A Guide To Pairing Different Suit Colors With Brown Shoes

A menswear designer breaks it down.

Photo: Chaz Cruz Photographer

Updated Mar 18, 2025

Though men's formalwear rules can seem pretty straightforward, things are often a lot more complicated. For example: While it's true that most suit colors pair well with brown shoes, it's also true that "brown" can have lots of definitions. There are lighter browns like cognac and tan, deep reddish browns like burgundy and bordeaux and medium shades of brown that fall somewhere in the middle. To help us figure it out once and for all, we had a chat with Jesse Alpern, Design Director at Bonobos. The good news? You don't have to overthink this. Whether you're browsing through different shades of suits for a wedding and already have a pair of brown shoes you love or searching for the perfect shade of brown to pair with your go-to suit, we've got you covered.

In this article:

What Color Suit Goes Best With Brown Shoes?
Tips for Choosing Suits to Wear With Brown Shoes
Shop by Suit Color: Blue | Gray | Other Colors

What Color Suit Goes Best With Brown Shoes?

Thankfully, brown shoes go well with lots of suit colors. So when it comes to picking out the right color combos, it's more important to think about the specific shades of those colors than the colors themselves. "Pay attention to the levels of saturation in the color of both the suit and the shoes," says Alpern. In general, darker suit colors work well with dark brown shoes, while lighter suit colors work well with light brown shoes. But if you're working with an especially light suit color, like tan or light blue, going with a pair of dark brown shoes is a great way to add polish and contrast to achieve a dressier look. All this said, you may still have some questions. Ahead, we dig into the most common concerns about picking suit colors to pair with brown shoes—along the one combo you might want to avoid.

Can you wear brown shoes with a black suit?

While you can pair brown shoes with a black suit, Alpern generally advises against it. "A black suit can lean more formal, and brown shoes can feel a bit more casual," he says. Black shoes are the most traditional choice for a black suit, and finding the perfect shade of brown to complement black can be tricky. If you do want to go for this modern pairing, opt for a more casual black suit, like one made of linen or cotton, and pair it with very dark brown shoes. You can also add a matching belt to help tie the look together and feel more intentional. "Black and brown can be an extremely chic color combination if done right," Alpern adds.

Can you wear brown shoes with a gray suit?

Brown shoes pair well with a variety of gray suits. To nail the combination, follow Alpern's rule of thumb and coordinate the saturation levels of your shoes and suit. You can never go wrong with a dark gray suit and dark brown shoes. For a light gray suit, both light and dark shades of brown shoes will work—go lighter for a more casual look and darker for something a bit more dressed up.

Can you wear brown shoes with a blue suit?

The warmth of brown shoes beautifully complements the cool tones of a blue suit. A deep, rich blue or navy paired with dark brown shoes makes for a lovely formal look. For light and medium shades of blue, lighter brown shoes like tan and cognac are an excellent match.

Can you wear a tuxedo and brown shoes?

When you're wearing a tuxedo, it's best to steer clear of brown shoes. Even if the wedding in question is less dressy (say formal instead of black tie), it's most traditional to wear a tux with a pair of equally formal shoes. "A tuxedo looks great paired with nicely polished black dress shoes, ideally patent leather or possibly black velvet slippers for some texture," Alpern says. "Ultimately, the vibe of the occasion should dictate how closely you want to stick to tradition, and where you want to be expressive and find your own path."

What color should you not wear with brown shoes?

No suit color is particularly off limits when you're wearing brown shoes, but the exact shades of your shoes and suit can affect how well they coordinate. For example, a light brown pair of shoes may not be the best choice for a dressier, darker suit color like burgundy or navy, since light brown shoes have a more casual look. On the other hand, even though a tan suit can lean more casual, you might still want to reach for those darker brown shoes so that the shades of your suit and shoes don't compete with each other.

Best suit colors for brown shoes infographic

Tips for Choosing Suits to Wear With Brown Shoes

Now that you're familiar with some of the most common questions surrounding brown suit shoes, it's time to get to work. As you plan your look, keep these three tips in mind to ensure a cohesive color combination.

