going to get very into the weeds on color theory in mensewar, repeat some info that im sure many people have already heard me say, and then recommend some things without regard to price bc jason has the money to spend 🧵
tan shoes are one of the worst trends in men's style. i think guys buy them because they don't want to look boring in black or dark brown shoes. they want shoes with ZING! but in a tailored outfit, the focus should be on the V-shape formed by the coat, shirt, and tie. not shoes.
guys often pair tan shoes with dark suits. but this ends up creating two competing points for attention: your face and your feet. the bright colored shoes end up shining out from underneath your dark trousers like flashlights. they become a distraction.
others pair tan shoes with the other basic uniform: navy sport coats with grey trousers. but this again creates two competing focal points. here we see dan roan and lance amrstrong wearing similar outfits. but whereas armstrong's outfit supports him, roan's shoes are distracting
if you buy tan shoes, make sure you have the clothes to support them. tan shoes work when you have a light colored suit or sport coat (pics 1, 2, and 3). or if the outfit is sufficiently summer-y (pic 4).
dont pair them with dark suits or navy sport coat + grey trousrs
the other thing to think about is color temperature. warm colors are those with yellow or red undertones. cool colors are those with a grey or blue undertone. here we see four pairs of suede shoes, but some colors feel warmer than others.
while not an iron clad rule, it can be useful to stay within the same family of color temps. here we see 3 pairs of cream trousers increasing in color temp. see how they match with increasingly warm colored jackets. switch the jackets around, and the outfits dont work
same is true for shoes. some shoes, such as oxblood, work with almost anything bc of social tradition. but some have such a warm undertone and unusual color, they end up dragging the eye downward, esp when they're paired with cool-toned clothes. see Allen Edmonds' walnut leather:
if you wear very warm-toned tan shoes, your jacket should 1) be light colored, and 2) have a warm undertone. see how biden here pairs a tan sport coat with a yellow undertone, which balances out the shoes. vivek's tan shoes don't go with his outfit; they drag the eye downward
ok, so to answer jason's question: where can you get brown or tan shoes to wear with a blue suit? the most important thing is the fit, which is determined by the shape of your foot and the shape of the shoe (which is determined by the shoe's "last"). this is a last:
best to figure out which companies use lasts that work for you. if you already get a good fit from crockett & jones, then go to crockett & jones. if you haven't found the right company, then shop around. what works for one person's feet may not work for you.
but generally speaking, if money is no object, then try edward green, john lobb, crockett & jones, and carmina. these four brands make tasteful, conservative shoes that go well with suits. if you can afford bespoke, try @shoesbynoonoo. he will make custom shoes for you by hand
one of the nice things about edward green (a RTW brand) is that their burnt pine leather is very cool in terms of color. this is easier to wear than, say, allen edmonds' walnut bc it pairs with the cool colors in men's wardrobes.
should add: this is only for classic tailored clothing. other aesthetics have their own rules and logic. westernwear outfits often look great with tan cowboy boots bc of social tradition. fashion "rules" are not a science; they are contextual to social traditions and culture.
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Not true! US-made clothing has always existed. However, the quality stuff struggles because people are often not willing to pay what it costs to produce these items. These items will only get more expensive with tariffs, not less.
"Tariffs will get rid of cheap, crappy clothing."
Also not true! The US makes a lot of cheap, crappy clothing, some even in sweatshops. This system is made possible because US garment factories run on the piece-rate system, where workers are paid per operation, not time.
Here's how these tariffs can affect the average American. 🧵
Although tailoring has mostly receded from daily life, it continues to be the expected uniform for some of life's most important moments, such as weddings and funerals.
Unfortunately, since these moments are few and far between, that means most cities don't have good tailoring shops. I often get emails asking: "Where can I get a suit for cheap?" Or "I'm an unusual size, where can I find a suit?" This is where online shopping comes in.
If someone has died, consider attending the funeral in black tie (also known as a tuxedo in American vernacular). Black, as we know, is the color of mourning, so black tie shows respect for the deceased and their family.
Do a little jump and dance at the funeral, so people can admire how your jacket collar hugs your neck. This demonstrates that you took the time to make sure your tuxedo is well-tailored for this somber occasion. Carry a martini around and toast during the eulogy.
When you buy ready-made tailoring, the pockets and vents are often tacked down with stitching—usually white, but not always. This stitching, known as basting, is done so that the garment moves from the factory to your closet while holding its shape.
Before wearing the garment, you'll want to remove this stitching. Especially if there's a label on the sleeve. This label is only there so that people working in the distribution and sales process can easily identify the garment. It's not meant to be worn.
Rumors are going around that Pete Hegseth might be on his way out. I don’t know if that’s true, but just in case, I want to do a thread on his style. To me, Hegseth’s wardrobe reflects a common pitfall guys fall into when they first start caring about clothes. 🧵
When men start dressing with more intention, they often fall into the trap of cranking every knob to 11—volume, gain, treble, bass. The thinking is: more = better. But like in music, maxing out every setting doesn’t lead to clarity—it leads to noise.
We see this in how Hegseth dresses. His belt buckle is USA. Pocket square is USA. Socks are USA. Open up his jacket and what do you see? USA.