Is black Oxford really the most versatile shoe?

[Blake Stitched Blues]

@Claghorn Did you wear black or brown shoes with the blazer + greys rigs posted above?

 

[Nobilis Animus]

@Claghorn Did you wear black or brown shoes with the blazer + greys rigs posted above?

I was always pretty sure he never actually wore shoes, just carried them.

 

[rob]

To answer the question of this thread, you have to know the context or situations for which a guy is dressing. If the thought is truly what shoe can you where the most often and still look presentable, your answer will vary. If you are an actor on Schitz Creek, then by all means where black everyday for every event. Or if you argue in front of the Supreme Court , then black is your choice, at least starting in early October. Are you a funeral director? Then sure, go black. Are you a Goth? Same. Are you accepting your Nobel prize? Are you Lou Reed?

‘Short of that, if you wear black and just black and answer every question that you think black is better, then just accept you have a thing for black and that it might not apply to everyone else.

Rob

 

[Nobilis Animus]

To answer the question of this thread, you have to know the context or situations for which a guy is dressing. If the thought is truly what shoe can you where the most often and still look presentable, your answer will vary. If you are an actor on Schitz Creek, then by all means where black everyday for every event. Or if you argue in front of the Supreme Court , then black is your choice, at least starting in early October. Are you a funeral director? Then sure, go black. Are you a Goth? Same. Are you accepting your Nobel prize? Are you Lou Reed?

‘Short of that, if you wear black and just black and answer every question that you think black is better, then just accept you have a thing for black and that it might not apply to everyone else.

Rob

Yep, it's just my own taste - I'm not really interested in making everyone else go along with it.

 

[dieworkwear]

Seems like two different issues being posed here. One is about color and the other is style.

When can black shoes be worn, vs

When can oxfords be worn (and specifically black oxfords)

Those are two very different discussions.

 

[Claghorn]

@Claghorn Did you wear black or brown shoes with the blazer + greys rigs posted above?

I was always pretty sure he never actually wore shoes, just carried them.

In the first, I probably carried brown shoes. In the second, black.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

In the first, I probably carried brown shoes. In the second, black.

That's pretty much what I guessed, mostly because of the tie. The second just screams black.

 

[Blake Stitched Blues]

Seems like two different issues being posed here. One is about color and the other is style.

When can black shoes be worn, vs

When can oxfords be worn (and specifically black oxfords)

Those are two very different discussions.

I see no reason to own any black shoes beyond black oxfords. Maybe for the SW&D guys who want black chelseas for SLP style looks. Or people with very high insteps who just can't wear oxfords and don't want to go bespoke for them.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

Seems like two different issues being posed here. One is about color and the other is style.

When can black shoes be worn, vs

When can oxfords be worn (and specifically black oxfords)

Those are two very different discussions.

That's true, but if we say there's a time that oxfords shouldn't be worn, then that includes black ones. It's a bifurcated topic that intersects.

As Blake Stitched Blues mentioned, black shoes should mostly be oxfords anyway.

 

[tim_horton]

As Blake Stitched Blues mentioned, black shoes should mostly be oxfords anyway.

The black loafer perfectly marries the sophistication of black calf with the insouciance of the loafer. It’s the peanut butter cup of shoes.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

The black loafer perfectly marries the sophistication of black calf with the insouciance of the loafer. It’s the peanut butter cup of shoes.

Have to say, I've never thought about it that way before. But I'm allergic to dairy.

 

[dieworkwear]

Love black shoes

Black side zips with black or grey jeans and a black five zip. Or anything minimalistic and Lemaire-y

Black military boots or work boots with workwear

Black tassel loafers with tailoring. Grey suits, olive suits, navy sport coats and grey trouers, brown tweeds and taupe whipcord trousers.

Black Blundstones with topcoats and jeans, or workwear, or Americana

Black grained split toes with suits or grey tweeds

You can say brown is more versatile, but at some point, I think you have enough clothes where versatility isn't an issue and you just want to wear things that express your point of view and things that give you joy. I wear black shoes often just because I like how they look with certain outfits. The other items -- Lee denim trucker jackets, olive suits, Margiela five-zips -- may not be "versatile," but they're what I actually wear on a daily basis.

IMO, black as a color is different from black oxfords. I think black oxfords are suit shoes, and specifically dark worsted suits. For that Bond outfit posted earlier, I would do black tassel loafers or some other casual style.

 

[noobanker]

This thread has me re-thinking my shoe collection.
Too many browns, not enough blacks.
Also, I need more loafers.

 

[dieworkwear]

I met up with Peter once for drinks and he wore this same exact outfit with a pair of black engineer boots. I thought the outfit looked great. Black boots here go with the black jeans and the black shirt, which together form a kind of visual void against the suede leather jacket, helping it "pop." It also just makes the whole workwear outfit feel a bit moodier.

I don't know if this is considered SWD or CM, but it's reasonably classic and would work well for a lot of guys who are normally into suits and sport coats. The jacket is a vintage Ralph Lauren piece.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

I met up with Peter once for drinks and he wore this same exact outfit with a pair of black engineer boots. I thought the outfit looked great. Black boots here go with the black jeans and the black shirt, which together form a kind of visual void against the suede leather jacket, helping it "pop." It also just makes the whole workwear outfit feel a bit moodier.

I don't know if this is considered SWD or CM, but it's reasonably classic and would work well for a lot of guys who are normally into suits and sport coats. The jacket is a vintage Ralph Lauren piece.


View attachment 1490277

This is exactly what I mean. A nice in-between from either suits or t-shirt and jeans. I actually own and wear a very similar jacket in a chocolate brown.

What I'm not so much a fan of is the tweed-and-country look when not actually in the country, as I think something like this, or blazer+trousers, or something like the fashion shots you posted above work better in the city.