Fort Belvedere has christened this model of trousers the Stancliffe, evocative of a stately English manor house secluded amongst verdant trees and rolling hills, redolent with a life of ease, sport, and gentlemanly pursuits.
Dark Brown = Versatility
While not utilized as widely as blue and gray, brown is a foundational color in Classic Menswear and this versatile shade of dark brown will immediately become a staple piece in your wardrobe. While brown is one of the most common colors selected for corduroy, the unique sheen and rich depth of this shade sets our Dark Brown apart.
How to Wear Dark Brown Corduroys with Shoes Socks?
Dark brown is especially suited to other earth tones, which will appear brighter in comparison. Two-toned brown socks, for instance, will have a warm but still formal effect, while mid-brown will have an unusual brightness. Brown socks that incorporate other colors, like brown and bright blue, will afford an easy opportunity to introduce colors that can be picked up elsewhere in your outfit.
Dusky bright shades also pair elegantly with dark brown, such as burgundy or caramel. Most shades of green, especially those that emphasize an earth-toned appearance, will also be easy to pair. Medium and lighter shades of blue are another great choice, especially when set off by vibrant shades like orange. Be aware, however, that dark blues can become lost and muddy against dark brown, as can black.
Footwear Colors
Because black shoes should generally not be worn with dark brown trousers, you have the opportunity to explore a wide array of other options. Dark brown leather shoes that have visual distinction, either from suede texture or detailing like buckles on monk straps or prominent brogueing, can pop against the corded texture of the trousers. Mid-browns will appear brighter and higher contrast by comparison, and lighter tan shoes will pop beautifully: achieve a combination effect with two-toned shoes like spectators. Warm red-toned leathers, like oxblood, will also appear especially vibrant and clear in comparison.
Boots + Corduroys = Winner!
Boots, especially boots with contrast elements like suede, are always an excellent companion to corduroy because of the intersection of transitional-weather seasonality and unexpected texture. Any variety of brown or red boot will appear elegant with these trousers, especially with the inclusion of unique detailing or visual interest like buckles or suede texture.
Summer Shoes + Corduroys = Faux Pas
In general, be wary of pairing corduroy with hot-weather footwear. As a rule of thumb, the fabric is simply too heavy for use with any style of shoe with which you might wear no-show socks.
Outfit Ideas for Dark Brown Corduroys
To prevent our lower half from appearing too dark, let’s ground the look with a pair of tobacco-brown ankle boots, with purple and dark green socks to bridge the elements. We can subtly highlight the purple in the socks with the addition of a plain lilac dress shirt.
Let’s continue the trend of maintaining a lighter upper half with a wheat herringbone sport coat and blue shirt, set off by a darker blue pocket square. A tan belt bridges the transition from the bright shirt to the dark trousers. The bright tan monk straps finish off the look with flair, but transition harmoniously into the dark trousers thanks to gray and turquoise striped socks.
Finally, for a darker color palette, let’s wear oxblood tassel loafers with red and gray socks and a burgundy sweater. The red tones bring out the warmth in the dark brown and this look is sure to help us keep the chill away.
In general, the weight of corduroy requires a certain balance between your upper and lower half which is easily accomplished by layering. The simple addition of a sport coat will go far in making an outfit with corduroy look exceptional: focus in particular on textured fabrics, such as tweed, that will contrast while harmonizing with the cords of the trousers. Be wary, however, of hot-weather textured fabrics like seersucker, which is too seasonally incongruous to wear with corduroy.
You can achieve a similar effect with knitwear, such as a tennis sweater in the warmer months or cardigan in the cooler: add a scarf during colder weather to ensure that your upper half is as insulated as your lower.
Questions?
If you have questions or need style advice in choosing a pair of socks for yourself or someone else, let us know, we are happy to help.
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