I've decided to try and promote to Sergeant at my agency. The testing process involves a 15 minute presentation, a scenario panel, and a traditional interview panel. The panels each are 2 LT's and someone from outside the division, usually HR types or LT's from other agencies. The top 5 based on scores from the panels get a sit down with Sheriff and Undersheriff where the final results are decided.

So, I need to look professional. I didn't have any professional clothes at all so I went and got an off the rack suit at JC Penny. It is currently at a tailor shop getting fitted for me. What I don't know about are shoes. This is the only somewhat "nice" pair of shoes I own.

https://sasshoes.com/men/men-f...mens-navigator-black

The suit is navy pants, navy jacket, medium grey shirt. The tie is matching navy and grey with some pops of red to stand out.

Can I wear these black shoes with a navy suit and grey shirt???

This message has been edited. Last edited by: thumperfbc,

Yes.

But this is what I wear. A little more dressy that the look you're going for, though.

H&K-Guy

No. Those shoes are not "suit" shoes. They are nurse shoes or postman shoes.

You don't need to spend Allen Edmonds money on shoes you will only wear once or twice a year, but look at their website under dress shoes to see what are suit shoes.

Ecco makes a comfortable dress shoe. Again, stick to the dress section of their catalog. No cushy rubber soles or elastic stretchy sections.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd suggest a polishable pair of shoes. I wouldn't wear slip-ons to a job interview.

Find a discount retailer like Ross, TJ Max, Nordstrom Rack.

Go to their shoe section.

Find a black pair of shoes that are kinda shiny. Not parade shiny, but something approximating fine grain leather.

You should be able to find a nice pair of black shoes that go with a suit for $50 or 60 easily. Brands like Kenneth Cole, Cole Han, Aldo, etc should do.

I prefer dark brown shoes with navy, but that's just me, and judging from recent rants here, it's an age/generation thing.



Or this:



versus this:

quote:

Originally posted by Skull Leader:
Maybe it's just me, but I'd suggest a polishable pair of shoes. I wouldn't wear slip-ons to a job interview.

This!
You already have a $60 pair of black shoes.
Good quality shoes will automatically make you
smarter and better looking than anybody else.

quote:

No. Those shoes are not "suit" shoes. They are nurse shoes or postman shoes.

That's what I was thinking when I pulled up the picture....
Don't wear those shoes with a suit.

Aeteocles is on it. You don't have to spend a ton of money on a pair of shoes... but don't wear those.
He mentions Cole Haan. I've got at least half a dozen pair of Cole Haan shoes. They make both casual and dress shoes. Washington Grand Cap Toe Oxford retails for $400.00 but you don't have to spend that much. You can sometimes find them at the discount places, as mentioned.
Details
http://www.colehaan.com/washin...-leather/C26586.html

I agree a wing tip dressy shoe is good, a DRESS loafer is good too. I would NEVER wear a brown shoe with a blue suit. I also don't like grey shirts with a navy suit. Go with a pale off white ecrue. The outfit has too much blue in it. If you don't have a dressy watch and can't borrow one, skip the Timex or Casio types

I thought that might be the answer I'd get. I'll hit up the various local Ross/Marshalls/TJ Maxx type places and report back.

You definitely need some new dress shoes to go with the new suit. And they should be black.

quote:

Originally posted by Redford1970:
I agree a wing tip dressy shoe is good, a DRESS loafer is good too. I would NEVER wear a brown shoe with a blue suit. I also don't like grey shirts with a navy suit. Go with a pale off white ecrue. The outfit has too much blue in it. If you don't have a dressy watch and can't borrow one, skip the Timex or Casio types

What's a dress loafer look like? At this point I honestly wouldn't know it if you threw it at me.

I don't own any watches, actually. I'll just go without. I think as long as you make a solid attempt at dressing professionally you are good to go. We're all law enforcement, everybody knows what time it is, ya know?

Honestly, my plan was to rent a suit. I'll wear a week from Friday and when I score top 5 I'll wear it again the following Monday. However, the JCP clearance suit was about 80% off and cheaper than a rental so it made more sense to buy.

No loafers. Wear well shined dress shoes with laces.

I used to spend a lot of money on shoes, but when I had plantar fasciitis, I needed room for orthodics. I found Rockports, which has all kinds of styles, black, browm, etc. Dressy shoe looks classic, last a long time and are not expensive.

Look at http://www.zappos.com/p/rockpo...duct/7323951/color/3

My suggestion, go to Nordstrom's or such and find one of their sales associates that's actually helpful and tell them what you're going through. They will help you pick out appropriate shoes, belt, shirt, tie etc...

You'll pay more than JC Penney or whatnot, but it's nice to have someone with a trained eye help you out.

When you get your shoes, be sure to break them in before your interview. Last thing you want during an interview is to have a nagging feeling about how much your damn feet hurt.

Also, match your shoes to your belt. Dark blue suit should be dark brown shoes & belt.

Black is the traditional shoe color with navy, or a dark oxblood or cordovan colored shoe is also traditional. But the fashion now is for lighter brown to tan shoes with navy or gray.

I don't care for that trend to brown shoes, but it is in style at the moment. I am a geezer, and Aetocles is young and hip.

Lace-ups are more dressy than a loafer, but a dressy loafer is absolutely acceptable with a suit. Here is a dressy loafer. (You could get a similar shoe with tassels, too.)

http://www.zappos.com/p/cole-h...uct/8180930/color/82

For the most conservative, "suit-iest" shoe, you can't top this style. (And that isn't a bad price, but they still aren't cheap. An Allen Edmonds shoe will last you twenty years, though, and be more comfortable than a $100 shoe.)

http://www.zappos.com/p/allen-...ct/118479/color/8607

JAllen's example would be a good choice. They aren't to my taste, but they are "suit" shoes.

quote:

but it is in style at the moment.

Don't go for current style, go for what's classic and conservative.

Rockports are some of the only "dress" shoes I can get on my feet. They have several styles in 4E, I have 3 different pairs of their black dress shoes. One for work, one for church/social, and another for suits. The last ones are the oldest and the most uncomfortable because they aren't really wide enough, but I don't wear them very often.

They are pretty good shoes though.

quote:

What's a dress loafer look like? At this point I honestly wouldn't know it if you threw it at me.

http://www.colehaan.com/mens-p...12767_color=Burgundy

I love my walnut Fifth Ave A-E. I frequently wear them with Navy.

In Modesto, head to Macy's. You'll find Bostonians for $70-120. A nice simply dress shoe is fine, not the SAS stuff (plus, you're not 72 years old). I wear Bostonians for my everyday dress shoe and they'll last quite a while. I usually spend $80 or so. Heck, Penny's would have a decent selection of mid-level Docker shoes.

If you're able to travel, does Stockton or Tracy have outlet malls? Come up to Sacto and you'll have Nordstrom Rack and the outlets in Folsom.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

What's a dress loafer look like? At this point I honestly wouldn't know it if you threw it at me.

la,channelnline&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7p3dmPG71QIVSTaBCh0SYA2zEAYYBSABEgLuOvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CNi-_53xu9UCFYlTDAodtlUJbQ" target="_blank">http://www.colehaan.com/mens-p...3xu9UCFYlTDAodtlUJbQ

Some would argue those aren't really suit shoes, and would be more like sport coat and slacks shoes, but I have certainly worn semi-dressy tassel loafers with a suit. And that oxblood color looks good with navy.