# Doper men... Emergency! I really, really need your help... it's time to buy my first suit. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 20, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293 "2012-10-20T01:27:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/81 "2012-10-24T21:05:20Z")
If you’re going to have only one suit and you’re not going to wear it often, you don’t have to worry at all about “varying your look.” Get a black/navy/charcoal suit (your choice), a couple of plain white shirts (plain collars and cuffs), and three basic ties (solid, striped, and patterned). With black, navy, or charcoal, get a black belt and black shoes. That’s all you need. Brown shoes and belts are not necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/82 "2012-10-24T21:10:35Z")
You’re wrong, on multiple levels. 1. Dark brown or oxblood shoes look awesome with a dark suit (not a black suit FFS). That’s basic stuff. 2. Semi-formal is a dance for teenagers. 3. No jacket, or no tie, is multiple steps away from formal. It’s closer to casual. Like I said before, if a suit is acceptable, then brown shoes are acceptable, provided they match. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/83 "2012-10-24T21:22:40Z")
Lord no. Black Oxfords with a dark suit; dark browns with a light suit. And I’ll echo those who say to not get a black suit, but a dark blue one. As a complete alternative to the suit, consider a blazer with well-pressed slacks and, if you can carry it off, a bow tie. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/84 "2012-10-24T21:42:41Z")
I have 2 current men’s magazines, as well as a photo of JFK that says you’re wrong. Not only is it fashionable now, but its timeless. Brown shoes have always looked great with a navy blue suit. I find it funny that there are men who don’t get this. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/85 "2012-10-24T21:45:47Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Brown shoes have always looked great with a navy blue suit. I find it funny that there are men who don’t get this. I like to think I have pretty good color coordination skills, but I just can’t visualize this, unless we’re talking a brown the same shade as the blue of the suit. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/86 "2012-10-24T21:51:54Z")
Sorry, but I’m honestly not sure what you mean by that. Google “brown shoes dark suit” without the quotes. Read the articles and look at the images. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/87 "2012-10-24T21:56:08Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Sorry, but I’m honestly not sure what you mean by that. > > Google “brown shoes dark suit” without the quotes. Read the articles and look at the images. From [GQ](http://www.gq.com/style/style-guy/shoes/200501/navy-suit-brown): > [@](#): > > Actually, it is wearing lighter brown shoes with a navy suit that is wrong. Your shoes should be at least as dark as your suit. If your brown shoes are of a darkness approaching black, you are okay. If they are tannish, the old man is right, and you should be banned from the executive washroom. That’s pretty much what I was saying. When I think brown, I usually think tan unless I make an effort to think about dark brown, and neither of those seemed appealing to me paired with a blue suit. I still think it looks kind of tacky, but so long as the blue is almost black and the brown is almost black, it probably isn’t too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/88 "2012-10-24T21:58:34Z")
It sure as heck shouldn’t be tan, but it doesn’t need to be approaching black. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/89 "2012-10-24T22:02:00Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > From [GQ](http://www.gq.com/style/style-guy/shoes/200501/navy-suit-brown):That’s pretty much what I was saying. > > When I think brown, I usually think tan unless I make an effort to think about dark brown, and neither of those seemed appealing to me paired with a blue suit. > > I still think it looks kind of tacky, but so long as the blue is almost black and the brown is almost black, it probably isn’t too bad. GQ will say the exact opposite thing every other issue. Then they’ll tell us for the 50th time to try wearing sneakers with suits. It’s their MO. Bottom line **Labrador Deceiver** is completely right. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/90 "2012-10-24T22:07:38Z")
Eh, as you say. I’m just glad I went with charcoal. I like my black Rockfords. Personally I’d rather wear a tan suit with brown leather accessories, but that can wait for when I actually have need for multiple suits. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/91 "2012-10-24T22:21:56Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > GQ will say the exact opposite thing every other issue. Then they’ll tell us for the 50th time to try wearing sneakers with suits. It’s their MO. > > Bottom line **Labrador Deceiver** is completely right. Glenn O’Brien is usually right on the money, and he made it pretty clear in his answer that brown shoes look great with navy suits. And thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/92 "2012-10-24T23:19:56Z")
I not only agree brown shoes with navy suits is fine, but lately I’ve really started to hate the “mall cop” look of black shoes with navy pants. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293/93 "2012-10-25T01:02:30Z")
Yep. Brown or burgundy – or _Merlot_, if you like – really looks better with navy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doper-men-emergency-i-really-really-need-your-help-its-time-to-buy-my-first-suit/638293.md?page=4)