In the 19th century, Beau Brummel set the tone for men’s fashion. He was a big advocate for black evening wear.
So people wear black shoes always.
By the 1930s, Edward, the Prince Of Wales, basically dictates what people wore. when he wears something, the public picks it up and shortly thereafter.
Guess what? He was a fan of brown slip-on shoes.
Consequently, he will wear brown and white spectator shoes and so brown shoes became more acceptable in public.
You wear a well-fitting suit today and you realise that you are well dressed than the average person.
It’s much better to wear a suit in brown shoes than wear an ill-fitting suit in black shoes in town after 6 pm.
Today, wearing brown shoes with your outfits is acceptable both in the evening.
some outfits and situations still call for certain footwear; light tan shoes may not be the best option for the evening,
and black shoes are imperative for black tie. Remember:
just because you can wear brown shoes day and night, doesn’t necessarily mean you should.
When to Wear Brown Shoes
For 3-piece or 2-piece business suits, in the following colours, in solid worsteds or flannels, pinstripes or faint windowpanes or Prince of Wales Checks:
Black: Simply put, don’t wear a black suit with brown shoes. Black shoes, in a conservative style, work best.
Charcoal Grey: 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 colours. 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.
Stay tuned for more updates.
