How to match suits and shoes

It’s something that we do everyday. We wake up, we do our morning routine and when we leave our house, we pick shoes to match our clothing. Sounds simple, right? However, many people don’t have a clue how to match items correctly (Hey – that’s why stylists exist).

For example – people tend to think that black is a universal color and that black shoes match with everything. Well, wrong. Can you actually imagine black shoes with brown suits? They do not match well. There are 3 main colors for shoes (that every man should have in their wardrobe at least): black, brown and oxblood/burgundy. But they don’t just go with any of the 5 main colors for suits: navy blue, light or medium-grey, charcoal grey, brown and black. The wrong shoe can ruin even the best suit. So we are here to let you know the right color combinations:

1. Navy blue suits: Goes with black, brown and oxblood/burgundy. Yes, this is the one suit color that goes with all the main shoe colors.

2. Light/Medium-grey suits: Goes with black, brown and oxblood/burgundy. Grey suits are less formal than blue suits, but they’re equal in terms of flexibility. You can pair them effectively with all three shoe colors.

3. Charcoal grey suits: Goes with black and oxblood/burgundy shoes. Avoid brown! Charcoal grey is a color that’s almost as versatile as navy blue. But, brown leather shoes just don’t match as well. It’s because brown is naturally less formal than the other two and the contrast created between brown and charcoal grey (which is similar to black) is quite stark.

4. Brown suits: Goes with brown and oxblood/burgundy. Avoid black. Brown suits go with most brown shoes until the shoes are darker than the suit. It’s the simple contrast that makes it look good. The reason why black is a no-go is the same reason charcoal grey doesn’t go with brown shoes. Those pairings just “clash” a little too much.

5. Black suits: Goes with black. Avoid brown and oxblood/burgundy. A pure black suit is the least flexible. Only pair a black suit with black shoes. Any other shoe color will look too casual with it. But, a black suit is never meant for casual occasions.