Must have shoe colors

[sfo423]

I'm rebuilding the shoe collection and and purchasing three new pair now. Question is what are the three most flexible/staple colors?

I was going w/a dark brown wholecut, a black single monk (sorry) and an oxford in another brown-ish shade. Thoughts?

 

[DocHolliday]

Sounds good. Dark brown and black are the staples. After that, you might get a lighter color. I just got some chestnut monks I like very much. If you don't want a lighter brown, you might consider a cordovan (either the color or shell).

 

[Get Smart]

Burgundy. It goes with outfits intended for brown shoes, it goes with outfits intended for black shoes. I could only own burgundy/reddish toned shoes and be completely content and happy

 

[josepidal]

Hey, I've been in your situation and sought out the advice of the likes of aportnoy and jcusey here. I think the most versatile color if you can only have a couple of shoes to start with is clearly dark brown. You might anchor your rotation around that color, then throw in the necessary formal black oxford and one less formal shoe. IMHO, it's easier to dress down shoes than it is to dress them up.

I would go with:

Slot 1: (very formal shoe) Black plain cap toe.

Slot 2: (still formal shoe) Dark brown medallion cap toe or wingtip

Slot 3: (another somewhat formal shoe, or something more fun) Another dark brown shoe like your wholecut, or something like a chestnut wingtip, or a dark brown or chestnut monk

Ultimately, you might aim for five shoes: black / dark brown / dark brown / chestnut (reddish) / tan (yellowish)

I think black monks are a pretty inflexible choice since they're not a formal style when you want to be formal. Still, black monks can look very sharp, especially when you go out at night, so it might depend on what you need for work. (I mean, they can't be less formal than black Gucci loafers, right?)

I also wouldn't get a wholecut until I got a black cap toe and a dark brown oxford.

Incidentally, I started my shoe collection by spending approx. $1,000 on a black medallion cap toe, a dark brown medallion cap toe in the same style, and a tan plain cap toe.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=13696&highlight="shoe+damage"

Good luck! Post photos.

 

[sfo423]

C&J Weymouth in dark brown, C&J Seville in black & the C&J Drummond in what they call "Beechnut." I have not found a true burgandy yet. Beechnut may be too light. As you can see, I like/look for the "semi-chiseled" sleek look w/classic styling.

 

[DocHolliday]

Josepidal makes a good point. If you don't own a black captoe already, you should.

 

[sfo423]

I have not found a black medallion cap (or brown) that is (a) semi/somewhat chiseled (b) <$500 and (c) quality of C&J.

Tips?

 

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by Get Smart

Burgundy. It goes with outfits intended for brown shoes, it goes with outfits intended for black shoes. I could only own burgundy/reddish toned shoes and be completely content and happy

Excellent suggestion

 

[josepidal]

What kind of work do you do and what clothes do you wear, to begin with? And any particular reason why you're looking only at C&J?

Your selection leans a bit too much towards casual, and you won't have anything for a very formal evening function requiring a suit. The Weymouth is C&J's trademark design and the Seville is a great monk, but I wouldn't buy either until I secured a black cap toe and a dark brown cap toe or wingtip.

You can try Polo's Benton cap toe, which is C&J. If you work fast, you may yet talk someone into giving it to you at the sale price (40% off).

 

[sfo423]

I tried the Stanton over the weekend; bad fit for me. Benton (from the web) looks very similar, maybe less rounded than the Stanton.

My attire:
Blazer / trousers 2x/weeks
Suit maybe 1x/every 2 weeks

I'm in real estate; renovate apartment bldgs & sell as TICs (its a San Fran thing, similar to a condo) and also have sales activity. Sometimes meeting w/investors, sometimes looking for new investors, often times selling.

 

[pejsek]

A well-worn copy of The Path Of Daggers and a bottle of Moet &amp; Chandon in plastic wrap?! I'm feeling a bit queasy.

 

[Nantucket Red]

Staple colors are black, dark brown, and oxblood.

 

[josepidal]

Originally Posted by sfo423

I tried the Stanton over the weekend; bad fit for me. Benton (from the web) looks very similar, maybe less rounded than the Stanton.
If I have it right, the Stanton is from some Italian line and it's the Benton that's C&J handgrade. Note if the Benton doesn't fit you well, that might mean trouble with other C&J shoes.

Despite your attire, FWIW, I still wouldn't have monks for my first black shoe. I'd still get a black cap toe and a dark brown wingtip, then have fun with the rest. You're in a profession where you can have fun with lighter browns and more casual styles, a position many here would enjoy.

 

[sfo423]

Note if the Benton doesn't fit you well, that might mean trouble with other C&J shoes.[

I ordered a pair of Weymouths from T&A for sizing. Perfect fit in a 9E on the 337. I'll send them back tomorrow.

still get a black cap toe and a dark brown wingtip

Suggestions?

 

[Nantucket Red]

You ordered a pair of shoes you didn't intend to buy just to check the size?

WTF??