A successful look is made up of head to toe.

It seems that the first thing a woman looks at in a man is his pair of shoes. Choosing the right color is therefore crucial to making a good impression. Shoes, like many other elements in the male wardrobe, have recently become more flexible. Today, you can wear a pair of Oxfords with jeans, or a suit with sneakers. This flexibility then raises several questions such as: What to wear with brown shoes? What about black shoes? How to wear sneakers with a suit? What clothes to choose with colored sneakers? The key to a successful look will depend largely on the color combination. Choose the wrong color and you risk ruining all your efforts. As with everything in your wardrobe, choosing the right colors and shades is both the easiest and most difficult thing to do. What does it mean? It's easy to wear outfits made of the same color but in different variations (navy blue chinos + light blue shirt, for example). But it is more difficult to make the right combinations of several colors.

Some recommendations for beginners

For starters, a pair of black shoes is a wardrobe essential; they'll go with almost everything you own. The second must-have would be a brown pair—and while you're at it, choose a pair with details like brogues with a distinctive hole pattern.

For those new to shoe color, here are some basic rules to help you select your shoes each morning.

1. A pair in a solid color will always look more dressy than a multi-colored pair.
2. Dark shades are also more dressy than light shades.
3. Sneakers and dress shoes follow different rules: white Oxfords are difficult to wear, while white sneakers go with everything. Conversely, dark dress shoes create a dressy look, while black sneakers are much more casual.
4. If they're damaged or marked, no matter what color your shoes are, the effect will always be disastrous. Buy shoe polish and overdo it.
5. If you wear rather light-colored shoes, pair them with clothes in rather neutral colors.
6. If you're wearing statement shoes, keep the rest of your look simple to add some balance to your look.

What to wear with black shoes

In almost every category, black shoes are the dressiest option. Except for sneakers.

Black Oxfords are arguably the dressiest pair you can own. Which also means it limits the clothes you can wear them with. It's a bit like a black blazer: they work great with a dressy look but are much less suitable with jeans.

Black shoes pair very well with black, light gray, and dark gray suits. They create a formal effect, ideal for formal work. And contrary to popular belief, pairing black shoes with a blue suit isn't a faux pas, as long as you stick to dark shades. In other words, yes to the navy suit, no to its light blue cousin.

Casual pants are more risky. If you plan to wear a pair of black shoes with chinos in a color other than black or dark blue, aim for a less formal look; a pair of derby shoes will be more appropriate than Oxfords. Follow the same principle for jeans.

If you're a fan of colorful chinos, black shoes aren't recommended, unless you wear your pants slightly rolled up and your shoes without visible socks. With this style, you can opt for a pair of Tod's shoes, especially loafers. This Italian brand has become very trendy by combining quality and craftsmanship with elegance.

What to wear with brown shoes

Brown is the easiest color to wear when it comes to shoes. The variety of shades (dark, camel, light, sand, etc.) means there's a color for every occasion.

The lighter the shade, the more relaxed the look will be, especially if you add details (like with a pair of brogues).

Brown shoes will pair very well with colored chinos; if you wear brown chinos, make sure they are at least two shades lighter or darker than your shoes.

Dark brown shoes pair well with both dark and faded denim. Make sure your style is casual rather than formal, such as with a pair of suede Chelsea boots.

With your black jeans, you can consider black jeans. In this case, your shoes will need to be a relatively dark brown. Ideally, choose a pair of boots.

What to wear with blue shoes

Blue isn't a common color for dress shoes. While this color is a classic in your wardrobe (think shirts, jeans, or coats), when it comes to shoes, it's usually reserved for the more daring.
However, blue allows you to add personality to your look in a more casual style. For a bold effect, opt for a pair in suede leather.
You can choose a pair of boots, loafers, or even desert boots. In any case, they will pair very well with jeans. Again, make sure that the colors of the pants and shoes are clearly different.
If you are more daring, you can also pair them with gray or white dress pants.

What to wear with white sneakers

The advent of the minimalist white sneaker comes from the Achilles Low, a creation by the Italian-American fashion house Common Projects. Since this model, the sneaker-as-dress-shoe movement has taken off.
The white sneaker is not an innovation (Adidas had already launched its Stan Smith a long time ago, although the model had not yet achieved its current popularity), however it was not yet easy to wear it with a suit.
Today, on the other hand, a pair of white sneakers (as long as they're relatively minimalist and clean) can be worn with almost anything. They'll go with any suit (even black ones). Ideally, swap your shirt and tie for a turtleneck. They'll also look great with jeans, regardless of the color. The same goes for chinos, shorts, Bermuda shorts, and just about anything else you can throw on your legs.
The only difficulty with white sneakers is keeping them that way. A worn, stained pair will look terrible against a suit.
Bonus tip: Baby wipes are great for cleaning your shoes, so make sure you have some at home, whether you're a parent or not!

What to wear with colorful sneakers

The days when colorful sneakers were only meant for sports are over. They've left the stadiums and the streets to take over our wardrobes. The problem is that the colors they come in make them less versatile, so they only work with neutral colors.
Colorful sneakers are so casual that it's recommended to wear them with jeans (white, raw, faded, or black), jogging pants (straight and gray, black, or navy), or chinos (ideally brown or navy). They're a statement piece on their own, so it's best to avoid other overly colorful clothing.

Source: leblogdemonsieur.com