Grooms may not have to buy a wedding gown, but they still have some important (and difficult!) decisions to make when it comes to finding the right suit, belt and shoes. The formalwear experts from The Groomsman Suit popped by the blog to discuss all things suiting and to answer one of the most confusing questions— what color shoes does a man wear with a navy suit?
There is so much to think about when it comes to selecting your wedding day look. While many might think the groom has it the easiest, and wonder, “what’s so difficult about selecting a suit?” There is actually quite a bit that goes into selecting the groom’s suit or tuxedo and the complementing accessories. Men’s suiting is one of the most challenging wardrobe items for a gentleman to purchase, especially when trying to achieve a proper fit. And after fit, the finishing details of the look must be determined— which can be a whole other challenge in itself!
Choose Your Color
When it comes to the groom’s look, usually the first step is to select the perfect suit (or tuxedo) in a color to complement the bride-to-be and all of the fine details of the wedding day. Your bride has likely told you just a little bit about her gown. Possibly she’s said, “It’s ivory, floor length, and has Alencon lace detailing.” You might be thinking, “Well, that doesn’t tell me too much,” but actually there are some key statements in this seemingly small set of information. Floor length, as opposed to knee length or tea length, indicates a certain level of formality. A floor length gown is more formal than the alternatives. This doesn’t mean you must run out and purchase a tuxedo for the Big Day, but there are some other details that you must consider before settling on your suiting. These include the time of day that the event will take place, the season and the venue.
Choose Your Shoes
The second, and equally important, part of your wedding day look planning is the shoes and accessories. Your shoe selection must be carefully considered as shoes typically anchor the look along with the tie and pocket square selections. As a default, most gentlemen think that a navy suit should be paired with tan or brown shoes. In some instances, particularly for outdoor and more rustic weddings, this is a fine choice. But in more formal weddings, brown shoes might make the groom appear as if he is going to the office rather than getting married. Often overlooked by grooms and groomsmen is a black wholecut oxford or cap toe oxford which can be a sharp complement to the navy suit. Black shoes paired with a navy suit provide a certain level of sophistication and formality that is not necessarily as apparent with brown shoes. This combo tends to be more appropriate for evening weddings and weddings that take place in the fall and winter in cooler climates. Keep in mind there are no hard rules when it comes to selecting shoes, but some choices may be moresuitablethan others.
Choose Your Belt
Now what about a belt? Should you wear a belt for your Big Day? We say yes, but only if you are wearing a suit. Belts should never be worn with tuxedo pants. To make sure you don’t make this mistake, our tuxedo pants don’t even come with belt loops! Belts are one of those accessories that are both fashionable and functional. We recommend that once you settle on a shoe color, you match your belt color to the shoes. Again, not a rule, but this makes things much more streamlined for a wedding day look.
As you plan your wedding day look, the pros at The Groomsman Suit are here to help you to consider all the details of your wedding day to settle on the best suit and accessory styles and colors. It’s important that you don’t make these decisions in a vacuum. You and your bride-to-be should look like you are going to the same party, no exceptions. And selecting your wedding day apparel should not be a chore. We want to ensure that you feel great about what you are wearing for the big day and share in the excitement about the look that you select. If for any reason you get stumped, our stylists are always here to help!
The Groomsman Suitcreated a new solution for black tie attire: a sharp-looking tuxedo that could be purchased for less than the cost of a traditional rental. Check out their site for style inspiration and a wide variety of formalwear options!
FAQs
Often overlooked by grooms and groomsmen is a black wholecut oxford or cap toe oxford which can be a sharp complement to the navy suit. Black shoes paired with a navy suit provide a certain level of sophistication and formality that is not necessarily as apparent with brown shoes.
Do brown shoes go with a navy blue suit? ›
Dark brown Oxfords or Monk Strap shoes complement a navy suit and trousers look perfectly and are appropriate for more formal settings. You can also wear dark derby shoes. You can never go wrong with wearing a white button-down shirt and navy tie with a navy suit and dark brown shoe look.
