Style rules: which still matter
Some rules are about how colours and fabrics actually look together, and still hold. Others were etiquette that has quietly retired. Each answer says which, why, and when it bends.
Rules
Shoes
- NoCan you wear brown shoes with black trousers?Usually not. Brown leather under black trousers is a traditional no, and light tan is the worst version of it.
- YesCan you wear black shoes with a navy suit?Yes. Black shoes with a navy suit are correct for formal settings, just a little severe for casual ones.
- YesDo brown shoes go with a navy suit?Yes, it's one of the most classic pairings in menswear: warm brown leather against cool navy.
- YesDo brown shoes go with grey trousers?Yes. Dark brown shoes warm up grey trousers without losing formality.
- NoCan you wear tan shoes with charcoal trousers?Better not. Tan is too casual and too light for charcoal; dark brown or black work better.
- NoCan you wear black shoes with khaki trousers?It's risky. Black shoes look heavy against light khaki; brown or tan are the usual choice.
- DependsCan you wear sneakers with a suit?In relaxed settings, clean white leather sneakers with a slim suit can work. For weddings, interviews and formal offices, no.
- YesWhat colour shoes go with a grey suit?Black for formal, dark brown for most occasions, and lighter brown for a relaxed daytime look.
Rules
Colour
- YesCan you wear navy and black together?Yes, when the difference in depth is visible. In low light the two can blur together.
- YesCan you wear brown and black together?Yes in clothing: a brown knit with black trousers is a warm, modern combination. The rule people remember is about shoes.
- YesDo navy and brown go together?Yes, it's the classic pairing: warm against cool, clearly different in depth.
- DependsCan you wear denim on denim?Yes, if the two washes are clearly different. Matching washes look like a uniform.
- NoCan you wear red and green together?Pure red with pure green is risky: together they read as festive. Mute one of them.
- YesDo black and white go together?Yes: the most graphic, high-contrast pairing there is.
- YesCan you wear all black?Yes. Head-to-toe black is a classic, unbroken line; vary the textures so it doesn't look flat.
- YesCan you mix patterns?Yes: vary the scale (a small check with a wide stripe) and keep one colour in common.
Rules
Occasions
- YesCan you wear white after Labor Day?Yes. The old rule is long retired; winter white knits, coats and trousers look fresh in cold months.
- YesCan you wear a blazer with jeans?Yes: dark jeans and a navy or grey blazer are the backbone of smart casual.
- DependsCan you wear black to a wedding?At evening and formal weddings usually yes; at daytime ones, a colour looks more celebratory. Some cultures avoid black at weddings: check.
- NoCan you wear a hoodie under a blazer?Usually not. The formality gap is too wide; a knit or a sweatshirt does the same job better.
Rules
Fit
Rules
Belts, socks and jewellery
- YesShould your belt match your shoes?With leather shoes, yes: brown belt with brown shoes, black with black. With sneakers it matters less.
- DependsShould socks match your trousers or your shoes?Match the trousers: it continues the line of the leg. Patterned or colourful socks are a casual choice.
- YesCan you mix gold and silver jewellery?Yes, when it looks deliberate: repeat each metal at least twice, or wear one piece that combines both.
Verdicts and outfits come from published colour and dress-code rules, not paid placement; garment images are AI-generated illustrations of generic pieces. How we decide