• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • UNIFORM LA Japanese BDU Camo Cargo Pants Drop, going on right now.

    Uniform LA's Japanese BDU Camo Cargo Pants are now live. These cargos are based off vintage US Army BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) cargos. They're made of a premium 13.5-ounce Japanese twill that has been sulfur dyed for a vintage look. Every detail has been carried over from the inspiration and elevated. Available in two colorways, tundra and woodland. Please find them here

    Good luck!.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Captoe derbys - OK with suits ?

aj_del

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
6,673
Reaction score
128
Hi Thinking of getting a captoe derby in black to wear with mid to dark grey suits. I know black derby is not a popular choice to wear with suits on SF but is it totally wrong ? I have a Grenson back captoe oxford so I am looking for a derby only. Also realized that there are limited choice while selecting a plain captoe derby. In fact I came across only this at Pediwear. Any other suggestions... Also I read in some other thread that though derbys are considered OK with suits in Europe it is not so in the US. Or maybe the other way round. Is that correct ? Pic of the shoe I am considering
bradford-black.jpg
PS: Is captoe derby the correct term for this shoe ? Thanks for reading and best regards.
 

ld111134

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
1,975
Reaction score
1,621
Yes - I'm wearing my Alden black captoe derbies with a suit today.
 

s0rce

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
69
Reaction score
0
If you already have a nice pair of black captoe oxfords how come you want to get another very similiar pair, why not get something different, brown wingtip?
 

Harold falcon

Stylish Dinosaur
Joined
Dec 6, 2009
Messages
32,028
Reaction score
11,364
Originally Posted by aj_del
Hi

Thinking of getting a captoe derby in black to wear with mid to dark grey suits. I know black derby is not a popular choice to wear with suits on SF but is it totally wrong ? I have a Grenson back captoe oxford so I am looking for a derby only.

Also realized that there are limited choice while selecting a plain captoe derby. In fact I came across only this at Pediwear. Any other suggestions...

Also I read in some other thread that though derbys are considered OK with suits in Europe it is not so in the US. Or maybe the other way round. Is that correct ?

Pic of the shoe I am considering

bradford-black.jpg


PS: Is captoe derby the correct term for this shoe ?

Thanks for reading and best regards.


Those are fine with a suit. Although it should be a darker "mid" grey rather than a lighter "mid" grey.
 

aj_del

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
6,673
Reaction score
128
Thank you for your comments.

Originally Posted by s0rce
If you already have a nice pair of black captoe oxfords how come you want to get another very similiar pair, why not get something different, brown wingtip?

Because I feel that black captoe shoes are very versatile and I dont mind having a captoe oxford and derby. Plus I have too many brown shoes.

Originally Posted by harvey_birdman
Those are fine with a suit. Although it should be a darker "mid" grey rather than a lighter "mid" grey.

I intend to wear it with a navy suit as well. I was just reluctant to mention it for fear of ridicule.
tinfoil.gif
 

ManofKent

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
8,665
Reaction score
20,963
I wear EG Cardiff's with a suit from time to time and they look fine to me. I'd stick with oxfords for the most formal occasions, but general business meetings I'm happy with derbies.
 

MarcellHUN

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2007
Messages
583
Reaction score
2
Good question - in the old times it wouldn't have appeared at al..
smile.gif
But those times has passed. I think now you can wear whatever you feel comfortable.
 

apropos

Distinguished Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
4,461
Reaction score
402
That's the C&J Bradford, right? If you're willing to consider other derby/blucher styles, check out the Alfred Sargent Holborn, the C&J Ashdown, and the C&J Onslow. A PTB will look nearly identical to a captoe blucher at a glance because the creases across your vamp will mimic the captoe. And consider burgundy. In artificial lighting it can often pass for black, it goes beautifully with mid to dark greys, yet is a little more interesting than plain black and will age beautifully.
 

TheTukker

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2007
Messages
2,560
Reaction score
139
Works well; don't give it a second thought and pull the trigger if you like them.
 

Slewfoot

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
Messages
4,520
Reaction score
615
^ = +1

Who cares what standard operating procedure should be. Do what you like. We all think too much about this stuff as is.
 

emc894

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
517
Reaction score
33
I personally do not see the point of a black blucher/derby. Awkward halfway point between formalities in my eyes.
 

Redwoood

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
1,563
Reaction score
10
Originally Posted by emc894
I personally do not see the point of a black blucher/derby. Awkward halfway point between formalities in my eyes.

Oh c'mon, it's a black cap toe, it's relatively simple and plain, hence, it is a somewhat formal shoe. The fact that it's a Derby only reduces the formality marginally, imho. I will never understand why derbys get such a bad rep around here.
 

ferguscan

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
647
Reaction score
2
I'm of the opinion that a black derby is wrong, regardless of the rest of the outfit.

If you want a black shoe for suits, other than an oxford, get a chelsea boot or a monk strap.

Stuart
 

ferguscan

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
647
Reaction score
2
Originally Posted by Redwoood
Oh c'mon, it's a black cap toe, it's relatively simple and plain, hence, it is a somewhat formal shoe. The fact that it's a Derby only reduces the formality marginally, imho. I will never understand why derbys get such a bad rep around here.

Derbies are awesome. Just not with suits. And not in black
smile.gif


Stuart
 

Kaplan

Distinguished Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2008
Messages
5,270
Reaction score
4,612
If the 341 last fits you, the C&J Bradford is a great shoe (I have it in dk brown). The double leather sole is nice.

Another C&J derby I can recommend is the Dartmouth. It's not a captoe, but it's on C&J's best last, IMO.

Also, derbies > oxfords
devil.gif
 

Featured Sponsor

Do You Have a Signature Fragrance?

  • Yes, I have a signature fragrance I wear every day

  • Yes, I have a signature fragrance but I don't wear it daily

  • No, I have several fragrances and rotate through them

  • I don't wear fragrance


Results are only viewable after voting.

Forum statistics

Threads
508,508
Messages
10,602,403
Members
224,647
Latest member
JackPo
Top