Learn how to wear brown shoes, how to combine them, and when NOT to wear them in this comprehensive video.
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00:00 Introduction
00:18 History
In the 19th century, Beau Brummel set the tone for men's fashion. He was a big proponent of black eveningwear and so people also wore black shoes. At that time, rules like "No brown in town" or "No brown after six" just ensured that people dressed in a socially acceptable way.
Today, dress codes are much more relaxed than they were fifteen or sixteen years ago. If you wear a well-fitting suit today or a combination, you are much better dressed than the average
person.
So "No brown in town" or "No brown after six" are simply not valid anymore. What matters is that you look good. It's much better to wear a well-fitting suit in Brown shoes than to wear an ill-fitting suit with black shoes in town after 6 pm. Most debonair Italians I know only wear black shoes for funerals, for weddings and for black tie, white tie events.
One of the really nice things about brown leather is that it develops a patina, unlike black shoes. That means over time, you get this nice look of the leather and it's really pleasant and it's not something you can achieve with dark shoes.
Unlike black, brown comes in a variety of shades so you can really create a unique color palette in your shoe closet.
When to Wear Brown Shoes
03:18 Business Suits
Three-piece business suits, two-piece business suits, solid, small patterns, fine stripes, Glen plaids, this is what we're talking about here right now. If your suit is black, you should wear black shoes. When you should have a black suit to begin with, is another question but don't combine black suits with brown shoes.
→ Black: Simply put, don’t wear a black suit with brown shoes. Black shoes, in a conservative style, work best.
→ Charcoal Grey: We suggest black over any form of brown leather. Dark brown can work, but avoid tan shoes.
→ Mid Grey: Black works, of course, but dark brown or cherry are also suitable colors. Once again, avoid tan.
→ Dark Navy: Black works well with a navy suit, but cordovan, tan, and dark brown can also look magnificent and dashing. Of course, you will stand out visually with light tan shoes and a navy suit - something to bear in mind.
→ Lighter Navy: Black will often look better than brown, but it ultimately depends on the cloth. With pinstripes, we suggest wearing black shoes and never brown.
→ Dark Brown: Pair a dark brown suit with brown shoes, and skip black altogether.
05:58 Casual Suits
→ Green: Brown every time, for all shades. Avoid black.
→ Khaki: Dark browns work well. Avoid black.
→ Tan: Cordovan, cherry and medium brown are great. Avoid black.
→ White/Off White: Two-toned shoes, such as brown-and-white spectators, are a dapper choice, but dark brown, mid-brown or reddish-brown work as well.
→ Brown: As before, pair brown suits with brown shoes and skip black altogether.
08:05 Sport Coat / Odd Jacket - Trouser Combination
→ Black: With black corduroy, tan leather boots are a good choice. Black dress pants worn with a sport coat will look best with black shoes, though more casual shoes like black loafers could be a good compromise in terms of formality.
→ Charcoal Grey: We suggest black over any form of brown. Dark brown can work, but avoid tan.
→ Mid Grey: Black works, but dark brown and cherry are also good colors. Avoid tan shoes.
→ Blue: All kinds of brown men’s dress shoes can be worn with blue colors - cordovan, tan and dark brown can look especially smart. You will garner more attention with a light tan shoe.
→ Denim: All kinds of brown leather shoes work well, even with black jeans. Tan and cordovan oxblood will serve you well here. Leather boots are a natural pair for jeans, though anything with a higher ankle would naturally interfere with skinny jeans.
→ Red: All shades of brown work well, though reddish brown can look a bit too deliberate. Dark brown and tan are good choices
→ Green: Try wearing brown every time, for all shades. Avoid black.
→ Khaki: Dark browns work well. Avoid black.
→ Tan: Cordovan, cherry and mid-brown are great. Avoid black.
→ White / Off White: Go for two-toned footwear, dark brown, mid-brown, or reddish brown.
→ Brown: Brown only.
→ Dark Brown: In a more smart-casual outfit such as this, tan works well when paired with dark brown.
→ Miscellaneous: Brown is the best shoe and boot color for sport coats and contrasting trousers. Sometimes you may also see boots or shoes with fabric inserts, which can be quite stylish.
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