We’re not going to make you read all the way to the bottom to reveal the answer to this popular question. The answer is yes, you can wear brown shoes with black. However, we’ll also show you the right and wrong ways to wear brown shoes with any type of black suit, jeans, chinos/trousers.
Here’swhat you need to know:
Brown shoes can be worn with black suits, but the shade of brown worn makes a big difference.
Brown shoes can be paired withblack jeans, but you need to think carefully about the type of shoes, or even boots, that you wear.
Brown shoes can also be worn with black chinos/pants, but like above, the shoe style and colour makes a big difference.
Let’s begin…
In This Story…
Brown Shoes & A Black Suit
You’re probably wondering why you don’t see men wearing black suits with brown shoes more often and put simply it’s because black shoes and a black suit is a safer bet.
If you’re inclined to try new things, then we recommend investing in a pair of high-quality brown Oxfords, brogues and or loafers to wear with your black suit.
The most important thing to remember when wearing brown shoes with a black suit is to choose a darker shade of brown. Tan shoes will NOT be suitable. Use the images above as a guide as the right shade of brown. Any lighter than this and we would say wear black shoes instead.
Keep things as monochromatic as possible on top. Too many colours and shades will not work. Bradley Cooper’s example above is what we recommend.
If you can, ensure your belt colour matches your shoes, otherwise,don’t wear a belt.
Brown Shoes & Black Jeans
One of our favourite combinations all year round is black jeans and brown shoes. Although, when we say shoes we really mean brown boots. What boots? Chelsea boots, hiking boots and importantly dress boots will work superbly with a pair of black jeans.
If you don’t own a pair of boots, don’t worry. Lace-up Oxfords, brogues and even loafers will work just fine. In this case with denim, lighter shades of brown shoes will also be suitable. See Justin Theroux above (far right) for an example of lighter brown (even tan) boots.
Brown Shoes & Black Trousers / Chinos
Last on our list is the black trouser/chinos question when wearing black shoes. Here you have more freedom to wear pretty much any type of brown and style of shoe.
We prefer the loafer, oxford or even monk strap in this scenario. Even brown leather sneakers would be suitable in this occasion.
NOTE: It’s important your trousers are not too long otherwise they will sit awkwardly on the shoe (like the image in the middle).
If you’re wearing loafers then you’ll want to ditch the socks and make sure the trouser length is on the shorter side. Complete the look with a leather jacket, black blazer or simply a well-ironed t-shirt or shirt.
There you have it, a simple guide on how to wear brown shoes with a black suit. Keep scrolling for more inspiration on what to wear with your black suit, trousers and jeans.
Getting away with black pants and brown shoes boils down to one word: contrast. Your shoes should be noticeably lighter than your black (or really dark) pants. While black shoes and pants are a must for formal attire (think black tie events and business formal suits), brown shoes with black pants are fair game.
As with suit pants, navy chinos work with any shade of brown shoe. Grey chinos look best with a lighter shade of brown, and the same rule applies for wearing black pants with brown shoes (yes, you can wear the two together!) For your classic khaki twill pants, think about a shade of chocolate brown or espresso.
Answer: Typically, it is not acceptable to wear brown leather dress shoes with a black tuxedo. Different than a black suit, a black tuxedo always falls in the category of formal wear and should be worn with formal shoes.
There's an old rule about not pairing black and brown together in an outfit. As with most fashion “rules,” this one is completely wrong. You can totally pair them!
While black shoes may be the most typical option to pair with a grey suit, brown shoes can balance out your look and give it personality. Light grey suits are the most versatile, and can be styled with light brown or dark brown shoes. For a mid-grey or charcoal suit, brown shoes in darker shades are best.
Because brown can be described as everything from dark chocolate to light tan, it can make your shoes very versatile depending on what color you get. Brown shoes look great with just about every color of suit, especially navy, grey and blue.
Whites, grays, blacks, creams, ivories, tans, and taupes are all neutrals, and that means they go well with most colors of footwear, including various colors of brown.
How to mix and match black and brown shoes. If you're going for a classic look, pair black shoes with brown. Black shoes are versatile and go with nearly everything, while brown shoes can add a touch of warmth to an outfit. If you want to make a statement, try pairing a bright pop of color with black or brown shoes.
If you're wearing black pants, then choose a pair of black shoes. For example, if you're wearing dark blue jeans and a white shirt with your black pants, then you can wear any color shoe — including brown or navy blue — as long as it matches the color of your jeans (or shirt).
Dark brown shoes may seem to match at a glance; however, they actually clash with your black pants. The similar shades actually draw attention to the mismatch in a negative way. Avoid wearing brown shoes that look similar to your black pants. Opt for lighter shades of brown that do not clash with your pants.
When paired with a blue suit, brown shoes look better, clash less, and are easier to wear in a mixture of settings. Yet, there is a huge difference even in the shoe styles and the shades of brown: a dark chestnut brown cannot be compared to a light tan, or a lace-up to a slip-on.
Rule #2: The color of your shoes and the color of your belt should ideally match exactly. Black shoes goes with a black belt, brown shoes goes with a brown belt, and so on.
BLACK AND BROWN: Whether these two colors can work together depends upon how dark they are; if they are both dark, they will not look good together. On the other hand, if the brown is some light shade, such as off-white, beige, tan or khaki, it can be a smart mix with black.
For designers, compensating for the most common form of color blindness means adhering to the simple rule “red and green should not be seen (together)”.
It was a huge fashion faux-pas to mix the two. You're either wearing brown or you're wearing black. Never both. But really both are neutrals and can truly be worn together when done right.
As a general rule, it's typically best to choose a brown shoe that is a shade or two darker than your suit color. This will ensure that your outfit has a distinct contrast.
A dark charcoal suit and brown shoes won't always look somber, but they will always look classy. So this is your grey suit, brown shoe pairing to bring out as a default. The fancier the event, the darker you should go. Always darken your shoes with your suit and up the formality of the shoe style as appropriate.
Black suits, including pinstripe, look best with black shoes. However, a dark burgundy colored shoe is also a great complement to this traditional suit. Brown or linen suits can be worn with all different shades of brown and black shoes.
Essentially, you're going for a somewhat warm and natural color palette. Although they aren't technically earth tones, brown dress shoes can also be worn with almost any shade of blue, gray, and white. A navy suit, medium blue suit, light gray suit, or even a charcoal suit can work with brown shoes.
A black suit is too formal for most workplaces. This rule goes for interviews as well. Stick with grey or navy, and leave the black suit for weddings and galas. Just because a black suit shouldn't be the first thing you buy doesn't mean you should ignore it.
Black shoes lack the versatility of brown shoes but make up for it in class and dressiness. Charcoal and black suits look great with black shoes and make a statement of tidiness when attending more formal events. Of course, if you are wearing a black tuxedo you should definitely be wearing black shoes.
Lessen the serious quotient with unexpected color combinations or subtle accents that will distract from your somber suit: bright pocket squares, colorful, patterned socks or a flash of silver via your tie bar. And you don't need to wear black shoes with black pants.
Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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