No brown in town?
 

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[Closed] No brown in town?

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 core
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I'd never heard this before - am off to London, annual president's reception for a national organisation, a colleague is collecting an award.

I'm wearing a blue suit, had planned to wear mid-dark tan brogues, but a friend has suggested this is a fashion faux pas and I ought to wear black. I've read it's an old city based 'rule' and brown supposedly denoted being a bit of a country bumpkin. Well, I am.

Thoughts?


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:06 am
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**** 'em, go in wellies


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:07 am
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Don't forget the complementary deerstalker.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:07 am
 km79
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Is this a UKIP reception?


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:08 am
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Core later...

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:11 am
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It's a fashion faux pas for people who wear those shirts with a coloured body and white collar and cuffs. No body else cares.

Wear what you feel comfortable in, if people judge you on your suit/shoe combo they're not really worth your breath.

He says after judging others shirt selection.....


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:12 am
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Ah Fashion is just some twonk claiming he's the best so you should dress like him.

Be the Twonk, not the follower of the twonk.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:18 am
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[quote=core ]I'm wearing a blue suit, had planned to wear mid-dark tan brogues, but a friend has suggested this is a fashion faux pas and I ought to wear black. I've read it's an old city based 'rule' and brown supposedly denoted being a bit of a country bumpkin. Well, I am.
Thoughts?

Hmm, not sure about it being a rule on it's own, but brown shoes with a blue suit 😯

Embrace being a country bumpkin though 😀


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:18 am
 core
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thestabiliser - Member

**** 'em, go in wellies

You have no idea how much that made me smile - **** 'em is one of my oldest friend's catchphrase, he uses it for almost every situation, regardless of if he's right or wrong, I admire his attitude, life's too short to woory about things 😆

Am in agreement about the contrasting collar and cuffs (on shirts....) looks horrendoes, as does any double collar detail.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:18 am
 core
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why not wear a brown suit with blue shoes - that'll show em


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:21 am
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I was always of the opinion that blue/navy and black was a big no no but apparently not in that there London


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:22 am
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[quote=core ]Blue suit, brown shoes: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=blue+suit+brown+shoes&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwifj56oqa_PAhWLAMAKHRzNDJAQ_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=945#imgrc=_
br />

Thanks for proving the point so perfectly!


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:24 am
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Ha! it is a handy phrase to deploy

When I go to that London on bzzzznzzzz I wear green wool trousers and brogue boots and say 'aye' and 'now then' a lot. I've not been banned or asked to fetch round the carriages, yet.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:28 am
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Be proud of where you come from.

This is what I have to cling to..

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:31 am
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The only acceptable combinations are navy blue (no other blues), grey or charcoal (not black) suit with black shoes. There is some latitude with shirts but when in doubt, white, white, white. It matters - if you turn up looking like you've run round Next blindfolded then you don't get hired, because there are several other candidates who are just as good as you but who know how to present themselves.

Think of it as a uniform. If a policeman turned out for work wearing a pink shirt he would, quite rightly, be told to get to f***. It's no different in the City of London.

😉


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:36 am
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He's not going for an interview.

edit: 😉


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:37 am
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The only acceptable combinations are navy blue (no other blues), grey or charcoal (not black) suit with black shoes. There is some latitude with shirts but when in doubt, white, white, white. It matters - if you turn up looking like you've run round Next blindfolded then you don't get hired, because there are several other candidates who are just as good as you but who know how to present themselves.

Think of it as a uniform. If a policeman turned out for work wearing a pink shirt he would, quite rightly, be told to get to f***. It's no different in the City of London.

if, however, the event is not an interview for a City Boy job, and the OP has no intention of becoming one.... 😉


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:39 am
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so anyway - OP, wear the brown shoes!


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:40 am
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There are only three acceptable items of brown footwear or clothing.

Hiking boots.
Clark's Desert Boots.
Clark's Wallabees.

If you go full Wiggo, you might just get away with it.

No snobbishness here, I just don't like brown shoes.
🙂


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:43 am
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What a load of tosh.

The purposes of impractical/expensive outfits are solely to indicate how far removed the wearer is from manual labour, and by association, their wealth.

Stick it to the man, show up in a onesie 🙂


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:53 am
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5tens FTW


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:56 am
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**** em, wear your tweeds.

Take a gun bag with a broom in it too.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 10:58 am
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I've got new boots and I'm very proud of them. They have lots of holes.
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 11:01 am
 DezB
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[i]had planned to wear mid-dark tan brogues, but a friend has suggested this is a fashion faux pas and I ought to wear black[/i]

This is the disturbing bit for me.
[img] [/img]
etc..


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 11:24 am
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Patent leather oxblood DMs


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 11:32 am
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nothing wrong with brown shoes as long as they are made in either Italy or Northampton and not pointy and scuffed.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 11:46 am
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Where's Flashy when you need him?


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 11:50 am
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i opened this thinking it was a another trump faux pas.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 11:52 am
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Where's Flashy when you need him?

Last I heard he was staring at a Peacock


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 11:58 am
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nothing wrong with brown [b](OR tan)[/b] shoes [b](OR boots)[/b] as long as they are made in either Italy or Northampton and not pointy and scuffed.

What he said.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 12:14 pm
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Mid brown brogues with a blue suit. Ugh.

