Can a man live without plaintoe black bals for formal suit appearances?

[josepidal]

When I bought black oxfords, I chose EG cap toes with broguing over plain toes, not really giving weight to how plain toes are the more formal choice (and black shoes are formal shoes).

I noticed that the Purple Label looks all feature the Grant monkstrap, which has broguing. While I understand these are somewhat fashion forward, might my current shoes serve me well enough such that I'll never need to buy another pair of black cap toes unless I need another just for rotation purposes? (I'm a lawyer.)

 

[whoopee]

Yes.

 

[Sator]

Originally Posted by josepidal

When I bought black oxfords, I chose EG cap toes with broguing over plain toes, not really giving weight to how plain toes are the more formal choice (and black shoes are formal shoes).

I noticed that the Purple Label looks all feature the Grant monkstrap, which has broguing. While I understand these are somewhat fashion forward, might my current shoes serve me well enough such that I'll never need to buy another pair of black cap toes unless I need another just for rotation purposes? (I'm a lawyer.)


Yes of course you can live without a pair of plain toe Oxfords. You can wear opera pumps.

If you choose to disregard these two options, fear not once again - for everyone else will be wearing all sorts of bizarre shoewear and you will fit right in with them wearing shoes with broguing on them.

 

[sho'nuff]

i say opera pumps are for the fat lady that sang.
go buy yourself a plain toe shoe with a mirror polish. preferably with a thin sole cut close to the upper.

 

[Nantucket Red]

What Sator said.

 

[NoVaguy]

Originally Posted by josepidal

When I bought black oxfords, I chose EG cap toes with broguing over plain toes, not really giving weight to how plain toes are the more formal choice (and black shoes are formal shoes).

I noticed that the Purple Label looks all feature the Grant monkstrap, which has broguing. While I understand these are somewhat fashion forward, might my current shoes serve me well enough such that I'll never need to buy another pair of black cap toes unless I need another just for rotation purposes? (I'm a lawyer.)


You do understand that formal means dinner jacket and pants, a.k.a. a tuxedo?

The plaintoe is only "needed" if you're wearing the dinner jacket and pants. In a suit, the cap-toe is more appropriate. Plaintoe is fine as well.

 

[Sator]

Originally Posted by diorshoe

i say opera pumps are for the fat lady that sang.
go buy yourself a plain toe shoe with a mirror polish. preferably with a thin sole cut close to the upper.

I am neither lady nor fat - rather slim on the contrary (waist size 30). I can sing a little and prefer a good patent leather pump shoe

. They originated as a court shoe and have been in a man's wardrobe continously for several centuries. As the oldest surviving item in a man's wardrobe they are a living fossil and every conservation measure must be mobilised to preserve their survival into the future.

 

[kolecho]

Just get a pair of black calf wholecuts. You can wear them daily for work, and they can also double up for black tie (which is not frequent).

 

[gdl203]

what diorshoe said

 

[johnapril]

I'd get black demi-boots before what you're talking about.

 

[grimslade]

I assume Jose means for suit-wearing, not tux-wearing. If you've got, say, dark-brown captoes, you should be fine. But I'd be surprised if anyone thought half-brogue bals were somehow too "casual" in a legal office.

 

[kitonbrioni]

Certainly one can live without plaintoe balmorals but I can't come up with a reason why one would want to not have plaintoe balmorals in their shoe closet.

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by Sator

I am neither lady nor fat - rather slim on the contrary (waist size 30). I can sing a little and prefer a good patent leather pump shoe

. They originated as a court shoe and have been in a man's wardrobe continously for several centuries. As the oldest surviving item in a man's wardrobe they are a living fossil and every conservation measure must be mobilised to preserve their survival into the future.

sorry, i did not mean you are fat or a lady.

im just saying i dont like opera pumps. i would reserve them for the courts.

hardwood, basketball of course.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Sator

As the oldest surviving item in a man's wardrobe they are a living fossil and every conservation measure must be mobilised to preserve their survival into the future.

This is one case where I have no problem with natural selection and the extinction of a species