Brown in Town

City suits have been predominately either dark blue or a dark shade of gray since Beau Brummel's time.

The old English saying "never wear brown in town" was a hard and fast rule in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In that conservative social milieu, gentlemen from the country travelling to London would change their brown shoes to black on entering the city and change back again on departure (In later years, the change occurred near the Chiswick roundabout). But apparently the rule didn't apply to suits in the United States. Esquire magazine was reporting on brown town suits in the United States from the 1930's onward.

Now there are men, and I know some of them, that wear brown chalk striped double breasteds. That would be pushing the envelope for me. As a country color brought to town, I like brown better when it is realized in country fabrics with city detailing. A brown cheviot two button with a double breasted vest, peak lapels and besom pockets is on my wish list. Nothing wrong with brown flannel, like our friend Wooster is wearing in the photo, either.

There definitely is a place for brown in town. Just remember, no white at night.