Brown Shoes with Gray Suit?

[Forrest]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Good choice.

 

[Undertow]

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]

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]

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

 

[Forrest]

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]

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

 

[Richard Warren]

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

 

[Tomasso]

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]

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

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

 

[Wolfmanjack]

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

Great idea; go with it.

 

[avedwards]

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]

: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]

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]

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]

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.