Sartorish.com

The shoe & sock matching thing presents an interesting dilemma for a lot of guys. Here’s a little guide to acceptable shoe/sock/pant combinations in a typical business setting.

Shoe & pant (or suit) combinations

Black shoes

Black shoes can be worn with pretty much any color pants or suit. (From this point forward, just assume that when I refer to pants of a certain color, the same applies to suits of that color as well.)

Brown shoes

Brown shoes are popular with navy pants. Personally I find that combination a bit pedestrian, but I guess there’s nothing wrong with it.

It’s been said that clothes make the man, and that shoes make an outfit. Need I say more about the importance of good shoes? Here’s some advice on buying dress shoes for your business wardrobe.

First three pairs, in recommended order of purchase:

1. Black cap-toe oxford
2. Black plain-toe oxford, with a non-slip bottom if you prefer (but it shouldn’t look like it has a non-slip bottom!)
3. Dark brown oxford (cap-toe, plain, wingtip/brogue — whatever you like)

Shoe buying tips

• Invest in high-quality dress shoes, preferably with Goodyear-welted soles. Without getting into technical details, this means the shoes can be properly resoled, and therefore worn for decades if well cared for.