Dark Grey Calf Shoes - Yes or No?

[Kuro]

What does the forum think of dark grey calf, like JLP deep lord grey, as a substitute for black calf generally? What about for formal (yes formal) occasions?

 

[Teacher]

I don't have any, but it seems like a cool idea to me. It doesn't, however, sound like a good idea for very formal occasions.

 

[RJman]

I'd do it for formal -- if it were like really dark but heavily antiqued gray, but in a classic style, like something in an old Berluti catalog.

 

[Sander]

I like the style, yet not for formal occasions. I'd stick with black there.
In a casual outfit they can make a nice change. Saw a couple at Cologne some weeks ago who both wore mid-grey shoes... looked quite cool.

 

[JayJay]

IIRC a forum member recently posted pics of JL shoes in grey. The shoes looked fantastic and would likely look good with the appropriate outfit. I've also seen grey at the JL shop in NY and was surprised at how nice they looked, though I'm not sure I would buy a pair.

 

[LabelKing]

The Lobb shoes are in a shade of antiqued pewter, which I think conveys a different look than solid grey, which has a certain boulevardian elegance.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

The Lobb shoes are in a shade of antiqued pewter, which I think conveys a different look than solid grey, which has a certain boulevardian elegance.
Good point - I agree.

 

[academe]

I do like the gray; it adds a bit of twist. I might consider wearing it on formal occasions, depending on the type of occasion. Weddings, fund raisers, or more "festive" occasions might be ok - it might just come across as part of your personal style. More solemn formal occasions I would go traditional with black.

 

[itsstillmatt]

No. Awful. Why do you need to go beyond black and brown? I mean, green is great for a casual shoe, but gray shoes just look cheap and tacky.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by iammatt

No. Awful. Why do you need to go beyond black and brown? I mean, green is great for a casual shoe, but gray shoes just look cheap and tacky.

I've seen grey shoes from labels like Artioli which indeed look cheap and tawdry; but I feel that were it a deep black pearl grey from some place like Gomez, it would look tasteful.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I've seen grey shoes from labels like Artioli which indeed look cheap and tawdry; but I feel that were it a deep black pearl grey from some place like Gomez, it would look tasteful.
The shoe might look tasteful, but likely the person wearing it would not. Too many shoes here are judged simply as shoes and not as things that look good on the wearer with the rest of his clothing.

 

[kolecho]

Grey is off IMHO.

 

[Dragon]

If you like a variety of colors, I think grey can look pretty cool, but I would not think of substituting them for black formal shoes.

 

[luk-cha]

might look good in lizad skin or sea turtle

 

[Kuro]

Originally Posted by RJman

I'd do it for formal -- if it were like really dark but heavily antiqued gray, but in a classic style, like something in an old Berluti catalog.

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I've seen grey shoes from labels like Artioli which indeed look cheap and tawdry; but I feel that were it a deep black pearl grey from some place like Gomez, it would look tasteful.

This where I got the idea, both JLP and Berluti have sample bespoke shoes that are off black. With the JLP the bespoke fitter told me that the sample is actually black, but really old so now it looks charcoal...he told me that the same effect could be achieved with their dark grey calf. The Berluti sample was the 1 eyelet/side elastic derby that was dark grey with a black patina.

Originally Posted by luk-cha

might look good in lizad skin or sea turtle

or elephant!

Originally Posted by iammatt

The shoe might look tasteful, but likely the person wearing it would not. Too many shoes here are judged simply as shoes and not as things that look good on the wearer with the rest of his clothing.

no idea how you can make this assumption