Charcoal suit and...

[hopkins_student]

Would you wear dark chocolate brown shoes with a charcoal suit, or only lighter brown shoes? The alternative (for me) to chocolate brown is black.

Thanks.

 

[Manton]

...

 

[T4phage]

I believe it is perfectly fine, as do many Italians. Some on this board will vehemently disagree, and call you all sorts of names

 

[STYLESTUDENT]

No, I won't beat my regionalism drum again on this issue. The darker the shoe, the less controversial the result.

 

[prinseugen]

Would you wear dark chocolate brown shoes with a charcoal suit, or only lighter brown shoes? The alternative (for me) to chocolate brown is black.

Thanks.

Dark brown shoes look wonderful with a charcoal suit. And very proper, too. There are those on this board who would suggest otherwise, preferring instead to send you into uncharted territory--i.e. day into night without the right equipment--but you will enjoy great flexibility with this elegant combination....

Regards,

Jack

 

[rayk]

Dark brown shoes and a charcoal suit are an impeccable combination.  I believe that most would agree that brown shoes are in general more attractive than black.  Brown leather of quality has visual appeal and offers opportunities for personal expression that could never be achieved with black leather of comparable quality.  While I have several pairs of black shoes, some of very fine quality, I rarely wear any of them.  

A navy blue suit with black shoes unfailingly brings to mind an airline pilot's uniform...usually very dapper gents, but not a look that I wish to emulate.  With a dark blue suit brown shoes, dark or medium, deliver so much more style.

I might wear black shoes with a black suit, if I wore black suits, and, of course, black shoes are essential with formal wear.

Black shoes are always very proper with both charcoal and dark blue suits, but are just too conservative for my taste. With other than the exceptions cited I would keep to brown.

 

[prinseugen]

Dark brown shoes and a charcoal suit are an impeccable combination. I believe that most would agree that brown shoes are in general more attractive than black. Brown leather of quality has visual appeal and offers opportunities for personal expression that could never be achieved with black leather of comparable quality. While I have several pairs of black shoes, some of very fine quality, I rarely wear any of them.

A navy blue suit with black shoes unfailingly brings to mind an airline pilot's uniform...usually very dapper gents, but not a look that I wish to emulate. With a dark blue suit brown shoes, dark or medium, deliver so much more style.

I might wear black shoes with a black suit, if I wore black suits, and, of course, black shoes are essential with formal wear.

Black shoes are always very proper with both charcoal and dark blue suits, but are just too conservative for my taste. With other than the exceptions cited I would keep to brown.

Excellent post. I agree that dark brown shoes are supremely elegant with either dark blue or dark grey suits.

Regards,

Jack

 

[UncleFes]

Dark brown shoes with charcoal suit is a superior combination. However, it *is* a more casual (relatively speaking) combination, as rayk points out. That in mind, consider a less formal shirt and tie selection as well. With charcoal and dark brown, I'd look first amongst my olives, maroons, and silvers.

 

[Renault78law]

I don't know where the expectation that many on this board wouldn't like that combo comes from...I was under the impression that it was common knowledge here and at AA that dark brown shoes paired with a charcoal suit is perfectly acceptable. That being said, I'll always wear black shoes with a charcoal or navy suit to a job interview, (cringing as I do so).

 

[A Harris]

Any of those colors will go fine. But I would not wear light brown shoes with a white shirt and a formal tie. Blue shirt and light-colored tie: go for it.

Very interesting, as I personally have been conforming to this rule, but without realizing it or putting it in words...

 

[Mark Seitelman]

Dark brown shoes excellent. Light brown shoes not excellent.

Generally, your shoes should be either the same tone or darker than your slacks.

I know that many well dressed men wear a lighter brown shoe with a darker suit. However, I find the match odd.