Flashes question

[Nanook]

I may be funny, but I do not think that Black & brown combination works, but we need to see the outfit to give a proper opinion, so picture please

Black and brown don't go together. Black can go with burgundy, oxblood or even tans such as oatmeal but not brown. Brown hose and black shoes is not a good combination just as black hose and brown shoes are, as one used to say, only for cads. Tradition holds that brown shoes are only for day wear and only for use the countryside--- never wear brown shoes at any time of day in the city was the steadfast rule. Since brown hose does not go with black shoes its use too is limited to brown shoes and, at best, in the countryside. I think if one is set of wearing brown shoes in daywear then one is restricted to tans (including oatmeal, eggshell), greens or red hose--- tartan hose might coordinate but is more formal or ceremonial and thus worn with black shoes. Solid blue is towards black and so does not go well with dark brown shoes. Red can go with both black and brown.
For more on colours please read Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Zür Farbenlehre" (Theory of Colors) as its really the basis for much of our models of colour harmony and coordination (Chicken or Egg).

[Panache]

Nanook,

You wrote:

"Black and brown don't go together"

I respectfully disagree. I think that black and brown work if you do it carefully. Here is a picture from our last Bay Area Kilt Night:



I am wearing a brown and black patterned shirt, brown beret, a black belt, black sporran belt, a brown and black freelander, and (though you can't see it) brown hose, black flashes, and black shoes. I personally think this is a pretty neat combo. It may not be super traditional looking, but colorwise it works.

Cheers

[cavscout]

Marine Corps Service Uniforms incorporate Black with Brown (Olive)



Sharp, when done right.

[MacWage]

Marine Corps Service Uniforms incorporate Black with Brown (Olive)



Sharp, when done right.

EXACTLY!!!

When done RIGHT!

If not, it looks mis-matched. There needs to be a SPECIFIC rhyme and reason, so there is coordination. Otherwise, it looks like someone either doesn't know better or can't see. Ex-> brown shoes with an otherwise black suit.

Done well-> a black wool fedora with a brown leather band.

[Nanook]

Marine Corps Service Uniforms incorporate Black with Brown (Olive)



Sharp, when done right.

The uniforms are not brown but olive green which is a green and not a brown tone. They are also called, if I'm not mistaken, "Greens". Green, even olive, and black can go together. That is, however, not the urban, dress or ceremonial uniform. The "service uniform" is day wear where also brown shoes can be worn. That's also why the tone of such working uniforms has in the last 100+ years been selected from among earthy colours ranging from olive green to khaki.

The Marine Corp dress uniforms are blue.

Dress uniforms tend to use clean whites, crimsons, blues and yellows but rarely (I'm trying to think of one but can't) browns. Clothing with the colours of dirt and excrement might have some practical advantage in battlefields but hardly convey the semantics of a noble or well mannered gentleman. Brown shoes are fine (and I own quite a few pairs) but only in their context.

The only modern brown uniforms that come to mind are the brown shirts of fascists. They were (are) neither well mannered nor gentlemen. They were historically paramilitary formations and the clothing was for battle and to spit in the face of civil manners.

Etiquette is, of course, a strange beast. Even among formal occasions there is much more than just "Prince Charlie". Morning affairs or even formal tea calls for quite a different attire (and not day wear) from evening (where there are loads of sub-categories among black and white tie events). And even day wear is not always just day wear...