Although navy blue shoes aren't quite as popular today, they used to be considered obligatory with a navy blue suit. However, today it can be confusing as to how to best coordinate navy blue shoes with trousers.

In this guide, you will learn how to match your navy blue shoes with different trousers. Use the following links to jump ahead:

  • Blue Shoe Coordination Overview
  • Matching Blue Shoes With Different Trouser Colors
  • Printable Shoe & Trouser Coordination Download

Alternatively, scroll down to read it all! If you want to learn about different shoe or trouser color coordinations, head to menu below.

Blue Moccasin Loafers & Grey Pants

How To Match Your Trousers With Navy Blue Shoes

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Matching Trousers With Navy Blue Shoes Overview

red white and blue saddle shoe"Early in the mornin' / I'm a-givin' you the warnin' / Don't you step on my blue suede shoes" – "Roll Over Beethoven," the late Chuck Berry.

Contrary to what the song would have you believe, not all blue shoes are suede. Navy blue dress shoes have been around for years, though their popularity seems to have tapered off about a generation ago.

The rule used to be that navy suits required navy shoes, and this has mostly been supplanted by brown shoes as the best complement.

If you can find some navy shoes, get your hands on them. They're uncommon, which raises their cool factor, and they're incredibly stylish if you can work them right.

Navy-Shoes-Coordination-Graphic NOTE: There are exceptions to every rule.
Use your good judgement, and feel free to leave us a comment if you have questions!

Read on for full explanations and reasoning of the above coordination suggestions. Or, click here to go see our Ultimate Shoe & Trouser Color Coordination Matrix showcasing how to match any color shoes with any color trousers.

How To Coordinate Navy Blue Shoes With Different Trousers

Best Trouser Matches For Navy Blue Shoes

Navy

As we said above, navy suits with navy shoes used to bede rigueur many years ago. Try this pairing for some old-school style points.

Light Grey

Blue Shoes And Grey Pants

It is difficult to find a situation in which light grey and blue won't pair harmoniously. Whether with a suit, casual trousers, or even grey jeans, navy blue shoes will work wonderfully. The tassel loafer above serves as a fine example.

Grey

Navy shoes with charcoal grey will work in the same way dark brown shoes will  by providing an alternative to black. Make sure you throw a blue accessory or two in your ensemble to tell a smooth color story.

Brown

This pairing is conceptually similar to the grey and navy pairing mentioned above. The inverse of navy trousers with dark brown shoesthis is a non-standard combination that would be best served with some blue accessories for continuity. Lighter shades of brown will also pair nicely with lighter shades of blue.

Tan

Tan trousers and navy blue shoes -or any shade of blue, for that matter- is an alluring combination that will work particularly well in spring and summer. As tan is a neutral and navy blue is, well, a blue, the possibilities for the rest of the outfit are limited by only your imagine and skin tone.

Olive

Try on some olive chinos with a navy blue chukka boot and a cream-colored sweater. Get back to us with all the compliments you get.

White

Blue WIngtips With White Jeans

Navy blue shoes and white trousers can't miss. In fact, the example above uses white jeans and monochromatic spectators. As always, save it for summertime.

For some additional inspiration, we recommend looking at this Articles of Style page. Dan Trepanier is a very well-dressed guy, and halfway down the page you'll see a picture of him sitting outside in a tan sport coat, white jeans, and navy tassel loafers. He is killing it, and so can you.

Beige

Navy blue shoes will make beige trousers a little less drab than they may otherwise come off. Try a lighter blue shoe to give your outfit even more life.

Red

Red and blue are primary colorsas such they look fantastic next to each other. Some Nantucket reds with blue suede shoes, for example, should make an appearance at the next backyard barbecue you attend.

Acceptable Trouser Matches

Jeans

Denim with navy shoes runs the risk of Blueberry Syndrome. Typically this happens when someone wears dark denim with a navy blazer. The colors are a little off, meaning that the whole outfit looks amateurish and instead of a harmonious whole, you look like a blob of blue. A walking blueberry, if you will.

If you're going to pair denim with navy blue shoes, try a lighter denim so as to maintain a relatively high level of contrast.

Blue

Similar to the situation with denim above, you have to make sure the trousers are a light enough blue to contrast enough. Avoid dark blue trousers with dark blue shoes.

No-Go Trouser Matches

Black

Black trousers and navy shoes will look horrible. Don't do it.

Free Printable Download For Reference At Home

If you want a copy of our printable color coordination matrix, feel free to download it below!

Download PDF | Download JPEG

The-Ultimate-Shoe-&-Trouser-Coordination-Matrix-By-Bespoke-Unit-750

What Next?

Now that you have read about the how to match blue shoes with trousers, check out some related guides below:

  • Shoe & Trouser Coordination Homepage
  • Top 10 Best Men's Dress Shoes
  • How To Coordinate Tan Shoes & Trousers
  • Most Comfortable Dress Shoes For Men
  • Bespoke Unit Shoe Homepage
Blue Shoe & Trouser Color Coordination Guide
Reviewed by Marvin C., on .
"Very helpful guide. My blue shoes were a nightmare and I couldn't find a good combination. This guide helped me out."
Rating: 5.0 ★★★★★

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