Black or brown as the "go-to" shoe choice?

[SVS]

I've been a "black shoes with everything except brown slacks" kind of guy all my life. Should I be a "brown shoes with everything except black slacks" kind of guy?

A lot of very smart posters seem to be rocking mostly browns for non-formal attire. Does brown really look that good with navy and gray? I'd love to expand my shoes wearing range. What do I need to know to pull off more browns (light chili, chocolate suede, etc)?

 

[JoeWoah]

I've been wearing brown with almost everything these days. Brown shoes and navy work perfectly, ditto with charcoal. Lighter grays I'd stick with black. Read this too: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=58214

 

[JFKJean]

Originally Posted by JoeWoah

I've been wearing brown with almost everything these days. Brown shoes and navy work perfectly, ditto with charcoal. Lighter grays I'd stick with black.

Read this too: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=58214

Couldn't agree more. The different tones of brown you can wear looks great as opposed to old fashion standard black.

I suggest black for funerals, weddings (half of the time) and black tie events. Other than that, brown gets the nod

 

[ManofKent]

Brown

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Brown of course.

 

[agavilanes]

brown. brown. brown.

But this discussion is the eternal battle in this forum. Wait until the "black" troops arrive...

Also, give burgundy a look... It works nicely with brown-ish suits and gray

 

[Toorman]

Nothing wrong with a nice pair of black shoes but brown will allow you to stand out in the crowd and appear more fashionable. Plus it just looks better.

 

[porcelain monkey]

Increasingly it's brown for me, but unlike a lot of folks here, I think black has it's place. If you want more flexibility, I would go with a darker brown or give a nice dark ox-blood a shot.

 

[Fuuma]

Black, you brown wearin' youngin' and your wacky fashions!

 

[whiteslashasian]

I have more black shoes which work well with most of my work attire. I do wear browns and my burgundy once or twice a week at work but for casual wear I never use black (unless it's at night and matches my clothing more appropriately).

 

[globetrotter]

I have shifted to an all black shoe wardrobe. I think that brown shoes look better, but they aren't for me, and I like the simplicity of having one color in the wardrobe

 

[Bhowie]

Brown is for farmers.
Black is for waiters.
You be the judge.

 

[JFKJean]

Originally Posted by Bhowie

Brown is for farmers.
Black is for waiters.
You be the judge.

Then slap a pair of overalls on me and call me a farmer!

 

[thinman]

Originally Posted by Bhowie

Brown is for farmer. Black is for waiter. You be the judge.
FTFY. Let's be true to the spirit of ernest. Oh, and I wear brown shoes approximately 75% of the time, cordovan 20% and black 5%. I'm beginning to like cordovan a lot, perhaps because it's unique where I live.

 

[Irond Will]

I'm making a move to burgundy/ oxblood. Seems to go with almost all the typical suit colors, and can pick up a nice patina.