To wear brown flat shoes to a City job interview?

[Neverbrownintown]

Would it mean instant rejection on sight?

Yes

For context. Heel has just broken on my only (black) heels. I'm on way to a freelance gig right now and won't be finished until 10pm. Interview first thing in morning.

Ah. Shit.

Never brown in town. Didn't they teach you anything in school?

You need to describe the shoes and the rest of your outfit. Also industry - in certain city law firms you might be ok, depending on what area and who is interviewing you. I’m inclined to think you’d be less ok in finance.

I wouldn't risk it

Sorry not helpful. It really depends on the type of role and firm. Certain parts of the city have become more relaxed in the last decade but certain firms are still very old fashioned in their expectations of clothing. Utilamtely it shouldn’t matter what you wear but we all know that’s not necessarily true.

Any chance you can stalk the firm pre interview go see what everyone is wearing?

Just pop in to your nearest 24 hour tesco and buy some cheap black shoes there.

Investment management firm. HR role.

I think Tesco shoes could be worse tbh - although will confess to not knowing what type of shoes they sell there...

Uneasy about Tesco shoes. I mean, I don't care personally, but if they're the type to care about brown flat (naice) shoes, then surely they'd also be unhappy with supermarket shoes?

No brown in town!

Even dh holds to that and he's a man who thinks well dressed is no motorcycle gear.

It rather depends what colour clothes you're wearing as to whether brown shoes will look totally unacceptable.

As far as being flat goes is that really a problem? What if you had a foot condition that meant you couldn't wear heels. With that mean you'd never be able to get a job in the city?

I would phrase the question differently, and ask yourself whether you really want to work somewhere that will care more about your shoes than your ability to do your job.

Yes, there are places in the City that like to impose the wearing of heels on female staff in some roles, but I'd expect the interviewer to be professional and to communicate a dress code at the point of the job offer. If you're smart and look well put-together, I'd still go for it in the brown flats. And if you do detect a disapproving glance in the direction of your footwear and feel you have to say something, you can always tell them about the broken heel then in a "God yes, I know, I've got my heels in my bag because I broke one at work yesterday" way and acknowledge your awareness of the code. I'd really hope it wouldn't come to that, but the City can be a fairly weird place: I can't explain why City men in suits treat a wheelchair user differently depending on whether or not she is wearing lipstick, for example, I can only tell you that in my experience they do.

Good luck, anyway: hope it goes well tomorrow, heels or no.

I work in the City. Hard to say without seeing them but I'd say no. many women I work with wear black or burgundy Russel and Bromley loafers, but I bet they all wore smart black flats or heels at interview.

Agree you need to get yourself to a 24 hr tesco and pick up something. I am sure they will sell a low heeled black court shoe of some description.

If the rest of your outfit is black, then no brown.

If you opt for something navy, then brown would be an acceptable colour pairing.

literally never looked at someone's shoes when interviewing before

I can't explain why City men in suits treat a wheelchair user differently depending on whether or not she is wearing lipstick, for example, I can only tell you that in my experience they do.

Awful. Arseholes.

Wear bare feet and tell 'em you're communing with the earth vibes.

What the hell is 'no brown in town'? I've just looked round my office (5 minutes from Fenchurch Street, so very much City), and 17 out of the 29 men I can see are wearing brown shoes! Mostly with blue suits, although there is one tweed three piece number and three chino and white shirt type outfits.

I was going to say that Lurking. My Grandma spent a lifetime trying to "educate" my Grandad into black shoes for town but judging by the young men I see heading for the station every morning that rule has long since become obsolete.

I think it generally depends whether the shoes go with the outfit. I've also noticed that young women seem to be rejecting heels for work in increasing numbers and good for them.

I have never heard "no brown in town" either and I've worked in the city for over a decade.

It would depend on the outfit as a whole. Surely if you looked presentable and professional it would be fine?

I think smart brown shoes could be fine with a navy outfit. I'd pair black with black though.

(Law firm partner in the City who does a lot of interviewing)

Can you borrow some from a friend?

I'd wear a smart, mid-height black heel.

If your interview is first thing in the morning can you pop to a late opening shop? M&S at Waterloo Station is open until midnight and again at 6.30am tomorrow - they have shoes upstairs.

A large percentage of the commuters who flood past my front door every morning seem to be wearing brown shoes (men and women) , they are all commuting into central London. I was at a meeting at MOJ, Petty France yesterday and lots of brown shoe wearers and very few women in heels

I've never worn heels in interviews, and have been offered quite a few of the jobs I went for.

Brown - hmmm. Depends on the rest of the outfit. I'd wear brown if eg my suit was beige. I think black is needed for blue though.