As a default, most men will opt for standard black dress shoes to pair with a suit as they dress for a job interview, a work meeting, a wedding or a night on the town.
There’s nothing wrong with that selection, but men should be aware of and willing to try a different option to change their style or simply have another look as they dress to impress. Matching a pair shoes to a suit isn’t complicated, but it is an absolute necessity. The last thing you want to do is clash your sharp shoes with your pressed suit.
Fortunately, for men, the choices are fairly common.
There are three main shoe colors:
- Black
- Brown
- Tan
Those shoes are generally paired with the following five suit colors:
- Black
- Navy blue
- Charcoal gray
- Light/medium gray
- Brown
Here’s how to match the suit to the shoe:
Black: Often thought to be versatile, black suits actually aren’t flexible when it comes to shoes. A black shoe is the only option.
Navy: All shoe colors will pull off a clean and polished look when you wear navy for a special occasion.
Charcoal gray: Black or tan are your options when sporting a darker gray suit.
Light/medium gray: This suit, which has become increasingly popular in work settings, will pair well with all three shoe colors. Enjoy the adaptability!
Light brown or cream: Typically reserved for summer and often made from a lighter fabric, these light-colored suits require a complementary shoe of light brown or tan.
These guidelines will keep you in the right lanes for looking good and also give men the ability to show their personal style and flair when it comes to the shoes’ style, material and appearance. There are choices to make for loafers or laces, angles and cuts as well as leather or suede.
Our experts can help you dial-in a perfect look and offer advice with hundreds of suits and dozens of shoes from which you can choose. The 65 years the Libin’s team has been making Kalamazoo men look great offers first-hand attention that is unmatched.
