Re: Brown in Town

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on August 02, 2006

In Reply to: Brown in Town posted by pamela on August 02, 2006

: : : : : : : we have had a disussion in work and are a little confused as to the which phrase is correct is it ' red and green should never be seen' or 'blue and green should never be seen?

: : : : : : A Google war gives it to blue and green, 437 to 139. Please note that that makes it more frequent, not more correct.

: : : : : I'd love to know the answer to this. My Gran said "Blue and green should never be seen, except with something in between", but I'm unable to find a source. And "Never wear brown in town" was (according to my Gran) also once held to be true (for men, I think). Pamela

: : : : It is surely 'blue and green' that must never be seen. The combination (as far as clothes go, at any rate) is horrible.

: : : : Red and green is OK.

: : : : DFG

: :
: : : "Never wear brown in town" is still live as far as my husband is concerned. His black shoes were ar the cobblers being mended, and he suffered dreadful embarrassment at having to go to London in brown shoes, even in casual dress. (VSD)

: : A previous discussion (try an archive search) gives it to red and green. ~rb

: VSD, what is the logic behind the "never wear brown in town?" (I am assuming from what you've said that town means London). Pamela

I don't know that "logic" is the word for it! But the English convention is, or was, that correct day wear for a gentleman in Town (for which read "London") is the city suit, in colours such as dark grey, pinstripe or black, worn naturally with a tie and black shoes. In the country a gentleman wears fabrics such as tweeds, cords and cavalry twills, in country colours such as olive and brown; these go with brown shoes, naturally.