Ask Chris Black: Which Shoes Should I Wear to My Black-tie Wedding?

By,a style columnist at the Strategist since 2019.He is also a co-host of ‘How Long Gone’ and the founder of Done To Death Projects.
saved

Save this article to read it later.

Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.

Comment
Photo: Wes Ellis

Chris Black has returned to the Strategist with amonthly columnto answer all of your burning questions, from super-specific style predicaments and workout and tennis recs to foolproof host-gift ideas that will get you invited back to the beach house.

Looking for double-kneed pants that aren’t Carhartt.

The double-kneedpanttrend is not slowing down, and there seems to be no shame in blue-collar stolen valor. I got a pair of black Carhartt double-knees from my friend Mikael over a decade ago when we were shooting in Santa Fe and my RRLjeansripped so severely that I risked indecent exposure. I wore them into the ground. I still have them, patch long ago removed, and they look great. Anyway, here are some great non-Carhartt options.

OrSlow Double-Knee Utility Work Pants - Khaki
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Canoe Club

I have recommended OrSlow jeans here before, but everything it makes is right on the money. They are made from a lighter 100 percent cotton, so they will break in a little easier, which is good because we know you aren’t doing any manual labor in these. The curved rear pockets give them a different flavor than most.

Corridor Carpenter Jean in Brown
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Corridor NYC

This made-in-Italy pair from New York’s Corridor is dead simple in a great way. The hand-distressed shade of brown is perfect, and the fit is relaxed without being baggy. No logos, no funny business.

Patagonia Men’s Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Double-Knee Pants in Coriander Brown
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Patagonia

Hemp is quietly durable, which makes it a good choice for this pair of hemp-canvas double-kneed pants from Patagonia. It’s more abrasion-resistant than regular cotton-duck canvas, and, best of all, there is no break-in period. The pants are offered in several inseam lengths.

Rosa Rugosa Dufferin Double-Knee Pant
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Rosa Rugosa

Matty Matheson’s Toronto-based Rosa Rugosa offers its ten-ounce duck-canvas Dufferin double-knee in four great colors, including a fun “hickory stripe.” The pants feel durable but could also work in less casual situations, which is a nice bonus.

Which shoes should I wear to my black-tie wedding?

I avoid patent leather like the plague — I don’t know why, because it is a very traditional choice for wearing with tuxedos. It makes any suit look like a rental no matter how beautiful. We want to avoid that. These aren’t gonna be cheap, but your wedding look is the perfect time to splurge a little.

Bode Leather House Shoe
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Bode

This is not a super-traditional option, but depending on the fit and finish of your tuxedo, these black leather House Shoes from Bode could be perfect. They are simple, but the details make them interesting.

John Lobb Lopez Leather Penny Loafers
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Mr. Porter

You can’t miss with the high-shine polish on this pair of traditional penny loafers from John Lobb. It is just formal enough, and you will wear them for the rest of your life. They might last longer than your marriage.

Tricker’s Robert Bookbinder Leather Derby Shoes
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Mr. Porter

A simple, well-made derby is another great tux option that you can wear for years post-nuptials. These are made in Northampton from a unique “Bookbinder” leather that gives them a consistent high shine.

Belgian Shoes Mr. Casual in Ostrich Calf
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Belgian Shoes

For my money, this is the best shoe to wear with a tuxedo. The black ostrich is special and understated, the shoes slip on and off easily, and ultimately they feel elegant, which is how you want to feel in a situation like this.

Any recommendations for heavyweight tees for summer?

A lot of people love a heavyweight T-shirt; it feels substantial and has more shape. Technically, if it doesn’t weigh six ounces or more, it ain’t heavyweight. Anyway, it has risen in popularity, and I have done the work IRL and online to find some good options for you.

Kirkland Signature Men’s Crew-Neck Tee, 6-Pack
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Costco

My co-host onHow Long Gone,Jason Stewart, swears by these. They have just enough heft, a strong neck, and, since they are from Costco, they run a little big, so you can wash and dry without a thought.

Lady White Co. Rugby T-shirt in Black
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Lady White Co

This bad boy weighs in at ten ounces; they mean business. Everything L.A.-based Lady White Co. makes is simple, cool, and well constructed, and this big-boy T-shirt is no different. I would wash this one as often as possible; it retains the shape and vibe but breaks in nicely.

Los Angeles Apparel the 1801 6.5-Ounce Garment-Dyed Crew-Neck T-shirt
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Los Angeles Apparel

We can’t sleep on Los Angeles Apparel. It consistently cranks out some of the best basics in almost every category, and the price is right. “Garment-dyed” just means the shirt has been washed in dye after it was sewn, so the broken-in feel and color will be maintained no matter how many times you run it through the Miele.

Uniqlo Crewneck T-shirt
Saved
View
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Photo: Courtesy Uniqlo

This affordable option from the kings of basics at Uniqlo is the most popular heavyweight shirt in my orbit. I see it constantly on friends and enemies alike. The price is right, it comes in a wide array of good colors, and the neck will never go bacon mode.

The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Tags:

Ask Chris Black: Best Black-tie Wedding ShoesYour product is saved! You’ll receive emails when your saved products go on sale.Manage preferences.