Which suit shoes to choose? The complete guide for men.
Probably every man sooner or later faces a very important question: which shoes to choose for his suit? This duo is so inseparable that we usually plan to buy shoes and a suit at the same time. We also all know that the two pieces should blend together, but how do we achieve this effect? There are certain rules governing the choice of footwear for such an elegant outfit as a suit. It's worth knowing them so that you can make a good impression in any situation, and above all avoid a fashion slip-up.
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A stylish man's wardrobe should include suits for a variety of occasions: very elegant ceremonies, for work and some sporty ones. However, not all of us have this approach to our wardrobe. It often happens that we panic, for example before a wedding or other important event for which we need to dress elegantly. So we buy the right outfit, in which we even look good, and this is where a major problem arises: which shoes to wear with a suit? The rules of selection are not as difficult as you might think. What should you pay attention to first?
- Cut and finish - Above all, the more solemn or formal the occasion, the more classic and, above all, moderation is recommended. Shoes must of course be elegant and as simple as possible - avoid ornaments, buckles, unusual fastenings, contrasting stitching, etc. Classic men's lace-up slippers in a single colour will work. The best would be leather oxfords or derby, which you will read about later in this article.
- Point - fashion can be capricious in this area. There have been square and pointed tips, which nowadays look comical and are certainly not a sign of good taste. Our advice is to go classic. On this topic, the answer to the question of which shoes to wear with a suit is simple - it is best to choose those with a rounded tip. The more classic and timeless the model you choose, the longer it will last you.
How do you match the colour of your shoes to your suit? Rules of thumb for colour combinations
We already know that we should be guided by the cut and the quality of the shoes. There are still many questions: which shoes should go with a black suit, and which with a navy blue or grey suit? Here again, the rule of thumb is that the more formal the occasion, the more subdued and darker the combinations should be. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but you need to know the basics well and have a certain feel for the question 'which shoes to wear with a suit', so that the question of 'which shoes to wear with a suit' doesn't cause us problems. When it comes to choosing the colour of shoes for such an outfit as a suit, we definitely avoid contrasting combinations. Rather, we combine correlating colours, and how to do this is explained below.
Black suit - which shoes to choose?
Suit and shoes don't always have to be the same colour, but in this case it's practically an obligation. So if you're wondering what shoes to wear with a black suit, there's only one answer: also black. The reason is simple - any other colour of footwear will make your outfit no longer look as elegant. Fortunately, with other colours, you will be able to afford to deviate more.
Navy blue suit - how to choose shoes?
Navy blue suits have not gone out of fashion for several seasons now, and very well. They are extremely in-your-face, suit every beauty type and allow you more freedom to choose your other accessories. Not sure which shoes to wear with a navy blue suit would be best? Of course, slippers in black will work - this combination will be the most elegant. However, a navy blue suit looks most stylish with brown shoes - but only in dark shades. For the bold and those who like originality, burgundy is recommended.
Grey suit - which shoes to choose?
Grey is almost as much of a classic as black, except that it is mainly recommended in summer. Black shoes will work perfectly here and will look elegant. However, black is not the only choice if you are wondering what colour shoes to wear with a grey suit. Considered masters of good taste and style, Italians, for example, love the combination of a grey summer suit with brown shoes.
White suit - which shoes to choose?
In this case, we are mainly guided by the cut and shade of the suit. If it is a snow-white, elegant suit, white or black slippers will be most suitable. However, if it is a fractured, warm white and ecru, we can choose brown shoes.
What shoes to wear with a casual suit?
A suit does not always have to be a formal outfit. Casual models, in which the trousers usually have slightly narrower and shorter legs, work well as attire for work, business meetings and less formal occasions. The rules for footwear are completely different here. You can wear smart shoes with this outfit, but also moccasins or sneakers. If you're not too sure about colours, the safest way is to combine warm colours with warm ones, and cold colours with cold ones. Warm colours include yellow, orange, brown and red, while cold colours include blue, green and purple. If the colour palette has no secrets for you, you can allow yourself contrasts and, for example, wear red sneakers with a bright suit. The question of patterned suits, such as tennis or checked, is even more different. In this case, match the colour of the shoes to one of the colours appearing on the suit.
Suit shoes - which material to choose?
When it comes to elegant styling, natural leather is always the best choice. Not only because it looks elegant and timeless. Leather shoes adapt easily to the foot, provide breathability and are durable. Of course, it is worth caring for them with special leather preparations and maintenance. If you're wondering which suit shoes will be the choice for years to come, it's certainly the leather ones, with a classic, simple cut that never goes out of fashion.
Suit shoe designs - what to look for when choosing one?
There are two basic models of shoes to match an elegant suit: the Viennese (oxfords) and the English (derby). To distinguish between them, we need to know two shoemaking terms: quarters and vestments. The quarters are the part of the shoe where the holes for the laces are located. The vestment is simply the front part of the shoe. In Viennese, the quarters are sewn onto the vamp. In English shoes, they are sewn onto it, which makes them form a characteristic, slightly protruding flap. Derby shoes are therefore easier to lace up, but oxfords are the most elegant, classic shoes for formal occasions. Both styles also come in versions with openwork inserts. Remember also that classic, plain oxfords are the perfect elegant men's shoes for a suit, but you won't wear them with any other outfit. Paired with casual trousers, they will simply look odd and out of place. Some gentlemen are in the habit of wearing smart shoes with jeans. We strongly advise against this combination. If you're wondering what shoes go with a casual suit, for example, slippers, men's moccasins or loafers will work just as well, or even men's sneakers in the loosest of styles. And then there are the varnish shoes. Contrary to appearances, these will not go well with a classic, even a very formal black suit. Lacquer shoes should only be worn with tailcoats or dinner jackets.
Tying laces in suit shoes - how do you do it?
You might think that an element such as laces doesn't really matter, but with formal shoes there are also certain rules. For formal shoes, lace up the laces so that the laces are visible on the outside of the shoe. Thread the shoelace through both holes so that the laces are visible on the outside and not on the inside. Continue until you reach the top of the laces. For less formal styles, such as with a pair of slippers, you can indulge in reverse tying. This means that you put the laces on the inside of the flip-flops, so that the weave is visible, rather than the elegant joining. For casual styles, such as with sneakers, you can choose the binding that suits you best.