Navy pants - what color shoes for DH?

[Sol]

For our first wedding DH discovered the wonderful world of flat-front custom tailored pants, and got three pairs. One of them is this gorgeous navy-on-navy pinstripe, but he hasn't worn them ever because his shoes just don't match: he has a medium brown loafer-like thing, light brown suede, black with white seams loafer and plain black shoes, plus a nice brown two-shade leather sneaker that usually gets compliments. That is, nothing that works with navy. He's also very thin so finding odd colored belts is really a challenge.

I'm in Argentina now so I want to get him some great shoes; plus I should have better luck with shorter belts, but I still don't know what color shoes I should get, I'm thinking maroon or burgundish? What else is out there? Ideally it should also work really well with jeans. I definitely think that navy shoes would look bad (and it'd be hard to match the shade), so I really don't know. They're such nice pants!

[karlatta]

My DH usually wears black shoes with his navy pants/suits. I was wary in theory, but it really looks nice. But we're talking office wear for him, and he works at a law firm where conservative is the key word.

He also has a pair of burgundy shoes that he'll wear every once in a while, but none of his belts match them exactly, so he feels more put together in his black shoes.

[am_81]

DH wears either burgundy-ish or dark brown shoes with his blue suits. He has a brown belt that matches the brown shoes perfectly, so it looks very pulled together. I see other people wear black shoes with navy pants all the time . . . it doesnt look *terrible*, but I dont think I would do it.

[dreamgirly]

DH has mahogany/burgundy leather shoes that he wears with Navy pants. They're Born's, like this: (slightly more reddish color though)
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/7532590/c/8347.html

[Sol]

Thanks! I think I will look for a dark brown pair and a burgundy/maroon pair, and then he can decide what he likes best. He doesn't like either of his black shoes with the navy pants.

[amew]

Black shoes are generally the traditional preferred shoe with men's navy or navy pinstripe suits. My DH is kind of a picky traditionalist when it comes to fashion, he and refuses to wear anything but black shoes and belts with his navy suits. But I think dark brown, cordovan, burgundy, etc. are acceptable as well. Here's a Q&A on brown shoes with navy suits from the GQ Style Guy:

Q: I work with rather conservative dressers. An older coworker and I disagree on whether my brown shoes are appropriate with a navy suit. I contend they are an obvious choice over the black-and-blue look. Please help.

A: There are many older men who will go to the grave believing that wearing brown shoes with a navy suit is morally wrong. Actually, it is wearing lighter brown shoes with a navy suit that is wrong. Your shoes should be at least as dark as your suit. If your brown shoes are of a darkness approaching black, you are okay. If they are tannish, the old man is right, and you should be banned from the executive washroom. There is nothing wrong with wearing black shoes with a navy suit, sir. Ask any admiral

[karlatta]

amew - Thanks for posting that! I asked DH about brown shoes/blue suit, and he said that he would have no problem wearing his mahogany shoes with his navy suit to a social event (like a wedding), but that he would never wear them to work. :)

[jki]

My DH usually wears black shoes with his navy pants/suits.

Ditto.

[Sophia]

Nothing wrong with black shoes with navy.

[msnicolea]

In Europe, I saw more brown with navy--DH wears brown or black, though.

[Sol]

The thing with the black shoes is that the navy from the pant is not that dark, so it does make too much contrast with the black shoes. He tried them on several times and it just doesn't look right.