Matching your suit to your shoes isn't rocket science; it's not too hard to figure out what goes with what. Your eye (or your coworkers') is usually the best judge.
If coordinating colors isn't your area of expertise — nobody ever sat you down and told you what color lace-ups complement a navy or charcoal suit — all hope is far from lost. They are a host of online resources for suit-wearing guys like yourself — this one included. Below, we've taken nine popular suit colors and paired them with oxfords, brogues, and loafers to match.
Black
Any shoe color other than black is going to look too casual with a black suit. This is why most guys opt for charcoal gray or navy blue as an everyday-suit option. Moral of the story: Black suit, black shoes.
Suit: Reiss Harvey Modern-Fit Suit, $462, available at Reiss.
Shoes: ALDO Aboen Oxford, $125, available at Amazon; Cole Haan Brady Belgian Tassel Slip-On Loafer, $204.95, available at Amazon; Salvatore Ferragamo Casey Cap Toe Oxford, $720, available at Nordstrom.
Blue Indigo
Bluer than navy, this lively hue is ideal for wear in the summer. Tan monk-strap shoes, oxblood brogues, and black braided loafers will all coordinate well with it. The less "business professional" the suit color, the more color options you will have for your feet.
Suit: Suitsupply La Spalla Blue Plain, $999, available at Suitsupply.
Shoes: Florsheim Swivel Woven MC Tassel Slip-On Loafer, $149.95, available at Amazon; Reiss Conrad Pebble Grain Derby Shoes in Ox Blood, $165, available at Reiss; Antonio Maurizi for Suitsupply Light Brown Double Monk Strap, $349, available at Suitsupply.
Champagne
Soft beige suits are great options for formal daytime events and summer weddings. Pair yours with light-colored shoes: Whites, tans, browns, and navys are all great choices.
Suit: Zara Stretch Linen Jacket, $99.99, available at Zara; Zara Stretch Linen Trousers, $39.99, available at Zara.
Shoes: River Island Suede Loafer, $90.61, available at ASOS; J.Crew Kenton Suede Derby Shoes, $200, available at MR PORTER; Paul Smith Adrian Leather Derby Shoes, $575, available at MR PORTER.
Charcoal
Charcoal, like black, doesn't carry much in the way of color choice. You should never pair brown shoes with a charcoal suit: Dark browns look like you’re trying for a close match and coming up short, whereas light browns are too informal. Plain black works best; a deep burgundy (see the BOSS Black by Hugo Boss below) is a slightly more relaxed, elegant touch.
Suit: Bonobos The Foundation Wool Suit, $860, available at Bonobos.
Shoes: To Boot New York, $244.71, available at Amazon; Magnanni Rafa Bit Loafer, $299.90, available at Nordstrom; BOSS Black by Hugo Boss Neviol Oxford, $295, available at Amazon.
Gray
Stick with blacks and browns when wearing a gray suit. If you're wearing the suit with a white dress shirt and necktie, go for a classic black shoe. Matching your suits and shoes isn't a perfect science, of course; you should experiment with different brown tones to see which work best.
Suit: Brooklyn Tailors Super 120 Jacket, $710, available at East Dane; Brooklyn Tailors Super 120 Pants, $285, available at East Dane.
Shoes: Ted Baker Men's Fotiu Slip-On Loafer, $79.93, available at Amazon; BOSS Hugo Boss Men's Varmio Slip-On Loafer, $210.63, available at Amazon; Bruno Magli Maioco Lace-Up Dress Shoe, $302.63, available at Amazon.
Khaki
Summertime brings with it a lighter palette. If you have a khaki suit hanging in your closet, be sure to pair it with pretty much any color but black — the severe color will awkwardly draw attention to your feet. Navys, burgundys, browns, and tans should do the trick.
Suit: Brooks Brothers Twill Suit Jacket, $336, available at Brooks Brothers; Brooks Brothers Twill Suit Trousers, $150, available at Brooks Brothers.
Shoes: Aldo Men's Schooler Oxfords, $120, available at Amazon; Gordon Rush Julian Loafer, $175, available at Nordstrom; Suitsupply Blue Loafer, $249, available at Suitsupply.
Light Gray
A light gray suit looks great teamed with tan shoes. Standard black and browns will compliment it, but you have more versatility here and you should use it to show off your fashion prowess — because, yes, businessmen know how to dress.
Suit: Brooklyn Tailors Handmade Super 120s Wool Twill Jacket, $750, available at East Dane; Brooklyn Tailors Handmade Super 120s Wool Twill Trousers, $300, available at East Dane.
Shoes: H by Hudson Francis Wingtip Shoes, $195, available at East Dane; Allen Edmonds Neumok Wingtip, $275, available at Nordstrom; Harris Plain-Toe Monk Strap Shoes, $530, available at Barneys New York.
Navy
For most guys, the navy suit is the workhorse of their weekday wardrobe. It's professional and the most flexible of colors: You can pair a navy suit with black, brown, or burgundy shoes depending on the occasion. Black shoes are typical business dress, while brown are more relaxed — oxblood or burgundy offer the most playful, social vibe.
Suit: Reiss Saber B Slim Striped Blazer, $332, available at Reiss; Reiss Saber T Slim Striped Trousers, $162, available at Reiss.
Shoes: Grenson Dylan Leather Wingtip Brogues, $380, available at MR PORTER; Allen Edmonds Delray Moc Toe Oxford, $385, available at Amazon; Loake 1880 Rothschild Cap Toe Oxfords, $395, available at East Dane.
White
Suitsupply's white pinstripe suit has warm weather written all over it. For shoes, light browns leathers and suedes will coordinate perfectly — a muted gray Blucher is a great option as well.
Suit: Suitsupply Havana White Stripe, $499, available at Suitsupply.
Shoes: Florsheim Bucktown Plain-Toe Oxford, $80.50, available at Amazon; Tod’s Perforated Wingtip Bluchers $239 (originally $625), available at Barneys New York; Cole Haan & Todd Snyder 'Willet' Leather Penny Loafer, $268, available at Nordstrom.
READ THIS: This is the most practical wallet you'll ever use
SEE ALSO: There is an easy thing you can do to get rid of your dress shirt's yellow armpit stains