I also prefer black shoes with suits, although I do have a pair of dark burgandy shoes that I wear on occasion with my navy suit. To me brown is a casual shoe color for jeans and khakis. I've never owned a pair of brown dress shoes. It just doesn't good to me.

Cruiser

 

I have some dark oak and burgundy shoes that look great with suits. Perhaps, I should be wearing them more often. I also feel the more fashion forward styles (like the EG 888) are less obvious in black.

I see my some of my pics didn't make it.

 

I also prefer black shoes with suits, although I do have a pair of dark burgandy shoes that I wear on occasion with my navy suit. To me brown is a casual shoe color for jeans and khakis. I've never owned a pair of brown dress shoes. It just doesn't good to me.

Cruiser

For some reason, I follow the same reasoning. Though, since joining this forum I've found myself taking a closer look at brown dress shoes.

 

Black or otherwise, you have some nice dress shoes.

 

To be honest I like black shoes. Maybe I am just conservative.

 

Rant on...

Aside from a few glaring and heinous fashion "rules" that must be adhered to, I have found that many here feel that their interpretation of what is "right" is the only correct possibility. Sometimes, their advice is worth paying attention to, so you avoid awkward social gaffes and for others it is a personal choice if you choose to ignore their sage wisdom. I'll offer that if you feel good wearing what you choose, then enjoy life. Black shoes look just as good and are as equally appropriate as every other color for almost every occasion. Most men here enjoy and strive towards a more traditional look and add flair where they feel it's appropriate for their style. Don't apologize for what you like, flaunt it!! I hope that one day, my shoe collection looks as varied, elegant and sophisticated as yours!!

Rant off...

 

I prefer black as well. Nothing like the lustre on a fresh polished black dress shoe to make you feel confident and well polished (pardon the pun). I like several browns as well, but I always come back to black as the first preference for purchase. Great collection. Love the wingtip.

 

Aside from a few glaring and heinous fashion "rules" that must be adhered to, I have found that many here feel that their interpretation of what is "right" is the only correct possibility. Sometimes, their advice is worth paying attention to, so you avoid awkward social gaffes and for others it is a personal choice if you choose to ignore their sage wisdom. I'll offer that if you feel good wearing what you choose, then enjoy life. Black shoes look just as good and are as equally appropriate as every other color for almost every occasion. Most men here enjoy and strive towards a more traditional look and add flair where they feel it's appropriate for their style. Don't apologize for what you like, flaunt it!! I hope that one day, my shoe collection looks as varied, elegant and sophisticated as yours!!

Rant off...

Well said :icon_cheers:

 

I'm just waiting for the fashionistas to dub black the new brown. :icon_smile_big:

 

+1 - I really like black shoes

 

I too like black shoes...but somehow they never become "yours" like brown shoes. Yes black polishes up v well - they look "like new" when done right, and that's great. But u can look at brown shoes and know where/when some patch of a slightly different shade appeared. I've just never had the same experience with black - there r no shades of black and I don't get nostalgic about scuff marks.

Formal, yes. Look sharp, yes. Most appropriate sometimes, yes. Personal attachment to appearence, not quite there.

 

... and I don't get nostalgic about scuff marks.

Not to mention that black shoes can't sport a worldly patina. Brown or tan, on the other hand, ...

 

Formal, yes. Look sharp, yes. Most appropriate sometimes, yes. Personal attachment to appearence, not quite there.

I guess I just don't become attached to my shoes in that way. To me they are just shoes. Now my motorcycle, that's a different story entirely. My current one is named Lucy. So I guess I do understand, sort of. :icon_smile_big:

Cruiser

 

I have some dark oak and burgundy shoes that look great with suits. Perhaps, I should be wearing them more often. I also feel the more fashion forward styles (like the EG 888) are less obvious in black.

I see my some of my pics didn't make it.

Your laced balmoral wingtip dress shoes without any broguing are by far the nicest wingtip dress shoes that I have ever seen, Urbane Legend. They are just as fancy and formal as your laced balmoral cap toe and plain toes that are also without any broguing.

I have to be honest though; I like your wingtips the most, followed by your cap toes and then your plain toes.

