It's a question that's plagued dressed-up guys for as long as there have been dressed-up guys: what color shoes go with what color suit?

Are navy and black ever ok to wear together? Do brown shoes go with everything? What about different shades – does it matter if my suit is light or dark gray? How about light or dark brown leather for the shoes? And how the hell do socks factor into the equation – are they supposed to match your shoes or your suit pants? Both? Neither?

We've got opinions, but first, a disclaimer: there's no real "right" answer to any of this. It's a matter of splitting hairs, and so long as your suit fits well and your shoes look sharp, you'll probably be just fine.

As for the socks: like a lot of modern guys, we support a little bit of personality at your ankle. A plain gray, black, or navy sock to match your suit will work fine if you want to be conservative, but don't be afraid to toss color coordination out the window and wear something bright and/or patterned.

Black Shoes

Black shoes go with just about anything, so all three of the above looks are pitch perfect in our eyes.

The black plain toe bluchers are no-brainers for the dark gray and light gray trousers, obviously, but the tricky one is the navy. Some will say that, generally speaking, black and blue look wrong together since they're similarly dark hues but different enough that there's a weird visual disconnect. We respectfully disagree — we think the above looks sleek and simple, and allows for a slight flash of color (in this case, a burgundy cashmere sock) to brighten the look.

The verdict: they're all good. Wear with confidence.

Dark Brown Shoes

As with the black shoes, these look great with both light and dark gray trousers. As for the navy: we think it looks just fine, but if you're going to attempt the look yourself, be aware that it's a divisive combination.

Some people, especially more old-school, traditional menswear types, think that brown shoes look too casual with a navy suit. But we think that so long as they're dressy, dark, and nicely polished like the above, you're good to go.

The verdict: again, they're all good. The brown/navy combination might ruffle some peoples' feathers, but we think it's fine.

Light Brown Shoes

Here's where we're going to give out a hard no. Two of them, actually.

Light brown shoes have a much more casual look than their darker brown cousins, even when it's a clean and simple pair of derbies like the above. The lighter hue looks ok with the light gray trousers for a kind of lighter-weight vibe, but contrasts awkwardly with the darker gray and navy trousers.

The verdict: fine with light colored suits, but a definite no for darker ones.

What Color Shoes to Wear with Your Suit