Is tan classic?

[the_sulks]

It goes without saying that colors like black, brown, gray, white are classic. They have been classic and they always will be. In recent years however it seems tan has become very popular when it comes to shoes. Honestly, I doubt the icon styles like Cary Grant used to wear tan shoes back in the day like many people on this forum do. I also doubt tan will be in fashion say in ten years. I like tan yet it won't last long in my opinion. I might be wrong though.

What do you think?

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]



It goes without saying that colors like black, brown, gray, white are classic. They have been classic and they always will be. In recent years however it seems tan has become very popular when it comes to shoes. Honestly, I doubt the icon styles like Cary Grant used to wear tan shoes back in the day like many people on this forum do. I also doubt tan will be in fashion say in ten years. I like tan yet it won't last long in my opinion. I might be wrong though.
What do you think?

Tan shoes have been worn by well dressed men for decades and will continue to be worn for many more.

 

[shilleck]

it will be worn for sure.

 

[the_sulks]



Tan shoes have been worn by well dressed men for decades and will continue to be worn for many more.

Are you sure this man on the picture wears tan, not brown shoes?

 

[Percy Trimmer]



Are you sure this man on the picture wears tan, not brown shoes?

Blazes Boylan's smart tan shoes creaked on the barfloor where he strode. Yes, gold from anear by bronze from afar.

James Joyce, Ulysses

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]



Are you sure this man on the picture wears tan, not brown shoes?

Well, tan is just a light shade of brown, where do you draw the line between tan and not-tan? They look tan to me.

Regardless, even if they are not tan in that image, the fact that I cannot find a relevant picture does not mean they were not worn.

 

[jamesny]

I'd consider it a classic color.

 

[williamson]

Are you sure this man on the picture wears tan, not brown shoes?

I don't know from where you are writing, but (as I believe I have explained on a thread concerned with raincoats on this forum) tan means different things in British and American English. A "tan" raincoat in America would likely be called beige, fawn or stone here.

Well, tan is just a light shade of brown, where do you draw the line between tan and not-tan? They look tan to me.

This is the shade that is called "tan" on this side of the Atlantic.

 

[GBR]

It has been around a long time and to that extent is classic - a term you do not define.

 

[the_sulks]



Blazes Boylan's smart tan shoes creaked on the barfloor where he strode. Yes, gold from anear by bronze from afar.
James Joyce, Ulysses

Wow, it seems someone here has read Ulysses. Do you mean this guy on the picture is Blazes Boylan?

Speaking of which, are there many clothes and shoes-related stuff in this intricate book?

 

[F. Corbera]



I like tan yet it won't last long in my opinion.

 

[the_sulks]



Well, tan is just a light shade of brown, where do you draw the line between tan and not-tan? They look tan to me.

It is pretty hard to draw the line yet I’d say GBR who has posted in this thread has the tan shoes on his avatar and williamson has a tan wallet on his avatar, too. Tan is a bit saturated than light brown and a bit closer to yellow in my opinion.

 

[the_sulks]



It has been around a long time and to that extent is classic - a term you do not define.

Do you have the tan shoes on your avatar? If so, I wonder what the brand is.

 

[Percy Trimmer]



Wow, it seems someone here has read Ulysses. Do you mean this guy on the picture is Blazes Boylan?
Speaking of which, are there many clothes and shoes-related stuff in this intricate book?

No, I was just suggesting a definition of 'tan': gold from anear by bronze from afar.

Joyce himself was a bit of a dandy, so there are many references in the book. Here's Ned Lambert at Paddy Dignam's funeral:

Nice soft tweed Ned Lambert has in that suit. Tinge of purple. I had one like that when we lived in Lombard street west. Dressy fellow he was once. Used to change three suits in the day. Must get that grey suit of mine turned by Mesias. Hello. It's dyed. His wife I forgot he's not married or his landlady ought to have picked out those threads for him.

 

[Gdot]

Tan leather has been around since the beginning of leather tanning. As a matter of fact the very name comes from the color of leather produced by oak bark tanning. There could be no color of leather with a longer history.

Have they come and gone a bit in terms of popularity? I'm sure they probably have - all things do. But nothing could be more classic.

Wear those tan shoes! It's summer!

Put them away in the winter and go for burgundy, oxblood, brown, etc. etc.