

“Making a statement with smart shoes shouldn’t mean going too far out of your comfort zone,” says Vieira. They tend to lend whatever you’re wearing an ounce or two more of personality. They tend to work in almost exactly the same way as brown, although because they’re a touch bolder. Though technically a colour, oxblood can act almost as a neutral. Although again, boots are easier to pull off, here, particularly Chelseas, which give you the air of someone who’s just left One Direction to find a direction of their own. But if you’re confident, then it’s a look that can work, so long as you stick to shoes in a shade that’s nearer black than tan. Just make sure that you step down into a less formal style - suede Chelsea boots are perfect, as are chunky brown worker boots.īlack jeans and brown shoes is a minefield of differing opinion and one not worth marching into if you’ve any personal doubts. “The lighter the shade, the more relaxed the look,” says McDonald, “particularly if you add detail, too.” A pair of brown brogues are less formal than the same shade Oxfords, for example.Īway from tailoring, brown should be your go-to for chinos of any colour, although be careful not to match too closely like with double denim, you want at least two shades of difference between your trousers and your shoes, lest you look like you’re wearing the bottom half of a onesie.ĭarker browns look great with indigo denim but can work just as well with more washed out shades. But with anything other than a black suit or tuxedo, brown shoes add personality and feel a touch less stuffy. The breadth of browns available means that there’s a tone for almost any situation, bar the very smartest offices even a pair of bespoke chocolate John Lobbs will have you blackballed in some investment banks. You can lessen the impact by cuffing the hems and even losing the socks, and making your shoe style as dressed-down as possible loafers are preferable to anything with laces.įinally, you should probably avoid shorts and black shoes once you’re out of school uniform.īrown is the most forgiving shade of smart shoes.

If you’re the kind of guy who likes his chinos colourful, then the sudden shift to black shoes can feel a bit severe. “Oxfords would only ever work with very slim black jeans, and even then you’re going to look like a forgotten member of the Libertines.” If you insist on black shoes with your dark denim, then it’s best to go for something like Chelsea boots or Dr. “A derby looks better than an Oxford as it’s a bit chunkier and more relaxed,” says McDonald. If you’re going to wear black shoes with chinos in the brown spectrum, then stick to less formal styles. Despite what some folks think, wearing black with blue won’t bruise your sartorial ego, although stick to darker shades of navy rather than something more celebratory, like royal blue.Ĭasual trousers are trickier. “They also team well with grey or charcoal tailoring, particularly in more formal offices,” says McDonald. To start from the top down, black should be your go-to for black tailoring, whether you need something for black tie or just a formal work shoe. “And that limits what other clothes you can wear them with.” You can think of them a little like a black blazer they look great dressed up, but try them with jeans and you begin to look like a street magician. “A pair of black Oxfords is probably the most dressed-up shoe you can have in your wardrobe,” says Luke McDonald, stylist at men’s online styling service Thread. In almost every circumstance, black shoes are the smartest version in any category. Bold shoes are easier to pull off if you’re not also wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

Trainers and smart shoes obey different rules: white Oxfords are slightly weird, but white trainers will work with anything in your wardrobe.Smartness is dictated by decoration as well as shade: black Derbies are smarter than tan, but chocolate Oxfords can be more refined than both.Generally, darker tones are smarter than lighter.Block colours are always smarter than anything multicoloured.
LIGHT BLUE SHIRT BLACK PANTS HOW TO
Here’s how to match clothes and shoes for guys: For the shoe colour novice, there are some basic rules to guide your choice each morning.
