Answer: Yes, I totally would (and do) wear the Deer Stags with my SDBs. I don't even hesitate to wear them into important meetings with people wearing multiple stars on their collars.
Why?
First and most importatnly, it's totally allowed by the Navy uniform regulations.
Article 3501.54Let's see...
Description.
a. Males. Plain toed, oxford style black, brown, or white, low quarter, lace shoe, made of smooth leather or synthetic leather. The heel shall be an outside heel 3/4 inch - 7/8 inch high with a flat sole.
- Plain toed? Check!
- Oxford style? Check!
- Black? Check!
- Low Quarter? Check!
- Laces? Check!
- Smooth leather or synthetic leather? Check!
- Outside heel 3/4 to 7/8 inch high? Check!
- Flat sole? Check!
Second, even if you ran into someone who didn't know the uniform regs allowed it, it's not like they would be able to tell the difference anyway. I mean, I'd have to stand up on top of the conference table and lift my pant legs for people to realize they AREN'T Bates shoes. Here, let's see if you can tell the difference. Which of these pairs of shoes are the Bates and which are the Deer Stags? (Answer at the bottom of the page)
Shoe A
Shoe B
Third, they are sooooooo comfortable. It brings me joy and puts a smile on my face to go for a walk because they feel THAT good. I've even had to run a couple of blocks in them to catch the bus once or twice.
(Answer to the recce quiz up above: Shoe A is the Deer Stags, Shoe B is the Bates)
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3 comments:
Well, if the shoe fits..
;)
The only reason I recognized the Bates is that the sole sticks out a little bit further. Does Deer Park make women's shoes too? I'd love to have something different than the Bates for uniforms.
In early '80s I did my one tour in the Building, EA to a 1-star who went on to become CNO. After a couple weeks, went down to the Concourse and asked the guy running the shoe store there to order a pair of size-12 half-wellingtons, good leather, black. When they came in and I'd worn them around the house to break them in, took them over to the shoeshine stand and paid the my new best friend over there to spitshine them. Then wore them every day for my two years aboard, my shoeshine guy keeping them spitshined at least once a week. And they were very comfy...
In two years I completely wore out these boots.
What's the point? I wore out the boots by walking the Building's p-ways. If you're doing a tour in the Pentagon - especially one like EA that has you working with lots of people all over the place - walk to see folks. Do not email, do not phone: see them face to face. The issues aren't necessarily any easier, but their resolution is.
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