Advice on pairing light brown shoes

[Naughton]

Dear forum
I have these shoes: https://www.loake.com/product/trinity-deep-mahogany/

They aren’t quite tan, they are maybe more “mid brown”. Certainly harder to pair than darker brown shoes that I usually wear.

How would you pair them with trousers? How dark would you go, trousers-wise? I tend to wear mid/dark grey or navy flannels or blue jeans.

I bought the shoes to wear with a light taupe-coloured suit, which worked well, but now I’m wondering how else to use them. I want to avoid that awkward look where the shoes are too light for the trousers but I’d also like to avoid having to buy a bunch of new lighter coloured trousers just for the sake of the shoes…

Thank you!

 

[KOz]

When it comes to tailoring, keep trousers lighter than the shoes. While this rule doesn't really apply to casual clothing, I wouldn't wear such shoes with jeans at all - there's too much of an aesthetic clash.

 

[Naughton]

When it comes to tailoring, keep trousers lighter than the shoes. While this rule doesn't really apply to casual clothing, I wouldn't wear such shoes with jeans at all - there's too much of an aesthetic clash.

Thanks. That’s just the advice I was hoping not to hear as I have hardly any trousers that are lighter than the shoes! Oh well.

 

[KOz]

Thanks. That’s just the advice I was hoping not to hear as I have hardly any trousers that are lighter than the shoes! Oh well.

You might want to consider using a darker shoe polish to darken them over time.

 

[Naughton]

You might want to consider using a darker shoe polish to darken them over time.

Could black polish work or should it be a darker shade of brown?

 

[KOz]

I only have experience using dark brown on mid brown. Can't comment about using black.

 

[Naughton]

I only have experience using dark brown on mid brown. Can't comment about using black.

Thanks for the advice

 

[TheIronDandy]

Could black polish work or should it be a darker shade of brown?

I usually use a thin layer of black shoe cream on my dark brown shoes to give them a even darker shine. Preferrably combined with black toe wax. I haven't done it on shoes this light though. Maybe start with dark brown, use a very thin layer and shine them properly after applying it. Then dark brown wax on the toe and heel.

 

[Naughton]

I usually use a thin layer of black shoe cream on my dark brown shoes to give them an even darker shine. Preferrably combined with black toe wax. I haven't done it on shoes this light though. Maybe start with dark brown, use a very thin layer and shine them properly after applying it. Then dark brown wax on the toe and heel.

Thank you!

 

[The Noble Dandy]

That's a very nice color and I would keep it as it is. Regarding the trousers, it's very easy:
1. They are oxfords so NO jeans and chinos (well, chinos maybe with a tie).
2. I would only avoid navy and charcoal trousers as the shoes will be too light for them and create a very bright contrast. If they were derbies, I wouldn't care, but you want to be a bit more sophisticated with oxfords.

 

[Naughton]

That's a very nice color and I would keep it as it is. Regarding the trousers, it's very easy:
1. They are oxfords so NO jeans and chinos (well, chinos maybe with a tie).
2. I would only avoid navy and charcoal trousers as the shoes will be too light for them and create a very bright contrast. If they were derbies, I wouldn't care, but you want to be a bit more sophisticated with oxfords.

Thank you kindly.
So charcoal is out. But a lot of what is usually described as “mid grey” is darker than these shoes, albeit not starkly so. Is there leeway in the “trousers darker than shoes” guideline, do you think?

 

[The Noble Dandy]

Thank you kindly.
So charcoal is out. But a lot of what is usually described as “mid grey” is darker than these shoes, albeit not starkly so. Is there leeway in the “trousers darker than shoes” guideline, do you think?

In my opinion it is absolutely 100% fine to wear trousers darker than shoes, except those extreme cases where trousers are very dark and shoes - very light.