The shoes were a step too far the other day, turning what might otherwise have been a smashing ensemble into something a bit too much like some sort of twentieth century re-enactment. I may have been distracted by the CREED Aventus, a very nice new scent I was sampling, but the lesson re-learned was to always remove one stand-out element from the first try at an ensemble.
All that aside, the intent of the combination in the photo was to demonstrate how to wear a summer necktie with a light ground. The answer should be obvious but it seems to confuse many men. Perhaps white shirts are less common than they once were, but, when they are in a wardrobe, evening and summer sunshine are certainly the two best times to wear them. And for those daytime occasions, a necktie with a white or cream ground pairs perfectly with a light-in-color jacket.
Optimo Panama hat, tan linen jacket, ivory shantung necktie from the ASW store, white shirt, gray Brisa trousers and the spectators that Edward Green infamously made from reversed goat without asking my permission.
Monday, June 28, 2010
A Step Too Far
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21 comments:
on the contrary. smashing.
Will, I have been following the saga of these Edward Greens with sympathy and commiseration. Gathering that these are bespoke shoes on your own last, has EG ever apologised or compensated you for this apparent wanton disregard of the specifications you made? Your patience and serenity are noteworthy.
Btw, a smashing outfit indeed.
Richard, they were made to order rather than bespoke.
After the fact they said they could not source white buck, or reversed calf, either of which has considerably more texture than reversed goat. And both of which were at the time available to other shoemakers of my acquaintance.
One of several reasons I stopped ordering their shoes.
If someone has the decency to acknowledge his error it does no good to persuade him to commit it again.
Will, your post's correct.
Good call.
If I may ask, in order to keep the shoes, what would you have done differently above the ankles? I have the hardest time getting the spectators to go with something.
Those specs look fine with trousers in cream, tan, mustard or brown.
Sometimes you have to take a chance to find out it doesn't work. You would fit right in on Jeeves and Wooster though...
Not too far imo. The deal with spectators is the graphic shapes and the high contrast of the colors concentrated in a small area -drawing the eyes to that focal point. I question the color of the pants /socks, the coloration /contrast makes them look more formal. If I had to lose one item of your ensemble to keep the shoes, I would leave the ps or the tie.
Terrific outfit, except for the specs. I am turned off by the 'racing stripe' effect on the sides of the shoes, which to my eye draws unwanted attention. Otherwise well done.
I have some EG "colonials," and though perhaps not proper spectators since the reverse calf is tobacco suede, I too find they do not work well with gray trousers. Better, as you write, with the creams and tans.
Maybe it is because I have grown accustomed to seeing you in various shoes but they did not jump out at me as over the top or misplaced.
Nicely done.
I think that the overall effect is fantastic, and the shoes are not to far. That said, if you walk around thinking they don't look right, they probably don't.
The panama is great, I will have to pick up one with an optimo crease at some point.
You critiqued yourself correctly Will. Way too much, although some of your interlocutors are trying to convince you otherwise. Even assuming you toned down some of the other stuff the spectators don't go to too well with the mid grey pants and exactly matching grey socks. Spectators only really work with the cream to brown part of the color spectrum and preferably a "summer" fabric like Linen, cotton gaberdine or very lightweight wool. I actually went crazy and purchased my first ever pair of Spectators a week ago (a snip in Paul Stuart's sale) much to my bride's horror but even she has conceded they looked pretty good with pale stone linen pants, argyle socks, dark blue linen jacket, and loud striped shirt without tie
I love those spectators, even if they aren't really what you wanted. The sinuous line of the "racing stripe" makes them far more interesting than those spectators whose contrast is of the simple toe-vamp-heel variety.
Very light gray trousers might work with these shoes, even if the pants in the picture are too dark. Regardless, these gorgeous shoes call for lighter socks, maybe even subtlely patterned or textured ones.
.....C'mon Horatio these shoes "demand" a patterned sock....having purchased a pair I spent ten minutes trying out sock combos and patterns worked best by a mile although a couple of bright solids looked pretty good. However I agree about the line of Will's shoes....very nice....very pale grey pants would probably work but there are better options so why not go with something that works perfectly?
Joe,
Fair 'nuff.
Will,
Would you wear light blue pants with these spectators?
I doubt it, even if I owned a pair.
I was thinking these shoes might look nice with a blue linen or seersucker suit, or with just the pants of same, but I could be wrong.
I don't know, I kind of like the specs with that, in an I'm-an-individual sort of way, but I'm still on a fairly steep learning curve about such things so I bow to your fine judgment.
Perhaps its the photo, but the light coloured part of the shoes look very white. Are they?
I looked back at your photo with the linen suit and spectator moccasins and they look like a darker cream. Perhaps those would have worked better.
I have to agree with the "racing stripe" comment above. It distracts a bit. A bit too Dandified.
That said, Will, it's still a fantastic presentation.
Those specs are chestnut and white. The slipons are chestnut and cream.
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