What Color Shoes With A Brown Suit? (Outfit Ideas)
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Brown is a favored color for shoes, though not the primary choice for suits. Navy and black are more popular suit colors, making the decision on shoe color easier. This raises the question: what color shoes with a brown suit?
Styling brown can be a bit tricky, requiring knowledge of colors that match and complement the suit. Choosing the wrong shoe color has the potential to ruin the overall outfit. So let’s explore some of the best shoe color combinations that complement brown suits.
What Color Shoes With A Brown Suit?
The shoe colors that best complement brown suits are brown, beige, navy, burgundy, grey, and white shoes.
Sometimes the choice of shoe color can be influenced by the shade of brown in your suit. In this instance, the selected shoe colors I’ve chosen effectively complement all shades of brown in any suit.
Brown Suit With Brown Shoes
The straightforward option is to match your brown suit with brown shoes. However, it’s crucial to ensure that the shades of brown differ, creating a noticeable contrast, even if you aim for a monochromatic look.
Typically, the rule is to go darker with the shoe color as the suit gets darker. For a light brown suit, opt for tan or cognac shoes to provide a subtle contrast. If the suit is dark brown, choose darker brown tones such as mahogany or chocolate for a polished look.
Given that the shade of your brown shoes will differ from your brown suit, your belt needs to align with the same tones as your shoes. A white shirt paired with a navy necktie will introduce the necessary contrast, enhancing the overall stylishness of the outfit. Complete the look with a navy or brown leather watch.
Brown Suit With Beige Shoes
Beige shoes are typically not the number one choice among men and are often overlooked in favor of brown shoes. Beige, a pale sandy fawn color, falls into the spectrum of yellowish brown or grayish tan. However, beige can look quite appealing when paired with the right shades of brown in your suit.
While beige shoes can complement any shade of brown in your suit, it’s ideal to pair them with lighter brown suits. Reserve dark brown shoes for pairing with dark brown suits. Lighter shades of brown convey a more casual vibe, and since beige shoes also exude a casual charm, they create a harmonious and stylish combination.
Incorporate shades of blue and navy into the rest of your outfit. Pair a light blue shirt with a navy necktie for a bold contrast. Instead of a beige belt, opt for a navy one to enhance the overall look, and complement it with a navy watch to coordinate with the tie.
Brown Suit With Navy Shoes
One of the most classic and timeless combinations in men’s fashion is pairing a navy suit with brown shoes. It’s safe to say that coordinating your brown suit with navy shoes will also result in a stylish ensemble.
Navy shoes serve as a versatile and secure choice, regardless of the brown shade in your suit. They complement lighter brown tones like caramel, taupe, or beige, creating a visually attractive ensemble. Whether it’s navy loafers, moccasins, or oxfords, they all make excellent options in this context.
You have the flexibility to choose between a light blue or white shirt, both of which complement a brown suit splendidly. A navy necktie creates a striking contrast with a brown suit. With navy shoes, opt for a matching belt, and a navy leather watch.
Brown Suit With Burgundy Shoes
Burgundy shoes may be seen as a bold choice, but the reddish-brown hue effortlessly harmonizes with different shades of brown, infusing sophistication and elegance into the overall outfit. Burgundy shoes pair exceptionally well with brown pants.
For casual or spring and summer events, opt for a reddish-burgundy pair of shoes with lighter brown hues like beige, taupe, and tan. Choose darker burgundy shades for shoes with dark brown suits, providing a slightly more formal look suitable for daytime in autumn and spring.
You could choose a white or light blue shirt for this combination, but a light pink shirt strikes a perfect balance between burgundy and brown, sitting harmoniously in the middle of both colors. Maintain the rest of the ensemble in burgundy tones, including a burgundy tie, a matching belt, and a burgundy leather watch.
Brown Suit With Grey Shoes
While not my primary preference for a brown suit, grey shoes can introduce a touch of formality to your brown suit, making it ideal for a casual business meeting or a day at the office. This combo achieves a well-balanced and elegant appearance.
The formality of your outfit is significantly impacted by the choice of grey shoes, with the various shades playing a pivotal role. Opting for dark grey shoes with a dark brown suit creates a formal and serious appearance. Conversely, pairing a light brown suit with light grey shoes creates a casual and approachable vibe.
Pair your brown suit with a light blue or white shirt based on your color preferences. Coordinate the grey shoes with a matching belt, a charcoal necktie, and a grey watch for an added touch of crisp sophistication.
Brown Suit With White Shoes
White, as a versatile and neutral color, seamlessly complements various brown shades, imparting a relaxed and casual aesthetic to fashion. Due to the casual nature of white shoes, they pair better with a light brown suit, although they can also be worn with a tan or dark brown suit if desired.
As you don a brown suit with classic white shoes (avoid sports sneakers), it’s preferable to pair it with a plain white T-shirt or a white shirt. Avoid the mismatch of a white belt and instead choose a brown one in a shade that differs from your brown suit. Complete the ensemble with a brown watch and a pair of sunglasses.
How To Match Shoes With A Brown Suit?
Choosing the right shoes to match your brown suit requires consideration of color coordination, seasonal relevance, and the specific occasion.
Focus On Color
The critical aspect is to ensure that the color of your shoes complements your brown suit well; it sets the tone for the overall appearance, with other elements falling into place accordingly.
Understanding that brown, beige, navy, burgundy, grey, and white shoes complement brown suits offers a solid starting point. Tailoring your choice based on the occasion and seasonal context allows for a more refined and suitable selection of shoe colors to match your brown suit.
Focus On Seasonability
Shoe color choices aren’t restricted by seasons, yet certain shades like navy, dark grey, and burgundy often complement winter styles, while white and beige tend to resonate more with summer looks.
The style of the shoe you choose can influence your overall look. For instance, loafers and boat shoes often suit summery vibes, nudging towards lighter color choices with your brown suit. Conversely, grey or brown boots are commonly associated with winter wear.
Focus On Occasion
A brown suit offers versatility for various casual occasions. For cocktail parties or smart casual business events, opt for darker shoe colors like dark grey, navy, dark brown, or burgundy, while lighter shoe hues like light brown, beige, or white complement casual daytime gatherings, offering a balanced and appropriate look.
Common Questions
Can I Wear Black Shoes With A Brown Suit?
I’ve observed men wearing a brown suit with black shoes, and it doesn’t look bad. However, I believe black shoes introduce a high level of formality to a casual color (brown). Personally, I would prefer to pair a brown suit with dark grey shoes, as they provide a less formal appearance.
BROWN COLOR GUIDES