What Color Shoes Should You Wear With a Navy Blue Suit?
The navy blue two-piece suit is something of a miracle. Not only does it look good on pretty much anyone, but it can be one of the hardest-working items in your wardrobe. You can wear it to the office, naturally, but it also works for weddings and other formal events, as well as anything with a “cocktail-attire” dress code. And that’s to say nothing of the jacket and pants’ potential to dress up your jeans, sweaters, and polo shirts when worn separately.
That said, the navy blue suit is far from foolproof. It needs to be precisely tailored—neither tight nor billowy—and made from 100% wool, sans polyester blends and anything stretchy. Once you’ve threaded that needle, however, you’re not quite there yet. Just as any otherwise immaculate suit can be ruined by a less-than-perfect fit, you can just as easily torpedo your look with the wrong pair of shoes.
Black Shoes
A navy blue suit’s universal appeal is in its understatement, and, in keeping with that, your footwear should be every bit as subdued as your jacket and trousers. That means black shoes are always a good choice, be they loafers, derbies, or Oxfords. When in doubt, base your choice on the formality of the event: Oxfords for dressy events, loafers for casual ones, and derbies or bluchers for anything in between.
Brown Shoes
If black feels too somber, brown can also look good with a navy blue suit as long as you err well on the side of darker shades—ideally dark enough that they’ll read black in low light. Nine times out of 10, shoes that are a lighter hue than your pants just won’t look right.
Caramel Shoes
The Swerves
Feeling adventurous? A pair of soft-toned suede loafers is a reliable way to add color to your ensemble without overwhelming it. For a subtler, but no less statement-making, effect, you could also try a pair of otherwise formal-looking dress shoes cut from (black or dark brown) lizard- or croc-effect leather.
