Black Tie shoe question - what to choose?

[Holdfast]

OK I don't have any true patent leather shoes but do have the following and have a black tie event tomorrow and can't quite choose between them.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

1) Loake 1880 "Wells" (plain black captoes). These are highly polished to the point of having a mirror finish on the toecap. They're what I usually wear to black tie events but am wondering if I'm being too boring and something different might be nice.

2) John Lobb "Lord" (green suede "slippers" but with proper heels and soles). I wonder if these might be a nice touch - sort like a opera pumps but are they just too casual? And is the fact they're green just too much?

Anyway, I'll decide for sure tomorrow but would be interested in hearing your comments.

For reference, it's my workplace's summer ball, but should be fairly laid back. It's also Black Tie Preferred and since it's open to all employees at all levels, I suspect about 20% the guys will not have black tie but will come in dark suits. The girls are all getting seriously glam'ed up!

Also for reference I will be wearing a 1B, SB peak lapel dinner jacket with grosgrain facing, turndown collar pique shirt with a mother-of-pearl gold stud set and engraved gold links.

 

[Quirk]

If it's laid back, and you're senior enough not to have to worry about the partners looking at you funny, the green suede might be fun. How dark are they?

 

[Manton]

Eh, wear the slippers. The cap toes will look they are trying, yet failing, to be formal shoes. At least the slippers are so different there is no confusion as to their aspirations. Besides, "Black Tie Preferred" would seem to allow for a bit of leeway.

 

[Holdfast]

Thanks for the responses so far:

Photos I've googled up of the two options, for those not familiar with them:

 

[zjpj83]

Definitely the slippers.

I have a pair in black and wore them recently to loads of positive compliments. I wore them with a plaid smoking jacket to a pretty formal event. So, don't be afraid of spicing up your outfit with the green.

 

[CoryB]

zjpj you have a lot of guts to wear that jacket (and I love it).

Wear the slippers!!! The slippers are lovely and think would add a dash of fun, but not ostentatiously so.

 

[Holdfast]

You've all convinced me. I'll go for the slippers - I'll also see if I can get a few snaps tomorrow too!

Thanks one and all.

(that smoking jacket is ultra-cool too!

)

 

[thinman]

I agree that the slippers are a good choice.
Do you have a green pocket square you could coordinate with the slippers?

 

[xarope]

Nice jacket zjpj83!

Holdfast, from what you described, I'd go with the green slippers. The black captoes would be better in a true formal event, where the men are supposed to blend in and let the women stand out, but in your situation, you are already planning to stand out ("1B, SB peak lapel dinner jacket with grosgrain facing, turndown collar pique shirt with a mother-of-pearl gold stud set and engraved gold links"... yeah baby).

 

[Holdfast]

The party rocked.

I wore the green slippers and I totally lost count of the number of compliments on them. And let me let you into a little secret - they turned out to be a total girl magnet and an absolutely brilliant conversation starter. I was staggered. In a good way.

You guys certainly give the best advice - thank you!

I'd post photos but looking through the ones I took, I can't see one that shows the shoes and far too many that show me in progressive stages of disinhibited behaviour....