Are coloured leather goods acceptable for men?

thirteenth · Sep 2, 2007

I was browsing through Pickett and Smythson yesterday, and saw many coloured leathergoods. While it would not be advisable for a man to seen with any pink or light blue leathergoods, are darker shades (such as dark green, dark purple) acceptable for a gentleman or will he do well to stick with tan, brown and black?

alliswell · Sep 2, 2007

Dark green, maybe. Probably none of the colors in the picture you've included. I think that the palette for this product is just about the range of acceptability:

http://pierotucci.com/men/accessorie..._whook_424.htm

Sator · Sep 2, 2007

I like my briefcase to match the colour of my shoes. For businesswear this naturally means that both are black.

If you have a job in which you can wear green shoes - jazz musician perhaps - then kudos to you. In which case you are considering a lizard skin briefcase to put your jazz standard scores in plus matching shoes, this the thread for you:

http://styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=42171

Ivan Kipling · Sep 2, 2007

My things are on the neutral side, but I think it might be fun to carry a hidden leather piece, 'in color.'

A Y · Sep 2, 2007

I have a denim blue alligator credit card pouch thing that's lined with orange calf. I've seen another elegant man who has relatively colorful leather accessories as well, and I think it works well, but everything has to be done in moderation and in the right context. April in Paris in San Francisco has a really nice range of leather goods. Check out the pictures and swatches in her online shop: http://www.aprilinparis.us/shop/ --Andre

HomerJ · Sep 2, 2007

If it's not for business why not. Brown, black are a bit boring. Dark blue and green look good.

rach2jlc · Sep 2, 2007

Originally Posted by thirteenth

While it would not be advisable for a man to seen with any pink or light blue leathergoods,

Why not? I definitely think something more conservative is better for daily use or if you work in a conservative setting, but a colored leather item can look great with the right outfit. For example, I think light blue can look great with grey, so I often use an Hermes agenda in "Blue Jean" leather with a grey suit or sweater. Likewise, I have a canvas tote/brief that has piping in mint green and it looks great with the right outfit.

Same can be done with pink. If you can wear a tie or scarf in that color and it looks great with the outfit without being "inadvisable," why can't you do it with a leathergood? If it works for silk or cashmere, why not leather?

Cantabrigian · Sep 2, 2007

I agree that something that's not often showing can be done in a wide variety of colors and look good.

Roy Biggins · Sep 2, 2007

Go for it. It's just a colour.

itsstillmatt · Sep 2, 2007

I have a belt in light green alligator that is fantastic and also one in a deep red alligator along with some other colored small leather goods.

To be totally honest, most pictures that I see in the WAYWT threads would not work with colored leather, but it really works with some styles. I think that with a big knot, woven tie or a brash colored dress shirt it will look like crap, but with something very sedate it can be terrific.

LabelKing · Sep 2, 2007

Yes, they work well as, much as I hate to use the term, an accent piece.

Go Surface · Sep 2, 2007

I've got a gray leather bag.

LabelKing · Sep 2, 2007

I also like a conservatively colored exterior with a colorful, light-toned interior.

itsstillmatt · Sep 2, 2007

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Yes, they work well as, much as I hate to use the term, an accent piece.
I wouldn't call them so much "accent pieces" as much as they are very strong pieces that blend well into a simple environment rather than as something to which you would like to call attention. For example, the green belt works very well with a light gray suit because you almost do not see it at all. They are luxurious and when mixed with too much flash, they give off the appearance of trying too hard. Also, if the quality is not high, they are awful. Here are some:

LabelKing · Sep 2, 2007

Yes, that's the thing of exotic leathers. They have to be of high quality, otherwise it just becomes tawdry.

I have a natural tan ostrich skin watch strap that on its own, might be kind of flash, but when combined with the yellow gold, it's harmonious.

Are coloured leather goods acceptable for men?

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Definitely full canvas only

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