Of course, I love all three of your brogue free laced balmoral dress shoes in that picture, Urbane Legend.

 

Not to mention that black shoes can't sport a worldly patina. Brown or tan, on the other hand, ...

While I love a nice patina, those just look like somebody hit them with the wrong color polish.

 

I keep thinking I need some more black shoes, but every time I look for some I always find a pair of brown shoes I like far better. The only times I seem to wear black are funerals and when I'm in a dinner jacket, so perhaps I don't need more black as badly as I think I do.

 

I have brown dress shoes but rarely reach for them when I dress for work. I usually wear black or #8 shell. On the other hand, I rarely ever wear black shoes for casual wear.

 

Those are a lot of black shoes.

Out of the half-dozen fine shoes of mine, I have one pair. I can't think of a reason why I would need more than one.

Black footwear, sneakers asides, carry an authoritative imagine. Recently, I went a couple months without wearing black, and I gained a new appreciation for the color

 

I like the stealthy variations in black shoes

As others have mentioned, at a distance, most black shoes have the same appearance. I like that.

At a distance, it looks like I am wearing the standard grey suit / black shoes. Close up: "hey, that's a cool pattern on your shoes!".

It's stealth style.

 

While I love a nice patina, those just look like somebody hit them with the wrong color polish.

agreed, and this is in the same vein as a thought i've had for a while since joining this forum...i do not understand "antiqued" shoes. you're supposed to develop a patina through use, not paying some guy with a spray paint can at the factory (yes i know that isnt quite how its done).

 

Black shines up better than any other colour.

So more scope for you to improve the appearance of the shoe.

People used to be judged by the shine of their shoes.

 

Black is a fine color for shoes, as long as they are "spit-shined!" Nothing looks worse on the feet, than scuffed or dull black shoes.

 

Black is a fine color for shoes, as long as they are "spit-shined!" Nothing looks worse on the feet, than scuffed or dull black shoes.

Not sure if other former military guys agree with me but part of the reason I am partial to black shoes (I have other colors too!) is that I learned to shine shoes and boots as a Cadet - and always wore black boots or shoes when I was in the Army. When my black dress shoes have a good shine they just look 'right' to me. *On a side note, I still use black ink exclusively when writing at work - old habits die hard.

Also - I wear Alden shoes and I don't love their calf version of burgundy - too red for me. I love the way Shell #8 looks but getting it on the Modified Last is practically impossible. If I could #8 shoes on the right last, I would rotate more of this color into my wardrobe.

 

I have always found the interest in brown shoes with gray or blue suits a bit surprising when advanced by some of our more traditional (in a British not American Trad sense) colleagues. It is not that such colored shoes were not worn in the past, there are plenty of illustrations from the pre-War years to document their popularity. It is what they do to one's general appearance, attracting the eye downward and focusing on the contrast at the cuff-line. I find this particulary puzzling inasmuch as many of these gentlemen are steadfast in their view that one's hosiery should match one's trousers precisely because it creates a nicer, longer line and eliminates undo focus at one's ankles.

 

I have always found the interest in brown shoes with gray or blue suits a bit surprising when advanced by some of our more traditional (in a British not American Trad sense) colleagues.

I hope this doesn't anger anyone because it isn't meant in a negative tone, but I think it stems from a desire to be different from that vast entity commonly referred to as "the herd". The fact is that the typical man on the street who is generally non-fashion oriented considers black shoes to be the proper dress shoe and would likely not consider brown to be appropriate with a color like grey. Therefore, if guys who thought of themselves as a cut above in fashion sense all wore black, they would be in some way agreeing with the non-fashion oriented guys.

Like I said, this isn't meant as a negative statement. It is a fact of life in just about any hobby or interest that one cares to pursue. Super enthusiasts in just about everything from bicycles to golf to hiking to whatever, like to select and use, wear, display, etc. clothing or equipment that is different in some way than what the masses uses, wears, displays, etc. It's just human nature. It's how an enthusiast in something sets himself apart from those of lesser skill, interest or enthusiasm.

Nothing said here is meant to disparage those who like brown shoes with grey or navy suits. I say more power to you. It's good that we don't all walk around dressed alike. It's just my take on the question posed. Nothing more. :icon_smile:

Cruiser