Favorite EG brown?

[DD MacDonald]

I'm considering a new pair of Greens - a brown shoe at home with gray flannels and khakis. Not a formal shoe, a shoe for odd trousers and jackets. Perhaps a monk or a Dover on a city last like the 888.

I've had luck ordering dark oak in a lighter shade and am wondering if members have any favorite shade of brown from EG.

Best,
DDM

[Collarmelton]

I just picked up a pair of the Canterbury (Adelaide oxford) in dark oak on the 888 last, and am very, very pleased with the color. In my opinion, it is a "richer" shade of dark brown than others I seen in New York shoe stores; a consequence, I think, of Green's factory polishing, which seems geared specifically toward giving new shoes a varied finish. After a month of wearing them, this color variation has only improved, especially around the creases that come with wear and the gash on the heel counter that the Fedex dogsbody made with his delivery dolly. I'd recommend the dark oak.

[BenedictSpinola]

I have a pair of Ladbroke's in dark oak on the 888 last. The colour is superb and gets better with age.

[DD MacDonald]

Collarmelton and B. Spinola, are the shoes that you have in calf?

I have a pair of Monmouths in their willow-grain leather in dark oak that I feel a little dark and lifeless. I ordered a pair of Malverns in calf and asked for a lighter shade that are marvelous. It would not suprise me if the fact is that the willow-pattern somewhat diffuses the shine of light from the shoes and deadens their color in consequence.

Thanks for your comments,
DDM

[Collarmelton]

DDM:

My pair are calf, which I believe is standard for EG's ready-made oxfords. The smooth finish shows off the color well.

[jcusey]

Collarmelton and Benedict are absolutely correct that EG's dark oak makes up beautifully, but you might want to consider one of EG's mid-browns like Chestnut Antique, Edwardian Antique, or Burnt Pine. All three are excellent for applications when a dark brown is not called for.

[Hartline]

I find that I invariable choose the dark oak or the burnt pine over the Edwardian antique and the chestnut antique. I have all four colors in a combination of Dover, Chelsea, and bespoke models. When it comes time to pick shoes, I always think that the latter two colors are a little two red/orange for whatever I’m wearing, which is usually some shade of grey.

I’ve not worn the Chelseas in chestnut antique several years. I keep them because they came from EG’s factory on Oliver Street, which is no more. The shoe trees that they have are different than the ones EG offers today. These have a hinge and feel solid. (They are similar to the trees Flusser uses.) I bought them at Bullock & Jones in San Francisco’s Union Square. That store had, in its first incarnation, a lovely shoe department. This particular model is a 202, with a full leather, slightly pitched heel with brass nails.

[Concordia]

FINALLY took delivery today from the EG trunk show-- Cadogans in Dark Oak on the 88 last. I am delighted, and think that this is probably the most clothing-friendly brown they offer. Chestnut is more beautiful in absolute terms IMO, but wouldn't go so easily with as many things.

[Will]

One of the good qualitites of the dark oak is that you can order it to look like a chocolate on the dark side or a burnt pine without the green overtones on the lighter side.