Brown shoes

Discount Store News, Sept 7, 1998

But then came dress-down days at the office, and the American population got old enough to believe that sneakers might not be appropriate for every informal occasion.

Thus was born the brown shoe, and it is credited not only with putting a crimp in the sales of manufacturers like Nike and Reebok, but also with contributing to a change in how America dresses.

But even if they're comfortable and casual, brown shoes can be a little dull. Manufacturers have taken that into consideration and made any number of efforts of latte to give brown shoes some pizzazz. Casual Fridays from Stamford, Conn.-based Emyco International were introduced recently as the shoes with a sense of humor, plus style and comfort.

While uppers are classic enough for work, the fun's in the sole. One design features a brick pattern, so no matter what they're doing, wearers will always be hitting the bricks. Another includes a number of coins, upping the ante on the penny loafer.

Casual Fridays are priced to retail between $70 and $85. They are available across the mass market spectrum and already have been picked up by shoe specialty chains like Father & Son and Florsheim, as well as value menswear specialist Today's Man.