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Styling black oxfords

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

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I bought a pair of cheapy black lace-up brogues last year and wore them quite a bit in the spring and fall. I've been looking for a higher-quality replacement, and when these Rockford ones went on sale in my size I jumped. They just arrived and I'm finding myself less enthused about them than I expected. The fit/quality is good, but they look really heavy on the foot, and I'm having a hard time imagining them in outfits.

My current pair has some tan around the sole, so I'm wondering if that makes them less heavy-looking than an all-black pair? Or whether an oxford, but in a lighter color, would work better for me. I'm imagining them being worn mostly with jeans, and maybe tights and skirts once it gets cooler.

I would appreciate any K/R thoughts or styling ideas.

Rockport Women's Alanda Brogue Derby Oxford

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Jenn

abc

Veteran

Hi Laura, I have had similar experiences with high vamp black shoes. Are you within the return window? If so I would lean toward return, but maybe it's worth a marathon session in the closet to see how things really look when paired with the shoes. Also, do you have a pic of the current ones to add to the post so we can contrast visually between the two? I am guessing there is some aspect like you mentioned to the old shoes that makes them read lighter visually, but it's hard without seeing them side by side.

Good luck.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

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Yes, they're returnable. I'm just really torn because they fit well, and they were a good deal. I thought I'd instantly love them, but I don't. But maybe I'm overanalyzing. Sigh.

Sal

Veteran

I think if you have doubts given they are not cheap I would return.

I like black flats with the following:
- Black or dark trousers
- jeans with a black top
- knee length dress or skirt with black opaques or patterned heavy tights

I do like that black 90s look....but I like to have lots of other dark things in the look to balance it out. Just my opinion.

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, I have similar problems with black oxfords. I usually go for a dark grey instead, like the ones below. I find it still gives that dark shoe look but is less heavy looking than black.

As for why black oxfords are tough? I'm not sure. I mean, give me a black boot any day, or a black strappy sandal, and I'm as happy as can be. The only thing I can think of is that the oxford isn't actually clunky ENOUGH but is also not delicate enough/doesn't show skin so it just looks heavy rather than tough or elegant?

Børn Womens Netties Oxford

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abc

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I just saw a post on facebook from Everlane talking about their black oxfords, they do have a brown sole and they read much lighter to the eye. I would vote return and keep looking for something that doesn't have that heavy look to them.

abc

Veteran

These

https://www.everlane.com/colle.....afer-black

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Those are loafers, abc. Oxfords have laces. I've seen black oxfords with the lighter sole, too, though. Zappos has five or six different ones.

Laura, is it possible your eye just needs to adjust because they're different than your old ones? Maybe you can put together some outfits and let us see. From the picture, they look really cute!

missvee

Veteran

I like the brogue detailing on them. What about changing the laces to a colour that you like? That might lighten them up a bit.

Aida

Veteran

Laura the lighter sole really does make a big difference. I think you'd feel a lot better in a pair like that.

MTBGirl

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I have the ones abc linked to and can vouch for their quality and fabness! Other than that I am following this thread closely.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

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I've got a couple pairs of loafers, including a plain black pair, and I like them fine - I think the slightly lower vamp, and the fact that I tend to wear them without socks or with no-show socks, makes the effect different than with oxfords - you get some bare skin showing even with full-length pants and that makes them look not so heavy. Oxfords are different, but as Diana said, it's not really about heaviness exactly - I wear black boots happily enough.

Sally, I also used to do the 90s thing and even wear oxfords with dresses all the time, but I have been wearing less black in recent years. I still have some black shoes - how can one avoid it, really - but maybe that's why this pair feels so out of place, because I'm not necessarily anchoring the black shoes with anything else black in my outfit, and my hair is a light enough brown that it doesn't come across as bookending.

The brogue detailing on these is lovely, but not really obvious from any distance, since they're so dark. And the leather is not shiny, which I appreciate from a easy-care perspective, but also makes them very visually heavy. I'm leaning toward returning, but I'll wait a couple days to see if I have a change of heart.

Greyscale

Veteran

I have a pair of men's black oxfords that I love and wear at least once a week - yet despite that, I agree that oxfords are really hard to style.

Ways I enjoy wearing them:
*with boyfriend jeans, rolled to show some ankle, with no-show socks
*or (for a more tomboy look) boyfriend jeans just folded up at the bottom.
*with a casual dress and no-show socks
*with black cut-off shorts
*very occasionally with black trousers

Ways I don't usually wear them, despite trying:
*with skinny jeans
*with dressy trousers - unless in a very androgynous outfit
*with skirts (the length is often wrong and they are stump-ifying on me)

Things I would like to try:
*with ankle socks
*with a white cotton shirt-dress

But really, they seem to fight against many combinations. The high vamp and heavy shape means they do best with some ankle showing, in my opinion.

You might have better luck with slimmer oxfords, the ones that look more like jazz shoes. I find that they are more versatile, though they're not my style exactly.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

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Thanks, Greyscale. If *you* can't make them work all the time, I don't feel so bad for thinking that I can't.

Unfortunately, the less chunky, jazz-shoe-esque oxfords just remind me of being in show choirs growing up, and not in a good way. I agree they're less visually blockish, but I have a poison eye for them. Plus they're not much more supportive than ballet flats, so I might as well just wear those then.

It occurs to me that in what I've been aiming for in my outfits recently - 'elegant androgyny' - the clothes are the less gendered part (jeans and a tee, say) but the shoes are where the elegance/femininity comes in. The other way around - a flowered dress with oxfords or DMs - feels less successful, or at least less me (maybe it's the 90s flashback, maybe there's something else going on too, I dunno).

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I've discovered as you have that all oxfords are not created equal. There is a fine line where they can become too clunky, too manly, too dorky, too flimsy, too light, too quirky, too dark, too colorful, too high, too flat, or whatever. I think everyone who likes and wears oxfords just finds the happy pair or few that fits their style, feet, personality and budget. So if you don't quite like them, send back and try something else.

unfrumped

Veteran

What cjh said.
I have several pairs, each with somewhat different characteristics and colors, and have not found even the "one to rule them all".
I have never been able to wear oxfords with dresses, the way they started showing up on the younger model set. Just does not work on me at all. And black, no for sure.
I have made some outfits with tights and oxfords and skirts for winter, using much more refined, slimmer styles.
I have black patent oxfords that I have liked with trousers--not with ankle pants--using a more typical menswear look, but with a more feminine top style. I will see if that still works this year.
Basically I have worn some of my more chunky oxfords as others might wear a bootie or shootie, with trousers and bootcuts.

My new epiphany this year is a love of laceless oxfords, again realizing that the kind of "shootie" look works for the way I wear pants and wear skirts with opaque tights in winter.

carter

Veteran

As you know I am not the oxford expert...loafers, sandals ok...oxfords not so much. However, you used the term "elegant androgyny" above. It reminded me of this post/picture:
http://thatsnotmyage.com/style.....or-autumn/

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Jenn

(website)

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Another thought, Laura. I've been happily wearing my dark taupe oxfords with just about everything. Would that color work in your wardrobe and maybe be more forgiving?

Frye Anna Oxford

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