Need Fashion Help

[annelise]

Hi Ladies,

Is it "acceptable" to wear black shoes with brown pants? What if you wear a black sweater, brown pants, and black shoes--does that work??? I'm sorry, I'm not fashion savvy at all. I was wondering if there were any fashion codes you could share with me. (Such as, what shoe color goes with what, etc.)

Thank you,

annelise

[moonchiald]

What shade of brown?

[LittleFlower]

I dress like that all the time. It never occured to me it would be unacceptable. Then again I do think fashion rules are just made to be broken :D

[jessie58]

Traditionally, black and brown are not usually worn together, but with today's fashion, anything goes and it can be acceptable.

It also depends how you tie the whole outfit together. Are you wearing a blouse or shirt under the sweater (is it a cardigan style) that ties the two together? Is it a multi color print or patterned shirt under the sweater? If so what colors are in it.

Or is it a pullover sweater, then that could be too much black and brown, very drab, unlike all black for some odd reason. Brown is considered a drab color and black is considered a neutral color and very chic.

I would say if the shoes are a deep chocolate brown, then they won't look too bad with black pants, but if they're a caramely, or tan color of brown, then they might not look that great with the black.

[merry]

annelise, I would wear black shoes with brown pants and a black top - I reckon if things tie in together it doesn't matter what colour they are.

[Snowymoon]

As long as you are wearing black on top, I don't see why it would be a problem. :ooh: I would wear it. In fact, I have done that. :grinhappy:

[curls2grow]

I mix brown and black all the time and have several tops and pants that combine them both. Go for it! You will look great!

[cichlid]

I think it's fine. I wear whatever looks right. That's my style. I wouldn't wear brown shoes with black pants...but black shoes with brown pants would look just fine. I think black shoes just about go with everything. Nothing else really has to be black as long as the rest isn't all pastel colors...I don't wear pastel. Then again my sisters and I (we were bored) went through an old color season book thingie my mom owns and it said I was an autumn and pastel looks horrible on me. Which it does actually...I wear a lot of earthy tones and a few bright colors (funny all the colors they told me look best...I was already wearing).

[Unnamed]

I think black shoes work most of the time (unless, as cichlid said, you're wearing all pastels/light colours). If the brown is a dark brown, I'd think black shoes would even be fine with a lighter top. I do think wearing a bit of black somewhere else would help balance it out, if you don't go with a black top. I do black shirt, black shoes, and jeans/burgundy/wine/grey pants quite often, and I'd do brown pants like that, too, if I had any.

[wavebaby]

There are so many factors that determine what "goes" with what, as far as colors go...it's more about the overall "look' or 'style" of the items and how they work together. you'll know by looking if your outfit looks okay or not. and to echo others, if you feel great, that's all that matters!

[saracuda]

I'd mix 'em, but then again, I wear my Chacos with everything, including dresses and slacks. :)

[SpiralingWaves]

I've worn brown pants with black shoes. I'm sure it will look great on you! :happy:

I agree with cichild that as long as you are not wearing all pastels, you can wear black shoes with just about anything. Sometimes I will wear a black belt with my black shoes to make it all tie in together if needed.

[spiraleeee]

Oh my. I just wanted to poke my nose in here to say that I am in WAY over my head just reading this thread. Seriously. I was trying to decide whether I could get away with wearing my Docs with the skirt suit I found in the trash to go to a job interview. Suit looked very chic. But made the docs look clunky. Ended up realizing I needed to stop by the thriftery on the way to the interview to pick up a pair of more appropriate shoes. That was my big fashion move for the year. So annalese, just being able to conceive of such a question, you are miles ahead of somebody like me in terms of fashion sense.

[golden_gal]

I thought black shoes went with everything...am I wrong?!

[SunCat]

I mix black with brown all the time it is very chic and black goes with everything :grinhappy:

[wavebaby]

I mix black with brown all the time it is very chic and black goes with everything :grinhappy:

Except black. lol!:happy:

This might sound funny...and maybe it's only me, but I refuse to wear blacks that don't match. ie: I had a black sweater & tank top twinset, and I guess i must have washed the tank more than the sweater, because it faded a bit more over time than the sweater. I absolutely refused to wear them together anymore. my blacks must "match" to wear them together.

