However well put together the outfit, the person across from you will glance down at your shoes at some point. A neat navy blazer, tidy chinos, and then a mismatched pair of shoes is enough to cost the whole look. That is why the question of what shoes to wear with a blazer deserves a careful answer: your shoes decide whether your blazer leans towards the office or the weekend.
Quick answer
For a separate blazer, the six easiest shoes to pair are loafers, plain derbies, suede derbies, Chelsea boots, monk straps and minimalist white leather sneakers. A quick rule: the glossier and more laced the shoe, the more formal; suede or sneakers are more relaxed. Match your belt to the colour of your shoes.
Principles for choosing shoes for a blazer
You only need to remember three principles:
- Level of formality: polished leather with a neat round toe and laces is the most formal. Suede, loafers and sneakers are more relaxed.
- Shoe colour with the trousers: brown goes with navy, blue-grey, beige and olive. Black goes with charcoal, deep navy and evening occasions.
- Belt in the same colour as the shoes: it need not be the same leather, but it should be the same tone.
Six shoes that go with a blazer
| Shoe | Goes with trousers | Occasion | Formality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loafer | Chinos, tapered trousers | Relaxed office, weekend | Medium |
| Plain derby | Dress trousers, dark chinos | Office, client meetings | High |
| Suede derby | Chinos, grey wool trousers | Smart casual | Medium to low |
| Chelsea boot | Tapered trousers, dark jeans | Cooler season, evenings | Medium |
| Monk strap | Dress trousers, chinos | Office, light parties | High |
| White leather sneaker | Chinos, dark jeans | Weekend, travel | Low |
1. Loafer
The loafer is a laceless slip-on shoe, elegant yet easy to wear. Brown or cognac with a navy blazer and beige chinos is almost impossible to get wrong. With tapered trousers, the hem should be short enough to show a little ankle. If you often wonder whether you can wear loafers with a suit: you can, when it is a separate blazer or a suit for a relaxed occasion. With a formal black suit, a laced shoe is still more fitting.
2. Plain derby
The derby has open lacing, with the lace flaps sitting outside, which makes it easier to wear and to fit than an oxford. A plain derby in dark brown or black is the safe choice for a work blazer, for meetings and for clients.
3. Suede derby
Suede is soft, matte and warm, pulling the outfit towards a relaxed style that is still polished. It goes very well with a navy blazer and grey wool trousers or cream chinos. Avoid it on rainy days.
4. Chelsea boot
A low ankle boot with elastic panels on both sides, neat and tidy. It suits tapered trousers or dark blue jeans, with the hem just touching the top of the boot. Suitable for cooler weather and evenings.
5. Monk strap
A shoe with a buckle across the front instead of laces, distinctive yet still formal. It suits dress trousers and chinos, especially when you want to stand slightly apart from the crowd.
6. Minimalist white leather sneaker
A white leather sneaker with a thin sole and no large logo is the answer to wearing sneakers with a suit. Use it with a separate blazer and chinos or dark jeans, tapered to show the ankle. Avoid chunky-soled, multicoloured or shiny sneakers when wearing a formal suit.
Choosing shoes by blazer colour
- Navy blazer: brown, dark brown and black all work. Brown for day, black for evening.
- Grey blazer: black, dark brown, burgundy; avoid a brown that is too light.
- Beige or cream blazer: brown, cognac, or suede shoes.
- Brown or earth-tone check blazer: dark brown, navy, or moss-green suede.
- Black blazer: black, very dark brown, or minimalist white sneakers if you want a contrast.
You can read more about pairing shoes with black in the article what colour shoes with a black suit.
What shoes to wear with a blazer for each occasion: three scenarios
- Meetings, receiving clients: navy blazer, grey dress trousers, plain derby or dark brown monk strap. Neat, moderately polished, trustworthy.
- Coffee or a weekend date: beige or lightly checked blazer, chinos, loafers or suede derbies. Relaxed but deliberate.
- Travel and a lot of moving around: soft-shouldered blazer, tapered trousers, minimalist white leather sneakers. Comfortable for plenty of walking without losing polish.
In all three cases you only need to keep to one principle: a single relaxed element. If the shoes are already sneakers, the trousers and shirt should be polished; conversely, if the blazer, trousers and shoes are all relaxed, the whole will look sloppy.
Keeping shoes in good shape to wear with your blazer for years
A good leather shoe lasts many years if you care for it properly: put shoe trees in right after taking them off, polish lightly every few wears, rotate at least two pairs so the leather can rest, and do not leave suede out in the rain. This also helps the shoe keep the shape of its toe, the thing the other person sees first.
Socks, belt and trouser hem
- Socks: the same tone as the trousers on smart occasions. On relaxed occasions, patterned socks or a light accent colour are fine. With loafers and sneakers, you can use short thin socks if you want to show the ankle.
- Belt: the same colour as the shoes and the same level of shine.
- Trouser hem: touching the top of the shoe lightly, or showing a little ankle with low shoes. With boots, the hem touches the top of the boot.
A tip from Mon Amie's master tailors
The right shoe is not the most expensive one, but the one that is in proportion with the trouser hem. A tailor always checks the hem length while you wear the exact shoes you plan to wear, because the same hem looks different over a thin sneaker than over a boot. When you have trousers made to measure at the showroom, bring your real shoes so the master tailor can set the hem correctly. You can also look at the shoes on the products page to picture the whole outfit before choosing.
Common mistakes
- Choosing glossy black shoes for a beige weekend blazer; the overall look turns heavy.
- Using chunky-soled sneakers with an office blazer.
- A trouser hem that drops to the floor with loafers, so the trousers have surplus cloth.
- A belt in a different tone from the shoes.
- Buying shoes in the wrong size, so you walk lopsided and nothing looks right however you dress. Try shoes on at the end of the day, when your feet are at their widest, and stand up and walk a few steps before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pair shoes with a men's blazer correctly?
Choose by formality and blazer colour. Office: derbies or monk straps. Weekend: loafers, suede derbies or white sneakers. Keep the shoes in the same tone as the belt.
Can you wear loafers with a suit?
Yes, with a separate blazer or a suit for a relaxed occasion. Choose plain leather loafers in brown or black, with the hem short enough to show the ankle.
Is wearing sneakers with a suit out of fashion?
No, if you choose minimalist white leather sneakers and a separate blazer. Avoid them with a formal full suit.
What shoes with a black blazer?
Black or very dark brown shoes are safe. Minimalist white sneakers make a youthful contrast on a relaxed day.
Can you wear Chelsea boots with a blazer?
Yes, especially in cooler weather and in the evening. Choose tapered trousers or dark blue jeans, with the hem just touching the top of the boot.
Start with two pairs of shoes
The question of what shoes to wear with a blazer gets much easier once you have two foundation pairs. If you are building a shoe wardrobe for blazers, the first two should be a dark brown derby and a brown loafer. White sneakers for weekends come after that. You can also read how to style a men's blazer, or make an appointment through the booking page so a master tailor can advise on a blazer to suit your shoes.