While a tuxedo accessory set might make a lot of sense above the ankle, the shoes can be a bit of a quandary and where many folks make a mistake. The fastest way to go wrong is to use one’s regular business shoes or some other attire as footwear with a tuxedo. If you went through all the trouble of getting dressed up above the ankle, why mess it up with your feet? However, this is exactly what happens again and again, thinking even office shoes are good enough for a tuxedo. It’s a bit like taking emergency tires and putting them on a Ferrari; it looks weird.
If You Don’t Have Them, Rent Them
First off, there’s no need to panic about tuxedo-appropriate shoes if you don’t have them. An entire tux ensemble can be had on loan. You can get everything from a vest rental to a pair of snappy, shinny shoes ready to hit the big band dance floor at a fine dining event. Now it’s a simple matter of what shoes to pair with tuxedo styles.
If you’re not sure, most tuxedo rental operations will already have a standard shoe type paired to a given suit when they send out the package or rent it from the store. However, it doesn’t hurt to have a sense of color scheme and impact yourself if you feel so inclined to get your own shoes.
Primary Colors
The three big colors in tuxedo shoes, at least traditional ones, come in black, brown and tan. This doesn’t mean go out and get your pennyloafers from the trunk of the car. Black is typically the most elegant and formal of the bunch, and it’s usually matched with a black tie set up against matte black. The shoes are polished to a bright shine and the pants above are sleek and dark in matching color.
Brown and tan are a bit more relaxed. They work well for tuxedos with grays and brown colors, even dark blues in some cases. Both are a nice alternative to the strict black look that can come across stiff with colors other than a black tie format.
Secondary Choices
There are two variations that you can play with as well. Oxbloods are a brown-burgundy coloring almost tinged with a slight reddish tint. They are almost burgundy in color but still leaning well into the brown family. They are very well adapted to gray tuxedos as well as hybrid tuxedos that have a colored jacket, dark pants and oxblood footwear.
Gray shoes are a muted approach. They won’t stand out, and they aren’t as distinct as black, but they can come across as boring too.
Play it Smart
If you have to add color to a tuxedo, do it with the cummerbund and bow tie, not with the shoes. Your tux shoes should work with your outfit, not against it. A lot can be done with the three primary colors, and remember shoes come in a lot of different texture patterns too. Just don’t wear sneakers with a tux. That’s already been done and thrown out with the trash. It’s time to evolve and embrace the fine attire the right way.