Outfit Examples
As shoes with more of a cultural dimension than a fashion one, I have paired them with Brioni trousers and a suit — another Roman house sharing the same cultural sensibility. Since both are guided by a philosophy of understated social refinement above all, there is nothing flashy about the combination, but it carries quiet dignity.
1. Footwear for a Classic Jacket Look
The timeless quality of the oxford makes it an excellent match for a classic jacket ensemble. Looking at the full outfit, no single element stands out — everything is balanced.
The outfit is a Formosa cashmere jacket with a Fray saxe blue poplin shirt, an E. Marinella yellow small-pattern tie, and Brioni trousers with a relaxed taper.
2. Compatibility with a Wider Trouser Hem
The Brioni trousers have a relaxed taper and a slightly wider hem, but Marini’s substantial construction holds the balance.
3. The Clean Silhouette of the Vamp
The clean silhouette of the vamp makes the foot appear slim and sharp.
4. Brioni Suit
Suit and shoes shaped by the same Roman cultural backdrop share a philosophy of dress, making them a natural pairing — understated yet weighty and classically refined.
Oxford
- Color: Black
- Upper: Llama Leather
- Sole: Calf Single Sole
- Size: 7 1/2
Outfit Details
- Shoes: Marini Oxford Shoes
- Cashmere Jacket: Sartoria Formosa
- Shirt: Fray (Cotton Poplin)
- Tie: E. Marinella (Silk Sette Pieghe)
- Suit: Brioni Brunico (Navy)
Closing
These Marini shoes took twenty years to acquire after first being recommended to me.
The price was a factor twenty years ago, but now that I have finally acquired and begun wearing them, I sense that the real reason I could not buy them then was a quiet judgment that I was not yet ready to carry them off.
One could dismiss it as “just shoes,” but there is something like dignity that an object can possess. The question is not simply whether you can wear them, but whether you can truly absorb them into your dress and make them your own. Looking back, I suspect that as a man in my thirties, I unconsciously judged it presumptuous to wear Italy’s oldest bespoke shoes — the shoes of Italian statesmen, business figures, and cultural luminaries.
Fashion is, in a sense, a print culture — authority, history, and culture all become branded. Among the masterpieces that remain in Europe without gaining traction in Japan, there are some with a depth that print culture simply cannot contain.
As I touched on in the article, even dress codes have ultimately been codified into print, and there are aspects of that which no longer align with the essence of what dress codes should be — expressing respect for others and, at times, one’s own standing in society.
On the surface, Marini shoes appear to be the pinnacle of exceptional Italian footwear, but the thoughts and philosophy of those who have loved the workshop and ordered from it over generations, and of the craftsmen who made each pair, give them a depth that goes far beyond merely exceptional shoes.
The Italian sartorial culture I have been drawn to and find so compelling lately retains, in abundance, the essential spirit of dress that modern society has largely forgotten — and that, for me, is its greatest appeal.
Shop
The Marini Oxford Shoes introduced here were purchased at Artigiano Ciao. Please refer to the Formosa articles for an introduction to the shop.
“Artigiano ciao” Global shipping is not supported. Come to the shop when you come to Japan.