Suited and Booted

There is nothing more frustrating than having that perfect suit hanging in your wardrobe but being in a pickle about the shoes to wear with it. Something doesn’t quite work and there’s nothing that will throw a whole look off balance than having shoes that just don’t cut the mustard. This is part of the reason why we created Undandy, to negate this as you’re sure to find the perfect shoe with over a billion different design combinations at your fingertips. Personally, I always dress from the sole up, but even if you are searching for the right pair of shoes to go with the right suit, designing them specifically is certainly a sartorial recipe for success.

Let us begin with the basics, the most common suit colour, black. This is Style 101 and sadly you are perhaps more limited here with colour of shoes than any other suit colour. I might make a few style adversaries here, but I am personally adamant that one should stick with black on black for the most aesthetic appeal. Brown shoes with a black suit for me is enough to call the sartorial police for such irresponsible and reckless behaviour. However, you may be permitted to break the rules with stitching, laces or sole colour. The 48 by Michael Corleone is the perfect accompaniment for black suits for weddings and other formal occasions excluding black tie affairs (patent exclusively) or funerals (black cap toe Oxford) with its subtle statement of a tan sole and dark brown stitching on the black calf leather Derby. 

As we move onto navy suits, you can breathe a sigh of relief as this is a great deal more versatile when it comes to the colour choice of one’s shoes. However, that doesn’t mean that one can, akin to a bull in a china shop, go breaking all rules. Far from it, one still needs to learn how to walk before running. A fool proof classic is brown shoes with a navy suit. Despite the British adage that ‘brown should never be seen in town’ this juxtaposition is universally flattering. Those wishing to push the proverbial boat out a little farther should then look for a burgundy hue. This certainly will garner extra points on your sartorial score board but can be trickier to pull off depending on the lightness of the navy suit. Black is also a universal contender, particularly for that all-important job interview where failure is simply not an option, but one should be careful that a navy suit with black shoes is reserved for a more formal setting. For everyday navy suiting, a beautiful dark patina brown such as the 15 by Powell is ideal. This is a stalwart in our bestsellers collection and shouldn’t be far from any gentleman’s wardrobe.

Another suit colour to start dipping a toe into the exotic waters of varying colour options of shoes is dark grey. Although not as formal as a black suit, its charcoal hue means this does have a more serious look than a navy or light grey suit. A striking alternative to black is a rich burgundy or deep red shoe. I’ve seen this done to great aplomb and in my opinion burgundy and navy combinations are worthy of hall of suit style fame.

A light grey suit is a far less sober setting and a great neutral when deciding on the shoes, here I can highly recommend a pair with contrasting colours, such as a brown calf leather and sand suede or going for a full bright colour such as a blue or burgundy. The beauty with a grey suit is that it can go from boardroom to bar with effortless ease so here you can dress up on down depending on the occasion. My personal favourites are the 15 by Nucky Thompson, a glorious three tone monk strap mixing leathers and colours that works well for the office and a night on the town. Black polished patent dress shoes can add a formal finish for a wedding when paired with a light grey suit.

For the summer months a cream or beige suit will always have a particularly attractive draw, a look synonymous with the Italian tailoring masters. A canvas and leather Derby or a beautiful tan loafer will work wonder with a cream suit, conjuring up the memories of late summers on the Amalfi Coast. Pass me the limoncello!

I challenge you on our 3D design platform with endless customisation options, to not find a complement for that suit waiting in the wings! Whatever the occasion or suit you can be sure to find the suitable sole mate.