If you’re looking to invest in tailor-made shoes, you’re probably asking yourself this big question: “Should I choose black or brown shoes? “.
In this article, discover the advantages, disadvantages and specific features of these two timeless, must-have colors for men’s shoes.
Shoes are probably the most important part of an Outfit.
As Robert Zemeckis, the producer of Forrest Gump, said: “You can tell a lot about people by looking at their shoes. Where they go. Where they’ve been. #CORTEZ
The wrong pair of shoes will destroy the elegance of your Outfit, no matter how high-end it is.
On the contrary, carefully chosen, quality tailor-made shoes willenhance your Outfit. It’ll be the icing on the cake!
So before we begin, let us congratulate you on your initiative.
After reading this article, you won’t hesitate to choose the color of your tailor-made shoes.
“NO BROWN IN TOWN!” THE TIME WHEN BROWN SHOES WERE FORBIDDEN IN TOWN
Did you know that until the 1960s, you could be arrested for wearing brown shoes in town?
Well, you guessed it, we’re exaggerating. But there was a time when brown tailor-made shoes were frowned upon in the city. It could even be seen as a sign of provocation.
The reason? Black would be more formal, less flashy, and therefore better suited to the business environment found mainly in the city.
Brown shoes, meanwhile, were seen as a sign of casualness.
Indeed, brown was the color of country men.
But city dwellers might also spend their vacations or weekends in the countryside, hunting and indulging in other rural pleasures.
At that very moment, brown shoes were de rigueur for these men of the city, accustomed to black and dark colors.
But even if some purists still firmly believe in the No brown in town“rule”, we’re seeing more and more elegant men wearing brown shoes in town.
So don’t worry, you can now wear your brown Derby to the office, to an art opening or even for a drink with friends at Costes.
TAILOR-MADE SHOES IN BLACK, A SAFE AND TASTEFUL CHOICE
Black shoes are an essential part of any man’s wardrobe.
And that’s simply because black tailor-made shoes go with almost any suit color.
In fact, your black shoes go perfectly with colors such as black, Grey, brown, blue and all their shades.
It’s the simplest and least risky choice if you don’t know what to choose.
But be careful! Black tailor-made shoes don’t go with EVERY Outfit!
In particular, black shoes don’t go well with casual and relaxed Outfits.
For example, wearing black Richelieu shoes with faded blue jeans is not a good idea.
Black tailor-made shoes are therefore often a sign of discretion, formalism and respect for established social codes.
But they’re also a source of elegance every time!
It’s not for nothing that James Bond wears black shoes almost all the time (always matching his superb Aston Martin tires).
But if your nightmare is waking up as Thierry Ardisson dressed all in black, and you’ve got a rebellious streak in you, brown shoes might be for you.
Put an end to the saying “No brown in Town”, and make way for casual style!
BROWN TAILOR-MADE SHOES, THE SHOES OF REBELS!
“ARE YOU STEVE JOBS?” FRONT KICK FROM GOSLING ON CARELL BECAUSE OF THE NB PAIR.
We have nothing against Steve Jobs. Nor against New Balance, for that matter.
If you’re fed up with the traditional pair of black shoes, brown shoes may be just what you’re looking for.
As well as breaking the routine, they’ll give you a less solemn look.
As you can see from Ryan Gosling’s photo in Crazy Stupid Love, brown tailor-made shoes go very well with a casual Outfit.
But even if they’re very fashionable at the moment (for better or for worse), brown shoes are less essential than black ones.
First of all, they’re not as easy to match as they might seem, and need to be worn with very specific outfits. It’s a fact: brown is very deceptive.
You can wear brown tailor-made shoes with a brown, charcoal, navy blue, grey or even champagne suit.
But above all, never wear brown shoes (especially dark brown) with a black suit or a midnight blue suit (prefer a slightly less dark blue)!
To go with a black suit, you need black shoes, period.
So be careful not to fall into the devious trap of the black suit and brown shoes combo.
Although brown tailor-made shoes are more casual, there are unfortunately fewer combinations than with black shoes.
Finally, brown tailor-made shoes also require more care and maintenance than a black pair.
With black shoes, a touch of shoe polish and you’re done. But for brown shoes you need to be more careful.
Or even obsessive, like Jack Nicholson in For Better or Worse…
In any case, whatever your pair of shoes, you need to maintain them regularly.
There’s nothing worse than worn-out, poorly-maintained tailor-made shoes.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR TAILOR-MADE SHOES?
Maintaining your tailor-made leather shoes is easy.
First of all, remember to dust off your shoes after every outing.
To do this, you can use a brush called a scraper.
Next, clean your shoes using a cotton chamois and cleansing milk.
Then nourish them with a waxing cream.
And finally, for the finishing touch, use a polishing brush.
If your tailor-made shoes are made of velvet, nubuck or suede, start by giving them a good scrubbing.
Then spray your shoes with a special chamois leather cleaning spray.
And if you really want to get back to Line Renaud’s beloved new shoes, you can finish off with a special leather renovation spray for chamois leather.
ASSESSMENT: WHICH TAILOR-MADE SHOE IS THE WINNER?
Unfortunately, there’s no crushing victory here, no Muhammad Ali-style hook-and-loop KO (he always wore Adidas, even outside the ring!).
It’s a perfect match between brown and black tailor-made shoes.
After all, the right answer to your question will depend on a number of factors.
First of all, what are your personal tastes? Do you naturally prefer brown or black?
Next, which event should you attend? For a chic evening in a Tuxedo, black tailor-made shoes are more appropriate. But for a getaway with friends, brown Chelsea shoes, for example, are more appropriate.
What color suit and accessories are you wearing?
What’s the weather forecast for today? If the sun is shining, then brown shoes are the way to go. Do clouds and darkness cover the sky? In this case, black shoes ensure that you’re not completely out of step with the climate.
So, what type of shoes would you like to buy: Derby? of the Richelieu family? moccasins? Chelsea? Yes, black loafers will always be more casual than formal brown Richelieu.
Each shoe model is associated with a particular style. Except for Ted Mosby’s legendary Santiags in How I Met Your Mother. But this is out of category.
Take all these factors into account and adapt accordingly. Be flexible!
If you really can’t make up your mind, do like in The Tall Blond Guy with the Black Shoe: put on a brown shoe on the left foot and a black one on the right!
Just know that at Rives, we prefer black shoes. Simply becausea champagne stain is much less noticeable on black shoes than on brown ones!
If you’d like to invest in tailor-made shoes, click here to make an appointment with our tailor and finally wear the pair you need!
Antoine & Sylvain