How To Match Your Shoes With Suit (Or Dress Shoes) In 3 Minutes

 

Pairing your suit with the wrong color shoes can completely ruin your look and make you appear sloppy and incompetent.

So, what are the right combos?

In this 3-minute read article, you’ll find out how to correctly match your shoes with suits (or dress shoes).

You’ll learn:

  1. What color shoes go with a black suit?
  2. What color shoes go with a gray suit?
  3. What color shoes go with a charcoal suit?
  4. What color shoes go with a wine suit?
  5. What color shoes go with a navy blue suit?
  6. What color shoes go with a brown suit?
  7. What color shoes go with a beige suit?

 

#1 What Color Shoes Go With A Black Suit?

Great matches:

  • Black color shoes

Let’s be real: This suit is not for everyday wear. You’ll mostly need it for:

  • Formal business settings

  • Black-tie events

  • Funerals

So, a black suit will look best with black shoes.

Other shades like tan, brown, burgundy, or wine won’t match well and will look less formal.

 

#2 What Color Shoes Go With A Gray Suit?

Great matches:

  • Black shoes

  • Brown shoes

  • Light Tan shoes

  • Burgundy/wine shoes

Gray suits are less formal, but they are just as adaptable.

You can confidently pair gray suits with tan, black, brown, or burgundy/wine shoes for both business and social settings.

If you're wearing a medium-gray suit, then black would be the best choice for your shoes.

 

#3 What Color Shoes Go With A Charcoal Suit?

Great matches:

  • Black shoes

  • Burgundy/wine shoes

For a classy and elegant look, stick to black shoes.

If you want a slightly relaxed but still classy style, deep burgundy is also a great option.

Avoid: Tan or brown shoes with a charcoal gray suit. The contrast is too strong, and tan/brown is naturally less formal.

Charcoal gray is almost as versatile as navy but gives you a more mature look.

 

#4 What Color Shoes Go With A Wine Suit?

Great matches:

  • Black shoes

  • Black patent leather shoes

Just like the black suit, a wine-colored suit is a statement piece, and it’s not something you’d wear every day.

Wine suits work best for formal events like weddings, formal dinners, and date nights.

Stick to black shoes for a wine suit.

Avoid: Tan, brown, or burgundy shoes—they won’t complement the look and will throw off the elegance.

If it’s a wedding, black patent leather shoes are a perfect match.

 

#5 What Color Shoes Go With A Navy Blue Suit?

Great matches:

  • Black shoes

  • Dark Tan shoes

  • Dark Brown shoes

  • Burgundy/wine shoes

Shades like black, dark tan, brown, and burgundy blend well with navy blue without being distracting.

Blue gives off a sense of trust and calm, making a navy suit a great choice for job interviews.

It pairs easily with most leather shoes, helping you look confident and composed.

  • Black shoes = Formal and professional

  • Brown shoes = Relaxed and approachable

  • Burgundy/wine shoes = Stylish and creative

 

#6 What Color Shoes Go With A Brown Suit?

Great matches:

  • Dark Brown shoes

  • Light Brown shoes

  • Burgundy/wine shoes

Brown shoes match brown suits, but contrast is key.

Make sure the color of the brown shoes is different from the suit—if they’re too similar, the outfit will look off.

Darker brown shoes usually work best to avoid drawing attention downward.

For the best contrast, burgundy or wine shoes are an even sharper choice.

Avoid: Black shoes with a brown suit.

 

#7 What Color Shoes Go With A Beige Suit?

Great matches:

  • Dark brown shoes

  • Burgundy/wine shoes

Beige suits are less formal, just like gray suits.

Beige suits have a relaxed, stylish appeal and are perfect for semi-formal and smart-casual occasions. Unlike darker suits, they offer a softer, more approachable look.

You can confidently pair a beige suit with dark brown, burgundy, or wine shoes—these colors complement the warmth of beige beautifully.

Avoid: Black shoes with a beige suit. Black is a highly formal color that creates too much contrast, making the outfit look stiff and mismatched.

Instead, stick to earthy tones like brown or burgundy to keep the look classy and elegant.

 

Summary: Suits And Matching Shoe Colors

Black Suit

✅ Best Matches: Black
❌ Avoid: Brown, Tan, Burgundy/Wine

Gray Suit

✅ Best Matches: Black, Brown, Light Tan, Burgundy/Wine

Charcoal Suit

✅ Best Matches: Black, Burgundy/Wine
❌ Avoid: Brown, Tan

Wine Suit

✅ Best Matches: Black
❌ Avoid: Brown, Tan, Burgundy/Wine

Navy Suit

✅ Best Matches: Black, Dark Tan, Dark Brown, Burgundy/Wine

Brown Suit

✅ Best Matches: Brown, Burgundy/Wine
❌ Avoid: Black, Tan

Beige Suit

✅ Best Matches: Dark Brown, Burgundy/Wine
❌ Avoid: Black, Tan

 

About Warewood Shoemakers

Established in 1989, Warewood Shoemakers specializes in handcrafted, customized shoes for men. Every pair is made with precision using premium leathers. The best part is, we can customize your shoes in any color, leather, shape, or style—even if you have broad, narrow, or flat feet—with sizes available up to UK 18.

 

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