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Black Suede Shoes?

Vintage Gent

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Don't own any myself, but a while back I saw an older gent about town with a black suit and black suede captoes: dressed down somewhat, being a Saturday. Still, it was an interesting look, one that certainly earned my attention.
 

Ambulance Chaser

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Roetzel states that the formality of black does not quite work with the informality of suede, and I agree completely. Brown suede only for me.

If you're wearing a black suit, that's another problem entirely.
devil.gif
 

chorse123

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I don't think I'd wear them with a black suit.

I think black suede shoes can be nice, but they're way down my list of shoes to own. There just aren't that many times I'd wear them. With a flannel prince of wales suit? Sure, but I don't own one...
 

Tomasso

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I have a couple of pairs of black suede shoes which I generally wear with grey or brown flannel or jeans. I do have a black flannel suit and with that I will occasionally wear chocolate brown suede shoes.
 

Film Noir Buff

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I really like the black suede shoe with the black suit or pants. Black suede really doesnt say office (strangely, theyd work better with traditional black tie than with a work suit) and it mates nicely with black cloth for social purposes. If you wear a black suit to work, I would stick with black calf shoes, even in a willow or pebble grain finish.

I am assuming you dont work in a fashion forward industry of course.

http://www.moreschishoes.com/product...&pfid=MSC00014

I would hesitate before wearing brown suede, even dark brown suede, shoes with black pants, it very rarely looks right.
 

thinman

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Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser
Roetzel states that the formality of black does not quite work with the informality of suede, and I agree completely. Brown suede only for me.

If you're wearing a black suit, that's another problem entirely.
devil.gif


Agreed. I don't like black suede shoes and won't wear them, for the very reason you quote above. There are so many better choices than black suede....
 

Film Noir Buff

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Originally Posted by thinman
Agreed. I don't like black suede shoes and won't wear them, for the very reason you quote above. There are so many better choices than black suede....


Roetzel has a dated opinion that isnt shared by people/makers who believe black suede shoes look just fine with a dinner jacket, very similar to black velvet. Maybe its a regional thing. Also, when he wrote the book, Church's probably wasnt offering a black suede shoe in their collection and those who pay for history, write it..

I think also that the concept of black suede as a hip alternative was just taking root in Europe when he was writing this book. In fact, black suede had just become popular in NYC a few years before. He is still right about black suede shoes for most office and day situations in a black suit (or any other colored office suit) but for evening, black suede fits a much needed void when paired with a relaxed fabric black suit.

I dont wear a black solid suit for biz, nor would I wear black suede shoes. I consider tham a purely informal, social, evening or semi-formal (black tie) shoe.

After reading his book, the idea that Roetzel wouldnt have a casual side is I think correct.

Out of curiosity how many better choices than black suede are there for shoes to wear with a black suit?
 

itsstillmatt

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Originally Posted by Film_Noir_Buff
Roetzel has a dated opinion that isnt shared by people/makers who believe black suede shoes look just fine with a dinner jacket, very similar to black velvet. Maybe its a regional thing. Also, when he wrote the book, Church's probably wasnt offering a black suede shoe in their collection and those who pay for history, write it..

I think also that the concept of black suede as a hip alternative was just taking root in Europe when he was writing this book. In fact, black suede had just become popular in NYC a few years before. He is still right about black suede shoes for most office and day situations in a black suit (or any other colored office suit) but for evening, black suede fits a much needed void when paired with a relaxed fabric black suit.

I dont wear a black solid suit for biz, nor would I wear black suede shoes. I consider tham a purely informal, social, evening or semi-formal (black tie) shoe.

After reading his book, the idea that Roetzel wouldnt have a casual side is I think correct.

Out of curiosity how many better choices than black suede are there for shoes to wear with a black suit?



Kenneth Cole shovel shoes are teh default footwear for a black suit these days. That is what I see a lot of "hip" people wearing.

If I was ever to sear black pants, which I would not, I would wear brown shoes with them.

Black suede looks bad to me.
 

thinman

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Originally Posted by Film_Noir_Buff

Out of curiosity how many better choices than black suede are there for shoes to wear with a black suit?


I prefer any number of black or cordovan calfskin shoes rather than black reverse calfskin. For surface interest, I prefer some broguing (e.g. a punched captoe) to suede for black shoes in more casual situations. It may not be "hip", but I can live with that.
 

aportnoy

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Well I guess I'm SOL on two accounts. I don't wear black suede shoes or black suits. I just can't think of a reason why I'd ever wear either.
 

itsstillmatt

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Originally Posted by aportnoy
Well I guess I'm SOL on two accounts. I don't wear black suede shoes or black suits. I just can't think of a reason why I'd ever wear either.


To start a new collection???
devil.gif
devil.gif
 

aportnoy

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Originally Posted by iammatt
To start a new collection???
devil.gif
devil.gif


Eureka! Does anyone know where these things can be acquired?
 

Film Noir Buff

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Originally Posted by thinman
I prefer any number of black or cordovan calfskin shoes rather than black reverse calfskin. For surface interest, I prefer some broguing (e.g. a punched captoe) to suede for black shoes in more casual situations. It may not be "hip", but I can live with that.

Very well put.
 

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