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Confessions of a secret love: black shoes

Nantucket Red

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As I walked to the office today wearing my black EG Malverns for the first time, I was first able to admit to myself that I love black shoes. It's true. I think they're wonderful. There it is; I'm a dirty, rotten two-timer.

Though my brown shoes get more wear and more compliments, my black shoes work as hard without demanding as much attention or special care in polishing. If my brown shoes are the stunning beauty who dances topless on the tables, my black shoes are the wallflower whose striking beauty goes unnoticed because she does not proclaim it. I can outdress others without attracting their attention or eliciting their resentment.

My black shoes whisper to business associates about how I am sober, hard-working and competent, whereas my brown shoes hint at my inner drunken philanderer. My black shoes are always appropriate, and I am never troubled by the nagging anxiety that some tiresome trad will dress me down for being out after 6:00 wearing brown in town (but let him just try when I do!). In short, they are the sartorial embodiment of the admonishment that appearances are deceiving. I savor the irony.

There, my sordid secret is out. I need no longer hide my forbidden love. I need no longer hang my head in shame for cherishing a special appreciation of black shoes.
 

benecios

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smile.gif
 

freakseam

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smile.gif


You are wise and sane. Black shoes are just as ____________ as brown shoes, though particular breeds may stand out.
 

Quirk

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Good post. I think black is really ideal for a serious, no-nonsense business outfit. Not as self-consciously 'stylish' as browns, but that's exactly the point.
 

JBZ

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I'll go one further. I like and regularly wear black shoes in shell cordovan.
wow.gif


Also, for the record, I don't think the "no brown in town" rule orginates with the trads.
 

Manton

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Originally Posted by JBZ
Also, for the record, I don't think the "no brown in town" rule orginates with the trads.
No, it's English. The trads were actually the first to break it routinely.
 

Film Noir Buff

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Originally Posted by Nantucket Red
As I walked to the office today wearing my black EG Malverns for the first time, I was first able to admit to myself that I love black shoes. It's true. I think they're wonderful. There it is; I'm a dirty, rotten two-timer.

Though my brown shoes get more wear and more compliments, my black shoes work as hard without demanding as much attention or special care in polishing. If my brown shoes are the stunning beauty who dances topless on the tables, my black shoes are the wallflower whose striking beauty goes unnoticed because she does not proclaim it. I can outdress others without attracting their attention or eliciting their resentment.

My black shoes whisper to business associates about how I am sober, hard-working and competent, whereas my brown shoes hint at my inner drunken philanderer. My black shoes are always appropriate, and I am never troubled by the nagging anxiety that some tiresome trad will dress me down for being out after 6:00 wearing brown in town (but let him just try when I do!). In short, they are the sartorial embodiment of the admonishment that appearances are deceiving. I savor the irony.

There, my sordid secret is out. I need no longer hide my forbidden love. I need no longer hang my head in shame for cherishing a special appreciation of black shoes.


Cool post. i think you'd feel more at ease knowing that there are large numbers of Englishman who live in fear that someone will open their shoe closet one day and out them to the world about how the large number of brown shoes made in England aren't all for the foreign market at all. I don' think most of them ever dare to wear them outside of their bedrooms.

You feel guilty about black shoes, they feel guilty about brown shoes. Its time for us all to get in touch with our inner shoe chis.
 

tangerine

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Black is for satanist.
 

lameduck

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Originally Posted by Nantucket Red
As I walked to the office today wearing my black EG Malverns for the first time, I was first able to admit to myself that I love black shoes. It's true. I think they're wonderful. There it is; I'm a dirty, rotten two-timer.

Though my brown shoes get more wear and more compliments, my black shoes work as hard without demanding as much attention or special care in polishing. If my brown shoes are the stunning beauty who dances topless on the tables, my black shoes are the wallflower whose striking beauty goes unnoticed because she does not proclaim it. I can outdress others without attracting their attention or eliciting their resentment.

My black shoes whisper to business associates about how I am sober, hard-working and competent, whereas my brown shoes hint at my inner drunken philanderer. My black shoes are always appropriate, and I am never troubled by the nagging anxiety that some tiresome trad will dress me down for being out after 6:00 wearing brown in town (but let him just try when I do!). In short, they are the sartorial embodiment of the admonishment that appearances are deceiving. I savor the irony.

There, my sordid secret is out. I need no longer hide my forbidden love. I need no longer hang my head in shame for cherishing a special appreciation of black shoes.


.... ernest?
 

heavyd

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I too admit that I prefer black to brown... but my true guilty pleasure is black gucci. i am sick.
 

Film Noir Buff

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Originally Posted by heavyd
I too admit that I prefer black to brown... but my true guilty pleasure is black gucci. i am sick.


My problem is that i like everything. Black, brown, brown suede, black suede, white suede, spectators, boots, country, croc loafers etc...

I dont think you can ever have enough pairs of nice shoes.
 

The_Foxx

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that's what i'm talking about! those of us who like a nice pair of polished black shoes "get no respect, i tell ya" on the forum!

To me, no one does a pair of black shoes like Lobb and Green. In my mind, a guy should have 2 pairs of black shoes, as they are the most versatile and conservative with most suits-- but you can rotate the two pairs, to avoid wearing a pair two days in a row.

 

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