Finding the perfect pairing between your dress shoes and your shirt can sometimes be tricky. How do you know which rules to follow? Are there even specific rules when it comes to the perfect pairing? While it isn’t extremely complicated, there are a few things to take into consideration when determining the best shoe to pull your entire outfit together.
Things to Consider When Matching Your Shoes to Your Shirt
Consider this your list of checkpoints when putting together your outfit. Taking each of these into consideration will help you feel confident in your outfit and help you determine what color shoes to wear with your suit or shirt.
What Colors Are You Wearing?
Coordinating the colors of your outfit, from your shirt down to your shoes, is essential in pulling together a polished look. If you’ve already got your shirt and pants paired for your outfit, consider making the shoe decision based on the pants you’re wearing. If you are still stuck on pants, consider the most neutral color in the shirt you’ve picked out.
- Black Pants or Suit: More than likely, you’ll need to pair black shoes with black pants or a black suit. This is a pretty formal pairing so in order to maintain that formality, black shoes are the way to go.
- Navy or Charcoal Pants: While this is still considered formal, it isn’t quite as formal as a black suit or black pants. We’d recommend opting for brown shoes. You have some flexibility in the type of shoe because some navy or charcoal pant options lean more business casual versus formal.
- Khaki and Colorful Pants: This selection of pants typically lean more casual so you’ve got a wider range of shoe options. Are the undertones in the shirt you selected warm toned like reds or yellows or orange? We’d recommend opting for brown shoes. Are the undertones more cool toned like blues or greens? You could opt for black.
Where Are You Going?
Location and event type are additional pieces to consider with selecting the perfect pair of shoes to match your shirt. Whether you’re trying to elevate your look or dress it down, the location should be a factor when picking your shoes.
- Formal Events: Definitely opt for a black shoe. You are likely wearing a suit or tuxedo so you’ll want to opt for a nice oxford or another elevated option of comparable style. Either way, a black dress shoe is the best option.
- Business Formal: Darker shoes like black, brown, or gray will pair well with a nice blazer or jacket. If you’re wearing black pants, still opt for black shoes. If you’re wearing navy, charcoal, or brown, coordinate your shoes with the neutral tones coming from your shirt. A less formal brown shoe is the perfect pairing here.
- Business Casual: In a more business casual setting, your shoe options are less limited. You can opt for a dressed down loafer or dress boot with casual pants or jeans.
- Casual: Still take into consideration the location but really, any sort of casual shoe will work. Your options range from a boot or slip on to a sneaker. Again, darker pants like dark wash jeans or navy pants call for a darker shoe like a black or brown option. Lighter pants, like light wash jeans or khakis would pair well with brown shoes. If you’re wanting to pull in more color, opt for a more colorful option as long as you’re able to pull from a color already present in your outfit. For example, if there is red and blue in your shirt, then it would be better to pick a red or blue shoe versus a color that is not present already.
Are You Planning to Accessorize?
From your belt and watch band to the jacket or outer layer you’re wearing, these all play a part in picking which shoe to wear by tying your outfit together.
- Belts: The old rule of matching your shoes to your belt still applies. If you’re wearing a black belt, go with black shoes. Brown belt? Brown shoes would be the best option.
- Watchbands: You also want to tie in your watch band with this rule. The watch band, the belt, and the shoe should all coordinate. Maybe your watchband is metallic. If that is the case, then this isn’t something that will necessarily make or break your outfit.
- Outer Layers: Select jackets that have a similar texture to the rest of your accessories. If your jacket or coat is brown tweed, pair it with shoes of a similar brown shade. If you want to wear your black, leather jacket, make sure you aren’t wearing matte shoes.
- Socks: Don’t worry about matching your socks to your shoes. Instead, match it to your suit or pants. If you want to add a layer of personality to your outfit, feel free to pull in multi-colored socks as long as the colors match or coordinate with your pants.
The Perfect Pairing All Comes Down to Tone
Ultimately, you want to achieve a consistent tone with your outfit. As we mentioned above, you want to be sure your color tone is the same. If you’re wearing black, opt for black shoes and darker accessories to fit that dark tone. If you’re wearing a more casual outfit, go for brown shoes and less formal accessories.
Feel Confident in Your Shoe and Shirt Pairings
You should feel good in the clothes you wear. When you feel good about your outfit, you carry yourself more confidently. While creating the perfect outfit can be a little tricky, these tips and checkpoints can help you make choices toward a well-curated outfit.
If you’re still not too sure about pairing the perfect pair of shoes with your suit, schedule an appointment at Rush Wilson. We’d be happy to walk you through some perfect pairings!
