Seeking shoe advice

[Mikael]

About to embark on what will most likely be a lifelong journey of shoe appreciation, but just wanted to double-check with the infinite collective intelligence on SF:

I need two pairs of shoes for everyday work use. I have five suits: 3 x charcoal (two pinstripe, one plain), 1 x herringbone navy , 1 x black-pinstripey-thingy. So, the other pair will probably be black, but for the seconds pair, what shade of brown would work best with the navy and the charcoals?

Also, based on the threads I've been devouring during the last couple of weeks, thinking of buying Loake through Herringshoes. However, most of their brown leathers look a bit boring, was maybe looking for something a bit more "elegant".

Thanks in advance.

PS. First post here, yey...

PPS. I wish I'd found SF years ago, because IT IS AMAZING

 

[kraftar]

I'd actually go with an oxblood/burgundy shoe which should match the navy and charcoal suits.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Dark brown would work with all of them, I think you could go to a medium brown with the navy as well. Too light a brown doesn't look the best with charcoal in my opinion.

 

[QuestForReason]

Chocolate brown looks great with charcoal and navy. They're also dark enough that you can get away with them in the evening (sometimes).

 

[LanceW]

Merlot / Burgundy / Oxblood

 

[Mikael]

Thank you all for your advice.

Ended up ordering the Loake Aldwych in black and the Loake Knightsbridge in dark brown.

Next up, a pair of C&Js in a nice shade of brown...

 

[GBer]

Depends on how dark your charcoal is. IMO, the brown shoes should be darker than the charcoal suit.


Have you thought about the design/ pattern of the shoes with the pinstripes? Sometimes I believe a heavily brogued shoe is too much to go with it. What do you guys say?

 

[Mikael]

Originally Posted by GBer

Depends on how dark your charcoal is. IMO, the brown shoes should be darker than the charcoal suit.

I think the Loake Knightstbridge in dark brown is quite on par or darker than my three charcoals: http://is.gd/eLj8Q

Originally Posted by GBer

Have you thought about the design/ pattern of the shoes with the pinstripes? Sometimes I believe a heavily brogued shoe is too much to go with it. What do you guys say?

It may be that I just have an unrefined taste, but for some reason I don't like heavily punched shoes, let alone wingtips. Even though I read it on SF somewhere that the Knightsbridge may crease sorrily for lack of toecap, I think it strikes a fine balance of minimalistic decoration.

 

[GBer]

For pinstripes, I prefer a simpler design than wingtips. But that's my taste.