What color shoes should groomsmen wear? ›
Match it to the color of your suit: Your shoes should coordinate with the color of your suit. So, If you're wearing a black tuxedo, for example, you'll want to choose black shoes. If you're wearing a navy blue suit, brown or tan shoes may be a better choice.
What color shoes to wear with a navy suit for a wedding? ›
The best shoes to wear with a navy suit are black, navy or cognac: keep within these tones for a foolproof office look. The most understated option, black will always look sharp with a navy suit.
Can grooms wear brown shoes? ›
One fast and easy way to make your men stand out is to pair their semi-casual suits, blazer and slacks, or vest combos with brown shoes. You can let them bring their own brown shoes, or you can all get matching ones, but the finished look will be both casual and stylish.
Should you wear black or brown shoes to a navy suit wedding? ›
Black shoes paired with a navy suit provide a certain level of sophistication and formality that is not necessarily as apparent with brown shoes. This combo tends to be more appropriate for evening weddings and weddings that take place in the fall and winter in cooler climates.
Do you wear black or brown shoes with navy blue? ›
Tan, chestnut, mahogany – you cannot go wrong with really any shade of brown (or black - brown combination) shoe with a navy suit. Oxblood shoes with a blue suit of a different shade is also a sophisticated look. Black holds equal footing here.
Do groomsmen need to match shoes? ›
Do yourself a favor and make sure that you and your groomsmen all wear similar shoes. They don't have to be the same exact shoes — but they do need to be the same shade. Your wife will love the consistent footwear; it makes for the best wedding photos!
Can a man wear black shoes with a navy suit? ›
With this styling guide, you can easily curate a well-polished outfit, whether wearing a navy suit with brown shoes or a blue suit with black shoes.
What shoes to wear as a groomsman? ›
As a groom, opt for a classic pair of Italian Black leather Oxfords. This is an elegant and smart shoe that will see you putting your best foot forward. For the groomsmen, put them in a black leather Derby for that subtle point of difference.
Wear medium to dark brown shoes with navy suits when styling wingtps.
What is the best color tie to wear with a navy blue suit? ›
A navy suit and grey tie is particularly great for business meetings, while pairing a dark blue tie with a navy suit would be perfect for a spring wedding. To complete the look, a silver tie clip, cufflinks and brown leather shoes would give your suit a dapper edge.
What color belt with navy suit and brown shoes? ›
You could go for a black belt as the most formal and classic choice. Dark brown or oxblood/burgundy are other great choices with navy, while they are slightly less formal than black. If it fits the occasion, you can wear a light brown or tan belt with a navy suit for a more casual suit look.
When not to wear brown shoes? ›
Brown shoes are best avoided when you need to obtain a higher level of formality. White-collar environments such as board meetings will likely require black shoes, as well as formal dress codes like morning wear and evening attire including black tie and white tie events.
When not to wear brown dress shoes? ›
Round #1 – Formality
Any shoe in black is going to be more formal than the same style of shoe in brown. Certain dress codes, such as black tie, require black shoes. If you attend black tie events often, or you're going to be wearing a dark gray suit, then you probably want to go with black shoes.
What not to wear with brown shoes? ›
You should also avoid wearing brown shoes with black trousers or jackets on occasions when the dress code is slightly less formal, for example "casual business". Ultimately, which combination you opt for is a matter of personal taste.
What color shoes go with a navy blue suit? ›
In addition to black and brown, there are other colors of shoes that can work well with navy suits, including burgundy, oxblood, and even shades of gray.
What colors look best with navy blue suit? ›
Any light hues of colors like yellow, green, and purple will complement a blue suit. With pastels, the matching dark color tie will complete the outfit. For example, for a light or pastel purple shirt a dark purple tie will be the perfect finishing touch.
What color do you wear with a navy blue suit? ›
Wearing a White Shirt with a Navy Suit
Undoubtedly, a white shirt has proven to be the universal colour combination. It can be worn in a corporate environment with a tie but it can also be worn on its own, with a cutaway collar, for a more casual ensemble.