Am I a freak? :geek:

[Carolyn]

Well you know me...Miss Rules Were Made to be Broken! I'd do it and have done it. The same with wearing black shoes with navy pants. I love cocoa brown and black together. I think that's a very fresh look. I would probably wear another item that's black along with the black shoes. Maybe a black bag or sweater? Sometimes my personal opinion is that black shoes might even look better with the brown pants than brown shoes, if the brown shoes were an off shade of brown compared to the pants. You just have to go with what looks good to your eye.

[saracuda]

Except black. lol!:happy:

This might sound funny...and maybe it's only me, but I refuse to wear blacks that don't match. ie: I had a black sweater & tank top twinset, and I guess i must have washed the tank more than the sweater, because it faded a bit more over time than the sweater. I absolutely refused to wear them together anymore. my blacks must "match" to wear them together.

Am I a freak? :geek:

You could buy some Rit dye and re-black them. I've done that to my faded black clothes before. It's also a great way to save a stained piece of clothing that you really like. Dye it black, and it's new again!

[wavebaby]

You could buy some Rit dye and re-black them. I've done that to my faded black clothes before. It's also a great way to save a stained piece of clothing that you really like. Dye it black, and it's new again!

Why have I never thought of that!? thanks for the great suggestion! I will pick up some rit & dye them both...just to be certain they "match"...lol!

Flyin' my freak flag proudly today!:geek:

[saracuda]

Why have I never thought of that!? thanks for the great suggestion! I will pick up some rit & dye them both...just to be certain they "match"...lol!

Flyin' my freak flag proudly today!:geek:

It's a fun thing to do. My black Rockies jeans look great after a dye!

[SpiralingWaves]

You could buy some Rit dye and re-black them. I've done that to my faded black clothes before. It's also a great way to save a stained piece of clothing that you really like. Dye it black, and it's new again!

OMG! That is a great idea! I have a pair of black denim jeans that are faded, this will bring them back to life! Thanks! :whoohoo:

[annelise]

Thank you SO MUCH, Ladies!!! I appreciate your wisdom and advice! I feel ever so much more confident now!

Annelise

[Stephanie]

Good advice! I fully agree - done right it looks great. Done carelessly and...well, it looks careless. :) Just go with your gut. If you think it looks good, go for it. :)

[avery]

I would make sure my purse is black, as well as my belt. That ties it all together nicely. :)

You know, black comes in two undertones. One is more blue/black (or cool) and the other is more brown/black (or warm.) That is why you can hold two black items side by side and the tones are different. Well, besides the obvious more frequent washing of one over the other.

I personally love black with khaki. I also adore deep pecan brown or tobacco brown, as they sometimes call it. I wear this in the Autumn, mostly.

I think black looks super classy in the warm months with khaki. Pair it with black sandels, black thongs or black mules, depending on how dressed up you want to go. :)

[Stephanie]

Avery, black with khaki is my all time favorite look. I still can't find any khakis that look good on me, though. :lol: Add a bit of understated but nice jewelry and it's a pretty posh look.

[wavebaby]

Stephanie, if you are anything like me, you don't like the 'pooch-y" look of some khakis. ("pooch-y" being a technical term for excess fabric ballooning out in the tummy region in a most unflattering way:happy:)

I always go for a low rise (just under the navel, not too low), FLAT FRONT (NO side, slash pockets...they pull open & make tummies look awful, unless you don't have one:grinhappy: ) and NO pleats, ever. pleats are a tummy's worst nightmare! (again, unless you are tummy-less) also, i find a straight leg/boot cut balances the bum nicely, tapers are a no-no, and can make even the slimmest of girls look like a pear...unless you are super skinny, then pencil pants look quite chic. Flat front, no pocket (unless they are those horizontal pockets that don't cause bulk or "pooch-ing" ) boot cut or straight leg khakis look fabulous on just about everyone. they can be tricky to find, but when you find them, grab a few as they are classic & will never go out of style. i have a gorgeous pair from the Gap that they don't make anymore, so i am hoping they last for years to come. I also have an olive-y khaki pair of banana republic ones, if i can find them again i am stocking up!!

I bet you can find some that make you look fabulous!

(my outfit for work last week was tan khakis, a black cashmere wide strap tank, with a silver necklace that has alarge natural chunk of turquoise pendant, and a cluster of beaded bracelets on one arm, 2 sterling bangles, one turquoise bead bracelet & an amber bead bracelet all together, and silver metallic leather thong sandals. that is totally my style. that & really, really good jeans...they just go with everything. oh, and i have a shoe/boot/bag obsession too....

I seem to be rambling, off to bed now:happy: