Shoes for tuxedo

[dah328]

I was thinking these might be good. Â A little high in price, but at what price point would this be a good deal? Â Any idea how these shoes fit?

Just to add a slightly different perspective -- I think the Ferragamos are a reasonable choice. Â I'm probably in the 90th percentile here when it comes to adhering to the "rules," but I can't bring myself to spend a lot of money on a shoe that can only be worn with formalwear. Â I have a pair of black Grenson wholecuts that look very similar to those Ferragamos. Â I'll wear them with my tux as long as they're highly polished. Â I'll look better than 98% of the men because my tux and shirt are properly tailored and I'm not wearing any trendy accessories such as one of those trendy euro-ties. Â Besides, I can't remember the last time I saw a guy in either pumps or patent laceups, but then the young professional demographic I tend to see the most is not necessarily known for its sartorial propriety. Now a couple months ago, there were a bunch of Edward Green opera pumps on ebay for pretty cheap. Â Should you happen across one of those deals, go for it. Â I think I put my top bid at something ridiculously low like $65 or something since I can't really picture myself wearing opera pumps, anyway. dan

 

[WJTW]

Hmm... I always thought patent leather shoes are required wearing for white-tie events only, and for black-tie it is optional? I don't know...

WJTW

 

[Manton]

I always thought patent leather shoes are required wearing for white-tie events only

No, strictly speaking the pump is more appropriate with white tie than with black, and it is tradionally box calf, not patent leather.  Flusser sells some in crocodile that cost as much as a small car.

 

[cuffthis]

They are not shoes, they are slippers. Stop joking around, it could lead us astray. Â

Slippers do not have leather soles. They are shoes. As are these: RLPL Edward Green Christow And they would look good with any dinner jacket. Period. PS - I've seen more attractive horse shoes than the ones you presented.

 

[The Dandy]

While you could certainly get away with a pair of highly polished cap-toes at most black tie events, I wouldn't recommend it. Patent is the only appropriate way to go. Personally, I find slip-ons affected, so I choose to wear patent shoes with laces. I would also recommend investing in a solid pair, as nothing is more irksome than a pair of cheap shoes. I wear this particular pair from Allen Edmonds: AE Spencer But I prefer this pair from C&J: C&J Chatham Best of luck to you.

 

[jcusey]

Slippers do not have leather soles. They are shoes.

My slippers have leather soles. I wouldn't wear them outside, but they have leather soles.

Edit: But I certainly agree with your larger point that the shoes pictured aren't slippers (or, rather, that they don't have to be worn like slippers).

 

[jcusey]

It may be that the rules are that you either wear patent leather lace-ups or box-calf opera pumps with a tuxedo. I don't know. I do know that I will not be wearing either: I can't stand the plasticky look that patent leather has; and in most situations where I will be wearing a tuxedo, I have no wish to call attention to myself by wearing opera pumps. I also know that both Edward Green and John Lobb Paris have undeniably formal shoes made from box calf, and that's good enough for me.

I'm currently having a pair of wholecut shoes made similar to the ones that johnnynorman3 pictures, and I intend to wear them with my tuxedo. I'll probably replace the standard laces with wide silk ones when I wear them for this purpose. Johnny, I think that the shoes are fine, and if it's breaking the rules to wear them with a tuxedo, I say that you should break the rules.

 

[zjpj83]

I am probably one of the younger members of this forum. On Friday, I wore an exquisite double-breasted midnight blue tuxedo, wing collar, a black bow-tie that actually ties, braces, silk hose, and opera pumps.
Classic fashion knows no age limits.

 

[johnnynorman3]

Well, I ended up buying those Mezlan ones on Ebay. For $105, I'm willing to get a pair of shoes that can't do double duty. They look nice enough to me, and I must admit that Manton's rules (I know, they aren't YOUR rules, Manton

) was enough to get me to buy some patent leather shoes. These ones actually look pretty nice, because the outsole is not prominent at all. Mezlan fit me pretty well too. In the end, I like the Ferragamo wholecuts, and think they'd go fine with a tuxedo. But $355 is a lot when I could wait a while for a pair just as good or better and get them for a whole lot cheaper (Chris . . . oh, Chris . . . ). Thanks everyone.

 

[SylvesterPennoyer]

Does the lack of response to my previous question of whether Allen-Edmonds Park Avenue is appropriate for tuxedo wear indicate that it is a ridiculous question and the answer is "no way"???

 

[zjpj83]

SylvesterPennoyer - as they are very plain, they are better than some of the other shoes I have seen paired with semi-formal entire. I'm sure we've all seen the odd tassle loafer here and there. If you aren't going with patent leather lace ups or opera pumps, the Park Avenue is a great compromise.

johnnynorman3 - Sorry, I didn't see your post about the Mezlans earlier. I actually own those shoes myself. - the exact same ones. They are a nice patent leather, and that strip along the side is actually a grosgrain strip - kind of an interesting touch. You also got a great deal. They are very respectable and have held up very well indeed through years of much dancing and merriment.

 

[cuffthis]

These are what you should want (Grenson Masterpiece opera pumps for Paul Stuart). I wear this pair 50% of the time with my formal wear. This is the other pair I wear. Tricker's silk crossgrain loafers with red quilted silk linings. And no, Marc Au, they are not slippers.

 

[johnnynorman3]

Ha. Those are great, but you are wrong -- those are NOT what I want.

 

[zjpj83]

These are what you should want (Grenson Masterpiece opera pumps for Paul Stuart). I wear this pair 50% of the time with my formal wear. This is the other pair I wear. Tricker's silk crossgrain loafers with red quilted silk linings. And no, Marc Au, they are not slippers.

I have those Grensons too. I bought a wide width, and I still find them a bit tight across the toes. Do you find the same thing?

 

[Horace]

Rubbish Manton. The picture above is a perfect example of a good formal dress shoe.

I don't think it is. To adapt Manton's argument, it's more loafer than formal pump. It looks like an amalgamation of the two.