Best (and First) Brown Dress Shoe

[Snood]

I know this has been done before, but oddly enough it's been done so many times as to be overwhelming and less than useful. Please indulge me. Sorry for those of you that are bothered.

I'm just starting a new office job and so far all I have are Allen Edmonds Park Avenues in black.

As a second office shoe, I am assuming (correct me if I'm wrong) that it would be smart to go with some shade of brown.

Some of the options I've seen mentioned frequently here are Allen Edmond's Strand and Allen Edmond's Fifth Avenue. I'm curious which of those (you are welcome to introduce others by AE and other companies though nothing too pricey) you think is best as a first brown shoe. Note this is a potentially (though not necessarily) different question from which shoe you like best.

Also what are your thoughts on walnut vs a darker brown (Again not necessarily looking for which one you like best but for which one you think is best if this is to be my only brown shoe for the foreseeable future).

Thank you so much everyone!

 

[tobiasj]

I reckon a dark brown captoe, like the Loake Aldwych in Dark Brown Calf. Then a walnut brogue maybe.

And

"...only brown shoe for the foreseeable future"

HAHAHAHAAA! See in you six months, by which time I estimate you will own 4-5 pairs of brown shoes.

 

[Stylego]

Well, I started with a PA in black, then later was lured in by a pair of Walnut Strands over a pair of Burnished Brown Fifth Avenues. Finally bought the Fifth Aves this weekend. I made due with a pair of brown captoe Church's for a while, but I don't like the 100 last much and may have them rebuilt on a 73 last. Until then they'll sit behind the Fifth Avenues as my go-to brown dress shoe.

Kind of depends where you work and how conservative you are. I've received more compliments on my Walnut Strands and Cognac Sanfords than I ever have on any pair of captoes I have in any color including a pair of Alden Cordovan.

 

[Snood]

Thanks. I work in the office of a big consulting firm, going for more conservative generally.

 

[fritzl]



I made due with a pair of brown captoe Church's for a while, but I don't like the 100 last much and may have them rebuilt on a 73 last.

this works?

to the op: you're on the right track with your assumptions. never forget: fit is paramount.

 

[kraftar]

Brown is fine, but personally I'd get a burgundy shoe before a brown shoe. I find the burgundy to be more versatile, especially in a conservative environment. If you can afford the price hit you could get something in a cordovan shell (color 8) or go with a burgundy calf.

 

[Stylego]



this works?

You know, I don't know? I wasn't writing properly. I do know that I can have them resized (per Church's), I think it was just wishful thinking at the time I wrote that that I could have it resized on another last...

 

[ddonicht]

With it being winter, AE Bayfield in burnished brown can be a good choice. I got mine from Lands End with a 40% off deal. They might not show on the web site but they do have them.

 

[aperson]

If you like AE, I'm a big fan of their burnished brown color. It's very dark. I think it's available on the majority of their styles.

If you're getting a brogue style, I'd probably go with walnut though. It's hard to see the detailing on the darker finishes.

 

[XKxRome0ox]

my new brooks brothers (allen edmonds) strand in dark brown
i liked their walnut color in store before.. but since i have a lighter brown and black shoes, i needed a darker brown
and these are an awesome shade of brown

 

[Makoto Chan]

That is very nice.

 

[Stylego]

Good choice!

 

[VaderDave]



my new brooks brothers (allen edmonds) strand in dark brown
i liked their walnut color in store before.. but since i have a lighter brown and black shoes, i needed a darker brown
and these are an awesome shade of brown

Those look great.

Also: you're certainly getting a lot of mileage out of those two photos.