Dark burgundy or nothing.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 12:20 pm
 timc
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See the blue suit, brown shoe combo a lot, i would however play safe & go with black, it does look 'smarter' a well.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 12:21 pm
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As an owner of several suits and both black and brown footwear, the brown only really works as boots with jeans. I'm no fashion model but seriously look in the mirror or try the last episode of line of duty


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 12:31 pm
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Brown is absolutely fine.

What you need to throw out immediately is the pointed or chisel shaped shoes. Go on, throw them out. I know you've got some.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 12:34 pm
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nothing wrong with brown shoes as long as they are made in either Italy or Northampton and not pointy and scuffed.

Yes, but preferably made in the latter.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 12:38 pm
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Blue and brown is very fashionable at the moment, and whether you like it or not you'll find lots at social events (weddings christenings, parties etc) where suits are worn.
As a business look, nothing says estate agent or used car salesman more....
What sort of occasion it is only you know, but if you're not wanting to do business with people who may judge, then who cares!


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 12:41 pm
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See, as a younger (mid 20's) guy) nothing says "I don't shop unless my wife tells me too" more than black shoes in a 9-5 setting.

Wedding, formal, of course.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 12:53 pm
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If you really are going a serious city look, brown brogues or suede ok, just. Oxblood is underrated. I'd be more concerned about the suit being blue...


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 1:04 pm
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what if you dont want the city look?
none of my shoes or suits are black, the main reason is to not be mistaken for somebody who works in an office, knows spreadsheets intimately and when they look up from the computer they see this:
[img] [/img]

following convention is fine if you want to fit in.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 1:27 pm
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I'm pretty sure this was actually an article in the national news a few weeks back, about clueless graduates failing to get ahead in the City because of their brown shoes! So I think it probably is a "thing".


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 1:31 pm
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And there is a sort of uniform for IT support people, a uniform for Roadies (music or cycling) etc etc...

So let's get past the "I'm not going to do what the man says... I'm an individual... I don't conform... " schtick which is usually said by people wearing jeans, like every other individual... 🙄

I get to wear what I want at work. Sometimes a suit, or jacket, sometimes not, different shoes, but patients have expectations. Two people said they liked my socks today. Some years ago I wore deck shoes with no socks to work and an old lady offered to buy me some...

It's not failure to adjust to people's expectations.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 1:46 pm
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[quote=zilog6128 ]So I think it probably is a "thing".

Oh it is. A thing for absolute arseholes.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 1:55 pm
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Where's Flashy when you need him?

He has nothing to add here...

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 1:59 pm
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Interview - go conventional. Social - look in the mirror, if you like it, wear it (if your wife lets you out other house in it!)


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 3:03 pm
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no brown in town? This might have been the rule in the 80's and 90's. Well actually it [i]was[/i] the rule in the 80's and 90's but not now.

Pretty much anything goes, especially socially.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 3:07 pm
 DezB
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[i]Interview - go conventional. Social - look in the mirror, if you like it, wear it [/i]

Work - cheap shit that keeps the employers happy 🙂


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 3:17 pm
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I'm currently wearing some Stefan Janoski Nike SB Max's in my Clerkenwell office, if that helps you decide what modern office attire should be in London.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 3:26 pm
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I'm currently wearing some Stefan Janoski Nike SB Max's in my Clerkenwell office, if that helps you decide what modern office attire should be in London.

😆


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 3:29 pm
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blue and brown is fine for casual attire, but it's not business dress.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 3:36 pm
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I've worn uniform for work for the last 23 years - certainly makes things simpler.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 3:51 pm
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😀

I'm in Chicago. Wearing a pair of black Oxfords. From Duckers, in Oxford. Very loud pink checked shirt, too.

The paperclip trade has standards. 🙂


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 4:33 pm
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Do what you like or what anyone else says. Just be aware that blue, especially dark blue doesn't go with brown in any situation. Bugger the trendies, it's as bad a pink and orange.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 5:45 pm
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Think of it as a uniform. If a policeman turned out for work wearing a pink shirt he would, quite rightly, be told to get to f***

Really? Nobody has ever said that to me when I've worn mine.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 5:56 pm
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Just be aware that blue, especially dark blue doesn't go with brown in any situation.

Rubbish.


 
Posted : 27/09/2016 6:34 pm
 core
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I went with black. Glad I did, looked smarter, do was a bit stuffy, but it wouldn't have mattered in reality.


 
Posted : 28/09/2016 2:14 pm
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[img] [/img]
Edit: Female!


 
Posted : 28/09/2016 2:20 pm
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no brown in town? This might have been the rule in the [b]1880's and 1890's.[/b] Well actually it was the rule in the [b]1880's and 1890's[/b] but not now.

😀
I wouldn't wear a blue suit under any circumstances anyway, it would be either black or preferably charcoal, probably with a pair of these:

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 28/09/2016 7:22 pm
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I have an interview tomorrow. Not for some sociopathic city banker job, but a small charidee in Fife

Have a very nice Zegna suit. Navy blue with tan pin stripes.W
Which shoes?

[img] ?oh=9745a4a4843d6fe2faa31ec1a8b5a624&oe=58AAC376[/img]

^ I really like those DMs


 
Posted : 28/09/2016 8:16 pm

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