Brown Shoes with Gray Suit?

Forrest · Jun 29, 2011

Thank you all for your helpful comments. I'm leaning towards black based on your feedback. Also, now that I've been looking at a lot of photos, I think brown looks smashing with the lighter grays! I will do that in the future. For the dark gray of this suit, and given that it is a wedding, black it will be. It is an outdoor ceremony and reception, so I thought I could be a bit more playful with the shoe choice, but I will defer to your expertise. I'll be sure to post a proper picture when it is all put together.

Cheers,
Forrest

Forrest · Jun 29, 2011

After doing more shopping, this is what I've come up with. I lucked out and found a pair of Allen Edmonds "Clifton" cap-toed oxfords in black on clearance at Nordstrom Rack for $99. These are $299 shoes. Here's a link:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/allen-edmonds-clifton-oxford/2892042

And here is what they look like with the suit (pardon the lousy focus and bunched pant leg!):

Thoughts?

avedwards · Jun 29, 2011

Good choice of shoe and sounds like you got yourself a good bargain.

fftopic:
If I can offer some advice regarding the suit, the trouser legs look the right length (something one rarely sees these days) but the sleeves look a bit too long. I would recommend shortening them so about 1/4" of cuff shows. This will look especially nice if you wear a shirt with French cuffs. I would also suggest wearing a pocket square as it will make the whole outfit look a bit more special - this is your big day after all and you want to look your best so you can enjoy looking at the photos for years to come

.

Tomasso · Jun 29, 2011

I could nitpick the broguing and open lacing as being a bit too casual but only a shoe geek will notice that IRL.

I second the shortening of the sleeves.

I don't know if the shirt/tie combo is what you've chosen for the big day but you might consider a white shirt (french cuffs) and a traditional wedding tie in black/silver or blue/silver.

Richard Warren · Jun 30, 2011

Good choice.

Undertow · Jun 30, 2011

Excellent advice - I agree on the french cuffs, white shirt. Get a decent tie, a nice pocket square (bankers fold and white if you want to be conservative, or maybe get a tripoint in white, or go all out and get a nice little bunched up roll with some paisley or something). Yeah, sleeves are too long. That shouldn't take much to alter and if you plead with the tailor, they could probably do it right there for you.

Wolfmanjack · Jun 30, 2011

Nice buy on the AE's and they look great with that suit. Shorten the sleeves and wear a pocket square. Get a good quality, white French-cuff shirt and silver satin tie. Have a wonderful day!

Oldsarge · Jun 30, 2011

And since this is The Fedora Lounge, and since it is an outdoor wedding . . . a black Homburg will 'top' everything off beautifully.

Forrest · Jun 30, 2011

Thanks fellas! I appreciate the suggestions. I already planned on getting those sleeves taken in a touch, and I'm still looking for a pocket square. As to the shirt, agreed, French cuffs would be the way to go. As for the tie, well, purple is one of the wedding colors, and I was planning on sticking with the one I'm wearing. Could I instead just have a purple pocket square, and then go with a more traditional wedding tie?

Oh, and the homburg is a cool idea, but I would be afraid it would be perceived as a bit "costume-y." Thoughts?

Oldsarge · Jul 1, 2011

No, a lime green or a purple Homburg would be costume-y. Black is formal.

Richard Warren · Jul 1, 2011

I think any sort of hat would be an eccentricity best avoided in a wedding. The purple tie is fine.

Tomasso · Jul 1, 2011

Forrest said:
As for the tie, well, purple is one of the wedding colors.............

The color thing is soooo trite. But then, it's her day................

Forrest · Jul 1, 2011

Tomasso said:
The color thing is soooo trite. But then, it's her day................

You got that right. And don't you forget it!

Wolfmanjack · Jul 3, 2011

Forrest said:
Could I instead just have a purple pocket square, and then go with a more traditional wedding tie?

Great idea; go with it.

avedwards · Jul 5, 2011

Wolfmanjack said:
Great idea; go with it.

:arated:

Regarding the hat, a black or dove grey homburg would look wonderful but is by no means necessary. If you only wear it outside it will avoid looking like costume.

dnjan · Jul 5, 2011

avedwards said:
:arated:

Regarding the hat, a black or dove grey homburg would look wonderful but is by no means necessary. If you only wear it outside it will avoid looking like costume.

Second the above, especially the part I made bold.

And remember, it should only show up in the outside photographs.

Forrest · Jul 5, 2011

dnjan said:
Second the above, especially the part I made bold.

And remember, it should only show up in the outside photographs.

Well, the entire ceremony and reception is outside, so...

avedwards · Jul 5, 2011

Forrest said:
Well, the entire ceremony and reception is outside, so...

In that case don't wear the hat during the ceremony. You could just wear it at the reception or even just to and from the wedding. The latter would be my personal preference, as someone who wears a hat every day but only then when I think it's appropriate to do so (a wedding ceremony itself isn't IMO).

Oldsarge · Jul 5, 2011

Well put, gentlemen. Wear the homburg to and from the wedding, have it on as you arrive so that others will see that you understand style and the dictates of good taste. Remove it before the ceremony (you might give it to one of the groom's men to hold) and don it again as you are leaving. Most satisfactory. If this were in the cooler parts of the year, a pair of dove grey gloves would do well, too, but in the heat of summer they are ridiculous.

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