Dumb question, does brown go with black?

[Couch-Commando]

I have mostly black shoes, belts and hats. My jackets are nearly worn out and need to be replaced. My current jacket which now has holes worn in it is a black lambskin A2 style bomber jacket. I'm currently looking to replace it. I'm looking at more authentic A2 jackets in goatskin or horsehide. I'm also considering a B3. Most of these jackets are only offered in dark brown. Would dark brown go with a black hat? I'm not very good at fashion. I usually don't care, but figure I'd like to get colors that match if at all possible.

 

[Superfluous]

There are different schools of thought, but I generally wear jackets that match my shoes (along with my belt and watch strap). I never wear brown jackets with black shoes. Likewise, I never wear black jackets with brown shoes. To my untrained eye, mixing brown and black leather looks discordant.

I divide colors into two different groups . . . earth tones and black/gray tones. I generally do not mix these two groups. Certain colors -- e.g., blue and maroon -- can work with either group depending on the shade. This is my idiosyncratic methodology for matching clothing. It often results in a rather monochromatic appearance, but I like that.

Plenty of folks here freely mix brown and black on a daily basis. True fashionistas also freely mix brown and black, and eschew my artificial barriers.

Like I said upfront, different schools of thought.

 

[miglan30]

I think brown shoes/belts go with black jackets (even prefer it), but black shoes do not go with brown jackets. Just my personal taste on the matter though....which means squat lol. I can't speak on hats.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I agree with Superfluous. No mixing brown and black for me. It just always looks mis-matched to me.
HD

 

[AeroFan_07]

All depends upon the occasion for me. For daily use, (and since I do have to wear metatarsal boots while at work, which are black in my case) I sometimes have to mix.

That said, for "semi-formal" or Smart Casual occasions, I always revert to what Superfluous stated initially. There is a protocol, and it's good to follow it at least most of the time. Especially if any level of professionalism is expected. Various areas of the country, this is much more important than others (South East and North East in particular).

As for a replacement for your lambskin jacket, I highly suggest Horsehide or even better, steer hide. Once broken in, you will not want to go back…although it will take a bit for that to occur. A2’s should be brown in my view (search Good Wear for some excellent choices). However, the bomber style does not work with my body shape, length, height, etc and preferences. So a Highwayman, 30’s Half-belt, or something similar might be a more versatile choice. I love not having the bomber waistband in nearly any jacket anymore!

Good luck with your search…

 

[Seb Lucas]

There are no hard rules on this but there may be strong opinions. Older folk like me tend to go with matching. I personally never match anything as I don't like the look of matching accessories - to me it looks fussy or like you've been dressed by your mum for church.

 

[Carlos840]

I like to match shoes and jackets. IMO brown shoes and black jacket or vice versa looks really odd.
On the other hand i ma pretty easy going with belts. I wear a lot of natural leather belts and i think the tone is different enough from black or brown that they don't clash together. I don't wear watches, but i would probably approach them the same way.

I would say try to match shoes and jacket together, and belt and watch together is probably the bare minimum.

 

[Mich486]

I think mixing brown and black well isn’t easy but I’d also steer away from having the same leather on jacket>belt>shoes. Same colour but different hides I think looks better (e.g. hh jacket and suede boots both in brown).


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[Doctor Strange]

I sometimes wear brown and black together... but only those two colors, I try to avoid a third color. For example, black jeans and a black T-shirt under a brown leather jacket (like my lambskin Wested Raiders) is a striking combo. (With this I wear a brown/beige/tan hat to match the jackets, not a black/gray one to match everything else.)

That said, the main footwear I usually wear are black sneakers (technically NB walking shoes), and I generally wear my brown jackets with those without worrying about it... Honestly, I don't think anybody's looking at my sneakers.

Oh, and for the record, my leather jacket that consistently has gotten the most wear over the last 17 years is a BLACK goatskin G&B Civil A-2. I love my brown jackets, but the vast majority of my clothing and hats are "Batman colors" - black, gray, blue - and a black jacket just matches better. (My most expensive jacket - a Good Wear Dubow in dull russet horsehide - while absolutely gorgeous, consistently gets the least wear.)

Re moving beyond lambskin... I've had jackets made of all the major hides, and for me, goatskin is the standout. Supple and comfortable but nearly indestructible, with that sweet pebble grain, and barely any break-in required... Yeah, I'm lusting after another goatskin jacket right now!

 

[TheMarriedHermit]

It might. I think that it depends on the color, shade, and texture of all the articles of clothing in the mix, not just the leather items. Some of them need to be matched, and others need contrast in order to make the whole outfit work, to "pull it off".

 

[Boyo]

for me it depends on the level of formality you're dressing for. casual weekends wearing jeans, tees and flannel shirts, mixing browns and blacks is probably ok. Work day & business attire- stick to matching

 

[Monitor]

I seriously couldn't care less. Actually no... I try to avoid matching. For the most part, I won't notice but when I do, it's usually when I've matched things too far. Hate the matchy-matchy look. Especially with the work or biker clothes we talk about here. But yeah, that's just me.

 

[ton312]

I like black and brown:

 

[JMax]

I like black and brown:

I think CL is overtaking my love of Vanson and LW. They just look spectacular.

 

[31 Model A]

Brown or earthly colors for day dress, evening dress, black...…….I'm sure you've heard that requirement for evening dress "black tie".

 

[ton312]

I think CL is overtaking my love of Vanson and LW. They just look spectacular.

That top one was mine...little small but a beauty...

 

[JMax]

That top one was mine...little small but a beauty...

I remember. That photo along with some of the other "CL guys" round here got that ball rolling for me. That one was amazing. In my current state of mind, out of all the ones you have chucked that one is the one I most would want unchucked.

As to the mixing and matching, I do it all the time. I will try to match the belt to boots but now even that is not 100 percent. More of a habit. Too matched makes me feel like I am trying to hard.

 

[ton312]

I remember. That photo along with some of the other "CL guys" round here got that ball rolling for me. That one was amazing. In my current state of mind, out of all the ones you have chucked that one is the one I most would want unchucked.

As to the mixing and matching, I do it all the time. I will try to match the belt to boots but now even that is not 100 percent. More of a habit. Too matched makes me feel like I am trying to hard.

Man this is the one I should've kept. Heaviest jacket I ever owned. Couldn't zip it tho but it was absolutely mint and some seriously heavy horse

 

[Carlos840]

That top one was mine...little small but a beauty...

Little small for you would have been perfect for me! Damn, i wish i had seen that one in the classifieds...

 

[ton312]

Little small for you would have been perfect for me! Damn, i wish i had seen that one in the classifieds...

It's on your side of the pond now...In Sweden if I recall. In fact both those Cals went to Sweden and not to the same buyer...