What Colour Socks Go with Brown Shoes? 15 Picks
Although socks may seem like an inconsequential part of your look, especially when you are flying out of the house and barely have enough time for breakfast, they have the power to make or break your outfit. This is why today we're looking at what colour socks pair with brown shoes.
You can have the best brown shoes on, but if you choose the wrong socks, you run the risk of ruining your entire outfit. Before we dive into the specific colour socks that pair well with brown shoes, let's first understand brown as a colour.
Understanding the Sock Colour and Its Relationship to Brown
We need to form a relationship between brown and all the other colours in the colour wheel so you can properly pair it with your amazing style and let your amazing style stand out. In the colour wheel, we have primary colours and secondary colours. Red, blue, and yellow are the primary colours, and green, orange, and purple are the secondary colours. The primary colours, when mixed together, create brown.
Brown is a neutral colour, so you can mix and match it with other colours, including other neutrals and bold colours. One more very important thing to note about brown is that it has reddish, yellowish, and grayish undertones. Once you understand this, you know how to pair your outfit. As a reminder, you don’t want to match your socks with your shoes, not your pants.
Therefore, the discussion about what colour socks to wear with brown shoes shouldn’t just be about the colour and design combination of your socks; it should instead focus on the colour of the pants you’re going to wear. But as always, we are going to provide you with a few choices below so you are not short on choices.
What Colour Socks Pair Great with Brown Shoes?
1. Black socks
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It's no surprise black socks are at the top of our list because black goes with almost anything. Also, black is a neutral colour like brown, which makes black socks one of the best choices to pair with brown shoes.
The classic combination is foolproof, and your outfit will definitely seem elegant and formal. This pairing has a contrasting effect against the brown, which makes it the best look for formal events such as black tie events, weddings, and business meetings.
2. Grey socks
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Our second choice is another neutral colour. This colour pairs well with brown shoes without the formality of black socks. Grey socks complement brown shoes very well and allow you to give off a dressed-up or dressed-down look.
But if you are moving from a formal to an informal space, or vice versa, brown shoes go really well with grey socks. We wouldn’t advise you to wear grey socks with light brown shoes, but grey socks also look great with medium to dark brown shoes.
3. Brown socks
You probably didn't think we would cover brown socks in this piece, but we would be remiss to leave them out. In fact, the fun part about pairing brown shoes with brown socks is you can experiment with various shades of brown.
Pairing brown socks with brown shoes gives you a harmonious and coordinated look. In fact, if you want your style to reflect the fact you are an organized individual, say for an interview, brown on brown is a good combination. Plus, this pairing is superb for business casual outfits.
But, we must confess, wearing brown shoes with brown socks works superbly when you create a subtle contrast between your sock and shoe colour.
4. Burgundy socks
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We've come from the subtle arena and dove right into the stylish scene with burgundy socks. Burgundy socks paired with brown shoes allow you to make a modern fashion statement.
We wouldn't mind wearing this outfit if we were going for one of those casual occasions. To amaze your friends at a meet-up, once they complement your light brown shoes, ensure you complete the set with burgundy socks.
5. Navy blue socks
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If you don’t want to overpower your outfit but do want a pop of colour, navy blue socks paired with brown shoes work magic. This pairing may be rocked in both casual and semi-casual settings.
Another grand thing about navy blue socks is they make your outfit look sophisticated without making it look too formal. We recommend rocking this paring with a high-quality blue or grey suit. You will thank us later.
6. Purple socks
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The second way to secure the sophisticated look is to pair purple socks with brown dress shoes or any other brown shoe. This will make you feel powerful yet gentle.
Opt for shades such as a deep eggplant or plum to give you a refined but balanced look. You'll feel this effect more intensely if you wear this combination with a charcoal or grey suit. You'll ooze power and reliability without having to say a single word.
7. Mustard socks
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We haven't forgotten about you, fall lovers. There's something so soothing about the fall season because it brings warmth into our hearts. Wearing mustard socks with brown shoes gives you this warm feeling any time of the year.
In fact, if you are planning to add some energy to your outfit, wear brown shoes with mustard socks. These socks add a pop of colour and style to your outfit while still maintaining a harmonious appearance.
8. Forest green socks
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Forest green socks are a great option to pair with brown shoes because of the contrast they create. This earthy contrast goes very well with khaki or beige trousers. You can absolutely rock this outfit the next time you're going on an outdoor adventure.
9. Light blue socks
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Just as the forest green socks above create an earthy contrast when paired with brown shoes, light blue socks create a cool contrast. This combination is perfect when paired with light-coloured pants.
We recommend wearing this pairing during the summer or spring when you want to brighten your outfit. Speaking of summer, here are 4 summer looks for women and 4 for men to keep you looking and feeling your best.
10. Pink socks
11. White socks
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Our list would not be complete without this colour, which is perfect for casual settings. In fact, pairing white socks with brown shoes works great when dealing with sneakers or loafers.
So, feel free to wear white socks with your favourite pair of sneakers when going for your friend's birthday or the friends' reunion you've been looking forward to.
12. Patterned socks
Image Source: boardroomsocks.com
When it comes to patterned socks, you have a variety to choose from. There are stripes, polka dots, argyle, and many more. Patterned socks are a great way to let your personality shine through while adding some flair to your outfit.
Still, there are two important things to note when pairing these socks with brown shoes. One is you should avoid this combination if you are wearing a striped suit to prevent creating a busy look. The second point is to ensure one of the colours in the patterns complements your brown shoes to create a cohesive look.
13. Beige socks
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I recommend well-tan or beige socks if you’re wearing pants or trousers of the same colour. These combinations create a neat, harmonious look that makes you look stylish and elegant.
But this pairing also looks fabulous and it elongates your legs, making it ideal for the most formal settings, such as weddings or meetings.
14. Teal socks
Image Source: sockshop.co.uk
Teal socks are very much like the beige socks above, but for casual occasions when you want to pop out in blue. If that’s the case, it would be an advantage when going to the bar with your friends for drinks and want to look snazzy but casual.
15. Copper or rust socks
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Finally, we have copper socks. These are great for creating a warm and inviting contrast with your brown shoes. This is another pairing you can rock during the autumn months.
Final Thoughts
Remember, first impressions are lasting, and you always want to make the best one. So, whether you're wearing shoes with leggings or not, you should always consider the colour of your pants to ensure the socks flow seamlessly with them. We recommend choosing your sock colour based on the pants you're wearing and then finding out if they go well with brown shoes.
