Brown shoes are versatile and can be worn with various outfit colors. They pair well with earth tones, navy, and beige. For a casual look, try brown shoes with jeans or chinos, while dress pants or tailored suits work for more formal occasions.

There are many men who prefer wearing brown shoes to black ones… There is nothing wrong with this preference… Wearing brown shoes can be a good way to add some flair and character to your overall outfit.
However… it is important to note that there are certain color combinations that work well with brown shoes and certain color combinations that do not work well with brown shoes at all.
If you want to wear brown shoes… then follow these simple tips for matching them up with your outfits:
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What Can You Wear Brown Shoes With?
Brown shoes go best with earth tones and neutral colors like gray… white… or blue… A pair of brown shoes are a great compliment to a casual pairing of jeans and a nice button-up shirt or even sweater vest… Dressy brown shoes can also nicely complement a charcoal or light gray suit.
Brown shoes typically clash with black but wearing brown shoes with dark shades of gray or blue is okay… Typically… brown shoes are a dark shade but some tan varieties of boots or loafers also pair well with denim or cargo pants.
What to Wear with Brown Shoes | Examples |
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Blue or navy clothing | Navy trousers and a light blue shirt, or blue jeans and a brown leather jacket. |
Earthy tones | Beige chinos and a brown polo shirt, or khaki shorts and a brown linen shirt. |
Grey clothing | Grey trousers and a brown blazer, or grey jeans and a brown sweater. |
Black clothing | Black trousers and a brown belt or brown shoes with black accents, such as wingtips. |
Patterned clothing | Brown shoes pair well with patterns such as plaid, houndstooth, or paisley. |
Considerations for Wearing Brown Shoes | Explanations |
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Matching the shade of brown | It is important to match the shade of brown shoes to the rest of the outfit. Lighter shades of brown work well with lighter colors, while darker shades of brown are better suited for darker colors. |
Occasion and formality | The occasion and level of formality should also be considered when choosing what to wear with brown shoes. For example, brown dress shoes are appropriate for formal occasions such as weddings, while brown boots are better suited for casual occasions such as outdoor events or weekend wear. |
Other accessories | Brown shoes pair well with other accessories such as a brown leather belt or a brown leather watch strap. These accessories can help tie the outfit together and create a cohesive look. |
Brown shoes pair well with blue or navy clothing, earthy tones, grey clothing, black clothing, and patterned clothing. It is important to match the shade of brown to the rest of the outfit and consider the occasion and level of formality.
Other accessories such as a brown leather belt or watch strap can also help create a cohesive look. By following these guidelines, you can confidently and stylishly wear brown shoes with a variety of outfits.
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Can You Wear Brown Shoes With Black Pants?
Brown shoes can certainly be worn with black pants… However… certain shades of brown will work better than others.
The safest bet is to go for a medium to dark brown shade… This is especially true if going for a more formal look… Light brown or tan shoes can pair well however with a more casual style of black pants… such as jeans.
Another styling tip would be to match your shoe color with your belt… Brown shoes worn with black pants are the perfect way for someone to stand out a little from the crowd.
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What Color Pants Do Brown Shoes Go With?
You can wear any color pants with brown shoes… What color pants will look best will depend on how dark or light the color brown of the shoes are.
You may have heard that brown shoes can’t be worn with black pants… but as long as your brown shoes are considerably lighter than your pants… they are totally fine to wear.
All shades of brown go great with greys and navy blue… but the most important thing is to create a contrast with your colors to make your shoes really pop.
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What Can You Not Wear Brown Shoes With?
You cannot wear brown shoes with black clothing… according to stylists… The biggest faux pas… especially according to men’s fashion… is wearing brown shoes with black suits or tuxedos.
Like a suit or tuxedo alternative… consider pairing your brown shoes with grey… blue or charcoal-colored suits… Brown shoes also complement clothing that comes in an equally earthy tone such as green… navy… and alternate shades of brown.
If you wear a belt with your outfit… consider getting a belt color that matches the brown tone of your shoes… or comes relatively close… Matching suspenders can be a good belt alternative.
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Can You Wear Brown Shoes with Grey Pants?
You can wear brown shoes with grey pants… but it’s all about finding the right shade of brown… A rich… cognac brown shoe is often paired with grey pants… This combination is especially common with men’s suits and tuxedos.
The two colors compliment each other very nicely.
As a rule… you want to avoid wearing dark brown shoes with grey pants because they don’t match as well… Also… brown shoes go better with a darker grey than a lighter grey… If you are wearing a light grey pair of pants… you may want to consider black shoes instead.
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Is It Ok to Wear Brown Shoes with Grey Suit?
You can wear brown shoes with a grey suit… In fact… this is considered to be a very fashionable combination… You will often see this look at weddings or formal events because it’s a very versatile and rich look.
The key is to make sure that you pair the right shade of grey with the right shade of brown… You should pair a dark charcoal grey suit with a cognac brown shoe.
Light grey suits are better paired with black shoes instead of brown shoes because the colors clash a little bit.
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Can You Wear Brown Shoes with Black Suit?
You can wear brown shoes with a black suit to diversify your look and add a unique flair to your outfit… Oxfords and loafers are safe choices… This will complement the outfit without sticking out… You should also make sure your outfit is relatively monochrome; this will make the shoes pop more.
However… if you choose to wear brown shoes with a black suit… you’ll want to choose a medium to a dark shade of brown and a quality pair of shoes… Light brown or tan shoes are better suited to lighter suits.
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In summary… Brown shoes can be a great addition to your wardrobe if you know how to pair them properly… There are several clothing items that complement brown shoes.
Brown shoes can be paired with both casual and formal clothing items… However… there are certain color combinations that work better than others… Here are a few examples;
- Brown shoes go very well with tan and cream-colored pants… These colors look great when worn together and compliment each other very nicely.
- Brown shoes also look great when worn with grey-colored pants… Grey pants are a more professional alternative to khaki pants… They are perfect for people who want to wear brown shoes to work or even on a date at night.
- For women… brown shoes also look good when paired with black skirts and dresses.
- Brown shoes can also complement a formal suit by providing a nice contrast between the rest of the suit and the color of the shoes… If you want to wear brown shoes with a suit… make sure it is not overly formal as they may not look too good together.
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