Browns first: brown is a darkened orange, navy's opposite, so cognac and dark brown complete it. Grey suede, burgundy and black follow.
Find what fits me bestCognac is the brown closest to orange, so it meets navy as a near-exact opposite, and against the dark blue cloth it almost glows. Cognac derbies make a summer outfit for a garden party or a daytime wedding, and an ivory shirt softens the jump between dark cloth and bright leather. Expect the shoes to draw the eye.
Dark brown oxfords play the same opposites at low volume: the leather's hidden orange warms the cool blue without lighting it up. A light blue shirt keeps everything above the belt calm and tonal. It is the outfit for an interview where black might feel stiff, and for any office day of the year.
Suits: Cool WinterCool SummerBright Winter
Full outfits on OutfitSuggestion: What to wear to a job interview →
Grey suede loafers are the cool way out of brown. Grey and navy share a cool undertone, so the outfit stays quiet, and a lavender shirt adds a pale, cool tint at the collar. It is the low-key spring option for a navy suit worn without a tie, at a gallery opening, an engagement party or a spring brunch.
Burgundy and navy sit a third of the color wheel apart at a similar depth, so the shoes add color without adding contrast. Burgundy loafers or monk straps with a light pink shirt suit fall weddings, holiday dinners and dates, the evenings when an outfit should look chosen, not issued.
For a formal dress code, polished black oxfords, a white shirt and a black belt make navy about as dressy as a suit gets. Stick to plain toes or cap toes, because brogue perforations and suede pull the outfit back toward daytime.
Suits: Deep WinterCool WinterBright Winter
Full outfits on OutfitSuggestion: What to wear to a formal wedding as a guest →
Which of these flatter you depends on your color season. Find my season →
Navy shoes under a navy suit look like a near miss, because leather and wool rarely take dye the same way. The two navies end up slightly different, and the difference reads as a mistake. Brown or black contrast on purpose, which is what you want.
Bright red leather under navy turns the outfit nautical and pulls attention to the floor. Red and navy work better at chest height, in a tie or a pocket square. At your feet, deepen the red to burgundy and it settles into the suit.
Step 1 / 1
Face a window, without makeup if you can, hair as it naturally falls. Daylight and no filter keep your real skin tone — colored lamps and beauty filters change the result.
Step 2 / 2
The free color analysis reads your undertone, depth and contrast and tells you which of the 12 seasons you are, with your palette. Or pick a season yourself.
Analysis complete
Your best colors
Colors that work against you
AI visualization: you in four drapes, two of your best colors above two of your worst, the effect exaggerated. Uses one credit — your first try-on is free.
The analysis didn't work this time.
Or pick a season yourself
Your selfie is used for your reading and saved in your private Color Suite only if you go on to a try-on. Never shared, never used for training.
Free account · your first try-on is free
Create a free account to see your best and worst colors on you and keep them in your Color Suite. Your first try-on is on us.
We sent a 6-digit code to
We'll email you color ideas now and then — unsubscribe anytime with one click.
Navy is a very dark blue, and blue sits opposite orange on the color wheel. Brown leather is, in color terms, a darkened orange, which is why brown shoes under a navy blue suit look so settled: the two complete each other instead of competing. The same logic covers the whole family from chocolate to cognac and tan, and it is the reason a blue suit gives you more shoe choices than a black one.
Black works too, but it changes the suit's character: navy over black leather reads stricter and more like evening wear. Pick by light and by occasion. Daytime and warm months favor the lighter browns; evenings, winter and ceremonies favor dark brown, burgundy and black. The shirt does the work next to your face, so choose it for your coloring and let the shoes answer to the suit.
Not too formal, just stricter. Black shoes push a navy suit toward evening events, ceremonies and conservative offices, especially with a white shirt and a dark tie. In daylight and in relaxed settings, brown usually looks warmer and more natural against navy, so keep black for days when the dress code asks for it.
A brighter blue is less of a neutral than navy, so the shoes should calm it down. Dark brown and burgundy both do that, while black can look stark against a saturated blue in sunlight. Tan and cognac push a bright blue suit toward a summer party look, which is right for a beach or garden wedding.
Bold, yes, but rarely too bold. Tan is one of the strongest partners for navy: the lightest of the browns, set against the darkest of the blues. The contrast is high, so the look is bold and summery. Keep tan for daytime events and warm months, match the belt, and wear a light shirt so the upper half carries some light too.
The belt follows the shoes, not the suit: a dark brown belt with dark brown shoes, black with black. Any leather shows up clearly against navy cloth, so keep the belt's shade and finish close to the shoes. If you wear suspenders, skip the belt altogether.
For relaxed events, yes. White and navy are a classic high-contrast pair, so plain white leather sneakers under a navy suit look fresh in spring and summer, without a tie and with a tee or an open collar. Keep them spotless, and leave them at home for interviews, funerals and formal weddings.