Need help -- Alden Longwing 975s to dress up and down

[basho]

I need to get a pair of shoes to wear with a brown suit for a wedding (I know, brown is a weird color for a suit -- the bride wants all the men to be wearing brown). But I'd like to get a pair that I can dress down with jeans, APC NC, which is what I wear most days.

So I'd love to get a pair of wingtips and today I fell in love with a pair of Alden #8 cordovan longwing 975s.

So a few questions:

I know the blucher style isn't as dressy -- think it's acceptable for a suit?
Does #8 cordovan go with a brown suit? Should I look for a lighter brown instead?
Does it go with dark jeans?
Are the gunboat 975s too bulky to wear with jeans as skinny as the New Cures? They felt it, but I'm used to desert boots.

Thanks guys!

 

[erdawe]

Well brown suits are fairly informal (whether decided wedding attire or not). Those will pair fine to wear with such suits given their formality. No need to get a different color either, as cordovan shoes pair with a wide variety of pants including browns. On the other side... I think they're bulky enought that openings beyond NS's are harder to pull off casually. I think NC's may be workable, with these clunky gunboats assuming that you're feet aren't very disproportionate to your height/ build. Also, the bulk up top is important to think of with these and skinny denim. If you have lots of time to kill, you can look thorugh this current trainwreck of a thread over on MC's. There's random thoughts about this classic shoe in there, and how people view this style of shoe (though admittedly 975's aren't the plaza lasted concoction in that thread). http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=98968 If you care about my opinion any, I wouldn't buy them as they remind me of my grandfather's attire who wore these for decades. They're just not my personal taste, but then I lean with a slight nod to more Italian styled shoes.

 

[erbs]

Originally Posted by erdawe

If you have lots of time to kill, you can look thorugh this current trainwreck of a thread over on MC's.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=98968

 

[basho]

I think NC's may be workable, with these clunky gunboats assuming that you're feet aren't very disproportionate to your height/ build. Also, the bulk up top is important to think of with these and skinny denim.

I'm a size 10.5, but 6'1" and skinny, 155 pounds.

When you refer to the "bulk up top," you mean the vamp of the shoe compared to the tapered toe? I wear the New Cures alot, but will probably get something a bit less tapered, like New Standards soon.

Also, funny question: I'm colorblind. Is the #8 a brown or burgundy? What does that mean for coordinating -- jeans, khakis? Probably should get a cordovan belt too, right?

Does Alden make the 975 in a brown calf? I keep hearing about how cigar and whiskey are really hard to find.

 

[basho]

Bump.

C'mon guys, help a handicapped kid! Is the #8 burgundy or brown? Which is easier to coordinate? And is this shoe too bulky for skinny jeans? Thanks!

 

[Hokiefan]

Originally Posted by basho

Bump.

C'mon guys, help a handicapped kid! Is the #8 burgundy or brown? Which is easier to coordinate? And is this shoe too bulky for skinny jeans? Thanks!

I have this color in the Indy boot. It's burgundy but very dark. At night people would suspect you have on black shoes. The actual color though is a very nice shade of dark brown/red. Very interesting color that matches well with many outfits. I have no experience with the Longwings.

 

[JO3B]

its burgandy.

hipsters would agree that this shoe is not too bulky.

i think it is. go for a slimmer wing tip. they'd go better with your new cures.