Mixing Neutrals: Brown and black in the same outfit

I love breaking a few rules as much as the next pattern clashing, red-lipstick-in-the-AM wearing gal, but mixing brown and black used to seem like the unbreakable law of style. Like I was when I was convinced I knew how to pronounce druzy, said I wouldn’t like margaritas, and swore I’d never be a dog person, I was wrong.

Just don’t tell my boyfriend, Lance. I assured him I am always right. (Har har.)

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During the STLFW blogger weekend, I was able to attend a brunch at the Brown Shoe Company HQ, which obviously has a giant shoe statue outside made of shoes. Duh. I had heard of Brown Shoe before–mainly in the sponsor listings for fashion-forward St. Louis events– but I didn’t know how many brands were affiliated. Vince, Naturalizer, Franco Sarto, Sam Edelman, Via Spiga, Dr. Scholl’s Shoes… the list of recognizable Brown Shoe brands goes on. Despite those household names, I was most familiar with Famous Footwear. Weird story: I avoided Famous Footwear for years because I had confused it with a budget shoe store I remember disliking as a child– a store I simply disliked then because I didn’t like shoes (ironic now). Come to find out, we actually don’t have a Famous Footwear in my hometown, which makes me double dumb. My sincerest apologies, Famous. I’m a total convert now.

At the brunch, Brown Shoe provided us with $25 giftcards to Famous Footwear. Yesterday, I took that giftcard, and one of the many available Famous coupons, down to a gigantic Famous Footwear in the ‘burbs, and walked away with these booties and money to spare… As in, nearly $8 left on the card, which will again stretch extra far, as they handed me another coupon with my receipt.

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I found these Madden Girl booties on a sale rack for $20, and then used my 20% off mobile coupon. The final price was $16 + tax, which is quite a drop from the original  $74.99 price tag.

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What I’m wearing… Jacket, Silver Jeans [SIMILAR] | Tee, Nordstrom Rack c/o Nordstrom [SIMILAR] | Jeans, AE [HERE] | Boots, Madden Girl ‘Zelouss’ Bootie at Famous Footwear, c/o Brown Shoe [Check your local Famous Footwear sale rack, or try these SIMILAR flats] | Jewelry, vintage

There’s something about slouchy tees and cuffed denim and brown boots (and discounts) that feels so… right. Maybe it’s the hints of Americana and rock ‘n roll, combined with serious comfort and ease? Honestly, I don’t care what it is; I’m sold on the end result. Brown isn’t the new black, but it’s black’s new BFF, and one of my new favorite colors. C’mon, it’s the same hue as coffee; I don’t know how I didn’t guess we’d get along before.

3 Comments

    • October 17, 2013 / 7:48 pm

      Thank you! And PS, I’m so glad you commented… Your blog is adorable. 🙂

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