Derby shoes with a slim suit?

[randomusername]

I have both a charcoal and a navy suit from Theory (Xylo NP is the model) and I'm looking for a pair of shoes to wear with them. My first and only pair of dress shoes are black Alden cap-toe bal's (mainly for interviews) and I was thinking to go with brown derby shoes in order to get some variation in style and color. The specific shoe I was looking at is this Crockett & Jones Draycott. Putting aside the difference in quality of Theory and C&J, would derby shoes look alright with a slim suit? Otherwise, is there a different model or maker you'd recommend as a first pair of brown shoes? And, since no store near me carries Crockett & Jones, would anyone who's seen the "chestnut burnished calf" color in person be able to comment on it?

 

[retozimmermann]

Hi randomuser

The C&J chestnut burnished calf is actually rather a bit redder than it appears in the photo you linked to. In my personal opinion it's a very nice colour but its not really a "normal" brown. So if you're after your first brown shoe, maybe a "dark brown" would be more the C&J colour you're looking for.

Whether the shoes suit the suit you linked to is difficult to judge. I tend towards "maybe but not perfectly". Have you looked at the 348 last?

Cheers
Reto

 

[TC (Houston)]

For a slim suit, I'd go with something on a sleeker last. Personally, I like monkstraps with slim suits. Lowndes and Monkton are both on the 348 last. You migh also consider Hallam or Edgware. I like the Hallam in the old Beechnut Burnished Calf. It's a bit lighter than the Dark Brown.

Reto is correct about the Chestnut Burnished Calf being redder than the C&J website pics suggest. Here's a pic of that color, disregard the appearance of antiquing, it's just a shadow. The upper part of the shoe captures the color pretty well on my monitor.