I received my order for Munro oxfords. I tried some rapid stylings and I'll share my thoughts on what I see--but I could really use some input.

I actually tried both a burgundy/black patent and the bronze/brown ones shown here. I've excluded the burg/black because they are TOO dark and I think the patent is not as giving for comfort and they're just not right. I went on with the brown because the color is more mid-range though still dark.

Pics 2-3 are with nude hose and skirt with several tops styles. Right off the bat I can't take this look. Too much pale leg and dark high-vamp shoe and I feel like a granny.
It could be "it's the shoe," but in reality I think I do not like me in pale hose/flats/pencil skirt for work at all.

Pic 4 is a blouse with dark hose.
#5 is the styling I like best. I tried darker but sheer-ish hose--off-black is all I have on hand--and with the sweater/skirt/oxford and to my eye I think it works. It is much more "me." But is it "good" or just not as bad ?

Next is pants--these are "sort of" straight but but to use as an example, that I think I would enjoy wearing these shoes with pants. That is important for CPW --not as good for me to have "skirts only" shoe except with maybe with fun inexpensive shoe.

So here is a summary:
-- I think I may be in the market for a more stylish wing-tip shaped shoe, but this brand fits better than some I've tried. I like saddle oxford looks, but not with a lot of contrast for work.
--for the higher-vamped shoe, I need not-black; need more mid-range color, and maybe even much lighter than this one, though if too light it doesn't go with work wardrobe and is harder to style with tights (see next item!) . I have ordered some summer-tan oxfords to try for summer-casual.
--I just really need to have some kind of darkened hose, for a tonal look, to feel happy in skirts at work, but am happy to go sheer. So I need to see what "colors" work but avoid "suntan" look--intentional dark grays, indeterminate taupe/brown, or something.
--I need a low and stable heel. Really 1/2 to 1' is best. If the shoe depends on a 2" heel to achieve its style quotient, it's the wrong shoe.
--these shoes could be a bit dressier with a narrow shoelace instead of the floppy look.
-----these are not really late spring-summer, so if they're not going to be "in" next fall-winter, I shouldn't get them.

Now on to you: are they too frumpy no matter how styled? Too bullet-shaped? If too tapered, they aren't good for my feet; too "big" and I feel like Minnie Mouse. Bad color? Maybe a more yummy taupey-brown.
I don't have a good eye for these, as many of today's oxfords look like what I wore and even what my mother wore years ago.
--if I'm on the fence, I could keep these a few weeks but not wear them, while checking out some more spring merchandise. But then they will really be "next year" shoes!