This year, we celebrated New Year's Eve at our golf club's dinner-dance. Most of the men in attendance made the effort to wear black tie but I was a little surprised to see few formal shoes. More accurately, I saw only two pair, and I was wearing one of them. That represented a missed opportunity for about fifty men.
Now the advantage of patent leather shoes on a dance floor is that one's feet reflect the light as they move about, and I'm in favor of anything that makes me look lighter afoot. Silk laces and maroon silk hose are complementary.
Of course, patent leather oxfords are not the only style of evening shoe. The club dance is a low key affair, and I had been wearing green velvet slippers and a green velvet smoking jacket the past couple of years. Black calf dancing pumps with black silk bows would have been equally appropriate.
But, as I wrote, instead of formal shoes I saw a sea of black calf lace-ups on New Year's Eve. There's nothing wrong with black oxfords, especially considering the alternatives (I dread the day when black Crocs appear on the dance floor), but they are a bit dull in more ways than one. A man can easily improve his black tie look by investing a modest sum in a pair of patent leather evening shoes.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Formal Shoes
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6 comments:
Ahh, it is the detail that sets one apart from the common, dull masses.
I notice that all of your suits have pant cuffs while your tuxedo pant does not. I like cuffs on my suits - but now that I think of it, I would prefer my tux pant to have no cuff like yours here. Seems more elegant for evening wear.
Great socks too. I am guessing you wore a reddish bouttoniere to complement the socks.
Evening trousers are never cuffed, even when they are pleated.
Good guess. :-)
John, this isn't a matter of preference; it's a matter of adhering to good fashion rules.
The rules state - just as Will has noted - that evening trousers are never cuffed. This is because cuffed trousers came about from Edward VII's habit of turning up his trouser cuffs while in the country, to avoid getting them muddy. It has remained the accepted style with anything less formal than evening attire.
Yes, the more I think about it the more silly it seems to have cuffs on a Tux. Thank you, Gentlemen.
I adore those laces. I'm assuming they didn't come with the shoes... where did you get them?
Cleverley in London has them for customers. I don't know if they offer them separately but I'm sure they'll be happy to send you a pair if they do.
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