1. Prioritize contrast over exact colors

Rule number one: Don't overthink it. Instead of focusing on the specific shades of your suits and shoes, consider how they contrast each other. In most cases, opting for subtle contrast (think light suits with light brown shoes and dark suits with dark brown shoes) or high contrast (a light suit with dark brown shoes), will be a safe bet.

2. Consider the time and formality of the wedding

Lighter suits and shades of brown offer a more casual look, making them great choices for daytime weddings and casual dress codes. On the other hand, darker suits and shades of brown offer a slightly more formal and evening-ready look. Keep this in mind when you're deciding what suit to wear with brown shoes to make sure you feel appropriately dressed for the occasion.

3. Tie your look together with accessories

Adding a matching belt can work wonders and make your look feel a lot more cohesive, especially if you feel like you're experimenting with a more adventurous color combination. Don't forget about other accessories, like your watch strap and even your tie. While these don't all need to be the same color, choosing ones that feel complementary can make a big difference.

Blue Suit With Brown Shoes

A blue suit with brown shoes is one of the most approachable color combinations, as there are many different ways you can mix and match different shades. Lighter blues work great with light brown shoes for more casual occasions, while medium or darker brown shoes can easily dress one up. On the contrary, deep blue and navy suits look sharp with dark brown shoes, and a slightly lighter pair is a great way to dress one down.

Light Blue Suit With Light Brown Shoes

Match the laidback vibe of a light blue linen suit with an equally cool pair of light brown suede derbies.

$750 | Bonobos

$349 | SuitSupply

Light Blue Suit With Dark Brown Shoes

Put a formal spin on a light blue suit with a polished pair of medium or dark brown brogues.

$579 | Indochino

$279 | Hawes & Curtis

Dark Blue Suit With Dark Brown Shoes

Few combos are more classic than a dark blue wedding suit with dark brown shoes.

$595 | Macy's

$100 | DSW

Navy Suit With Dark Brown Shoes

Complement the formality of a rich navy suit with a pair of polished dark brown penny loafers.

$230 | Shop Jacket

$120 | Shop Pants

$259 | Charles Tyrwhitt

Gray Suit With Brown Shoes

Just like blue suits, gray suits are a breeze to style with brown shoes. Pair a lighter shade of gray with light or medium brown shoes, or dress it up with shoes in a darker brown shade. Darker gray suits are a perfect match for dark brown shoes, though you can opt for a lighter pair for more laidback dress codes.

Light Gray Suit With Light Brown Shoes

Pair medium or light brown shoes with a gray suit for a relaxed look that works well for less formal dress codes and daytime affairs.

$395 | Macy's

$150 | Banana Republic

Light Gray Suit With Dark Brown Shoes

Polish up a light gray suit with oxford dress shoes in rich mahogany leather.

$895 | Proper Cloth

$425 | Allen Edmonds

Dark Gray Suit With Dark Brown Shoes

Dark brown shoes with a dark gray suit is an endlessly classic combination you can sport for a wide range of wedding dress codes.

$99 | SuitShop

$130 | Jos. A. Bank

Charcoal Gray Suit With Dark Brown Shoes

When it comes to a suit color as dark as charcoal, you'll want to make sure your brown shoes are just as deep—minimal contrast is the goal here.

Charcoal grey suit with dark brown shoes

$695 | Proper Cloth

Dark brown shoes with charcoal grey suit

$195 | Tecovas

Other Color Suits to Wear with Brown Shoes

Still looking for guidance on what color suit goes with brown shoes? Scroll on to take a peek at a few more styling ideas. This certainly isn't a definitive list, but it's a great tool that can help spark inspiration for your own looks.

Tan Suit With Brown Shoes

While you can pair a tan suit with light brown shoes, opting for a medium or dark pair instead is a great way to polish up your look and prevent the shades from competing with one another.