Should you match your dress shoes or sneakers and belt combo?
One of the top dress code questions we get is do dress shoes and belt combos match?
The answer is yes, they should, but in essence - not necessarily in colour
You want your dress shoes to look like a cohesive unit with everything else you're wearing. Matching dress shoes and belts ensure that this happens.
But there's more to it than just matching them in colour or shade: Your dress shoe and belt combo should also be tonally similar--which means they both need to have a level of richness when it comes to their hue.
-
First combination - Orange Crocodile belt from Stefano Ricci, with white and multicoloured Premiata sneakers
But the great thing about this is that it gives us some wiggle room to experiment with different shade combinations - and the old wisdom that the colours have to be exactly the same has long been changing.
There aren't many set-in-place rules when it comes to menswear, but matching your belt to your shoes has long been one of them.
But that old system - while still best in some situations - can leave you looking old and stuffy if done in the wrong way, at the wrong time.
The traditional wisdom of matching belts and shoes
"You should always match your belt and shoes exactly"
-
Second combination - Kiton Dark brown Suede Leather dress shoes with matching belt - seductively classic
Dark brown shoes? Dark brown belt.
Black shoes? Black belt.
Blue shoes? Blue belt
Grey shoes? Gray belt.
The New Way - Innovate today with IsuiT
Mix it up — but with caution — also your other accessories are important
-
Third combination - A subtle yet effective way of making a statement - Tom Ford leather belt with a pair of blue viscose dress shoes
Things have slowly been changing - and there is definitely some space to experiment. Here are some important notes about different shade belt and shoe combinations:
- Dark brown and light brown or dark colours with brighter shades of the same colour are generally acceptable these days
- A common question is can you wear a brown belt with black shoes and vice versa - Brown and black is still, generally, ill-advisable - It can work in very specific situations when done properly, but should be avoided in most cases
- In casual situations, it is absolutely not necessary to match your belt with shoes, especially as you may be wearing a pair of sneakers
- If you're at a funeral just go with a black belt and a black pair of dress shoes, as this is proper funeral attire.
- Don't go for too far out colour combinations - something like an orange belt and a blue pair of dress shoes will lead to a meltdown wherever you are in the world.
Best Italian Handmade Sartorial Belts to combine with your favourite dress shoes
IsuiT - Italian Sartorial Luxury - is very proud of its collection of luxury belts
We have everything a modern man needs - from the outlandish to the more subtle
Our favourite brands currently selling handmade luxury belts are: