect. Week to week I am in different locales with different clients who dress across a spectrum (an increasingly sloppy spectrum over the years).

I was at a large-ish trade show a few weeks ago in Florida. I was heartened to see so many suits (no ties and few pocket squares) - but I was taken aback at all the plastic shoes. Some with leather uppers, of course. But almost all with a plastic/faux rubber foot-bed and sole. Seeing all those (mostly good) suits with nice Italian lines ending in garbage footwear was sobering.

The Bottega Veneta Intrecciatos were unknown to me - they are pretty. Those shoes seem more "honestly casual" than my Xaviers - at least to me.
 

circumspice

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I have a pair of woven loafers theoretically coming from Carmina (theoretical because they haven't sent a shipping confirmation).

I will wear them to the office, but I routinely am in loafers with loafer socks at the office.
 

maxalex

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I was recently waiting for a plane at the gate, wearing my handmade derby spectators of blue buffalo and tan calfskin, when a man approached and said, “I wish I could wear shoes like that.”

“Well of course you can,” I replied.

“No I couldn’t,” he said. “I’d need to lose ten pounds.”

It occurred to me the problem was not in fact his weight—at any rate he wasn’t a fat man—but self-confidence. Which in a way made him right: if you don’t think you can “get away” with wearing something, you can’t.

I have a pair of brown basketweaves from Buday in Budapest that I wear quite a lot. I no longer work in an office but would wear them even if I did.

However I would not wear stamped basket weaves, even to the newsstand.
 

unsuitable

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I had a fellow at my firm years ago who rocked spectators routinely with absolute aplomb. I never felt it was my style but I admired the panache.

Do your basketweaves ever "whistle" with exhaled air with each step? (an absolutely unfounded fear I have).
 

maxalex

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I had a fellow at my firm years ago who rocked spectators routinely with absolute aplomb. I never felt it was my style but I admired the panache.

Do your basketweaves ever "whistle" with exhaled air with each step? (an absolutely unfounded fear I have).
Mine are whole leather under the basketweave. I suppose there are versions without that which would be nice in summer loafers...
 

unsuitable

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Update: I may owe Grenson a big apology - those are not stamped. My mistake. They seem (upon inspection of a high-rez picture) to be a real weave wholecut.
 

unsuitable

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Update #2:
I got a pair of those Grensons.

I wore them twice over the weekend. One wear was a country club function (not my normal crowd) with khakis and a blazer. The other wear was Sunday lunch out for TexMex. I probably will wear them to the office on a Friday sometime this Summer.
 

toplel

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I'm very sympathetic to the "breathable shoe" idea. I wore these a couple of times ten years ago, I'm afraid they've inhabited my closet ever since :(

They were "cool", in one way at least.
YEzsa7r.jpg
 
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unsuitable

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I suppose there are few "new" ideas in footwear. At some point a gentleman is approaching sandals - and I don't want want to march across that Rubicon (SPQR pun intended).

I might wear them tomorrow - I have to pop in to a Client's office were "sloppy casual" is the norm (jean, tennis shoes, etc) for a meeting and I am tempted to wear them with some mustard chinos and a blue OCBD.
I will be in the Southwestern US - so hot. My new Grenson's are actually lined in calf and not really breathable.
 

unsuitable

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Update:

I have worked this into the rotation (about 3 wears now). I wore them to a visit to "cubeland" (read: open concept office) at a company where business casual is interpreted as Dockers and Eccos. I paired them with some Bill's (in British Khaki) and a pair of cotton Pantherella socks. I felt just the right level of overdressed to be a credible Expert.
Trying to embed a picture of them. Apologies for sketchy lighting - that is what it looked like in RL.
 

Alpha11

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When I saw the brand Eccos for footwear I was like anything you wear that are not made by them is good by me.

I cannot understand why men seem to always take the cheap way out on one of the MOST important additions to their wardrobe.

If you spend good money on a well made shoe it will payoff in the long run. Both your pocket book and feet will thank you for it.
 

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