A color combination as versatile as white and brown does give you plenty of options when it comes to coordinating your other items.
So, here are some great pants colors you can wear with a white shirt and brown shoes:
- Black
- Grey
- Blue
- Navy
- Khaki
- Maroon
- Green
But how do you know which of those pants colors is the right one for you?
Let’s go through each of them in more detail, with descriptions and pictures to help you choose the perfect one.
7 Pants Colors To Wear With A White Shirt And Brown Shoes
As you can see, certain pants colors look more formal and dressy here, while others will look more casual.
The dress code is crucial when making your decision.
Black Pants
Black pants look great worn with a white shirt and brown shoes. Dark brown shoes work especially well with this combination in dressier settings.
Ultimately, a pair of black pants would be the most “formal” option you could go for.
That doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be worn in more casual settings. After all, a pair of pants will only look as formal as what it’s made of.
You could choose a pair of black jeans, chinos, or dress pants – it’ll always work no matter what style of white shirt or brown shoes you choose.
The combination of white, brown, and black is timeless, classic, and neutral. Plus, the contrast between the white shirt and the black pants is definitely eye-catching.
What’s great about it is that it requires very little thought – you know it’ll always coordinate effortlessly.
Consider how much contrast you want between the black pants and the brown shoes.
If you’d prefer a subtle, dressy, and low-contrast aesthetic, go for a pair of dark brown shoes.
For example, a white dress shirt, black chinos/dress pants, and dark brown Derbies combination.
If you’d prefer more contrast, go for a pair of black pants with light/medium brown shoes instead.
Grey Pants
Grey pants can easily be worn with a white shirt and brown shoes, with dark grey pants and dark brown shoes being more suitable in dressy or formal settings.
Dark colors will always be more suitable when you’re looking to dress up. A pair of dark grey (eg. charcoal) pants will look almost as dressy as a pair of black ones.
It’ll also look just as effective with a pair of dark brown shoes.
If you’re wearing a pair of light grey pants with a white shirt, consider a pair of shoes in a medium shade of brown such as tan, caramel, or light walnut.
The combination of white, grey, and brown is just as neutral and easy to blend as the previous example.
It’ll always work.
All you need to decide is how much contrast you want between the items.
A great smart-casual ensemble would be a white OCBD shirt and dark grey chinos, worn with a light grey blazer up top. The contrast between dark grey and light grey often looks great.
Round things up with a pair of suede brown Derby shoes or penny loafers and you’re all set.
Blue Pants
A white shirt and brown shoe combination looks great with a pair of blue pants, whether they’re in a light (eg. sky or baby blue) or a medium (eg. steel blue or teal) shade of blue.
This combination would only be suitable in smart-casual settings. If you feel as though there may be a risk of underdressing, go for a pair of black, dark grey, or navy pants instead.
This is assuming a 2-piece suit wouldn’t be necessary in the first place.
But the combination of white, brown, and blue looks great.
The cool undertones of the blue pants will add a nice sense of contrast to the subtle, yet warm undertones of the brown shoes.
Shoes in lighter shades of brown (eg. tan, caramel) look great with pants in these lighter shades of blue.
Overall, it’s a great option when you’re dressing down.
Navy Pants
A pair of navy pants would look fantastic when wearing a white shirt and brown shoes. While it won’t look quite as dressy as black or grey, the combination would still be considered relatively formal.
Navy blue is a great alternative to the more traditional and “professional” colors of black and grey.
It’s so dark and muted that it’s often clustered with these other colors, but the cool undertones of the underlying blue are still noticeable and add a more laid-back touch.
Navy pants would pair effortlessly with a white shirt and brown shoes.
Once again, consider how much contrast you want with the pants and shoes given how dark navy blue really is.
It would work phenomenally well with a pair of dark brown shoes. However, shoes in lighter shades of brown would look great if you wanted a more eye-catching contrast between the two items.
A quick note on socks:
Always try to match the socks to the pants and nothing else. So, in this case, wear a pair of socks in a dark shade of blue to ensure they coordinate well with the navy pants.
Khaki Pants
Khaki pants can confidently be worn with a white shirt and brown shoes in smart-casual and business-casual settings.
Khakis are the epitome of business-casual attire and have been for decades.
Having said this, they look just as good in more casual environments that aren’t necessarily associated with the workplace.
Regardless of the dress code, khaki pants combine incredibly well with a pair of brown shoes and a white shirt.
For one, khaki is just a pale shade of brown. It makes complete sense that it syncs seamlessly with a pair of shoes in any shade of brown.
Maroon Pants
Maroon pants can be worn with a white shirt and brown shoes in casual or smart-casual settings where there isn’t much risk of underdressing.
The warm and vibrant energy of the maroon pants will make this combination a lot more attention-grabbing than the previous examples.
Because of this, avoid wearing it in more formal or business-casual settings where a more neutral option would be better.
However, if you were looking to dress down and make more of a subtle statement, maroon pants look great.
The warm undertones of the maroon pants blend well with the subtle brown undertones of the brown shoes.
In addition, maroon is still dark and muted enough to maintain an air of sophistication.
The same goes for other dark shades of red such as burgundy, oxblood, and crimson.
No matter which shade you choose, the contrast between the pants and the white shirt will be striking but will coordinate effectively.
Green Pants
A white shirt and brown pants combination can be worn with green pants in smart-casual settings. It works well when dark or muted shades of green such as sage, olive, or forest green are worn.
The best thing about this combination is the earthy and natural aesthetic that the green pants will produce when worn with brown shoes.
It doesn’t get more earthy than a green and brown pairing.
However, muted shades of green such as sage and olive often look more elegant here than more in-your-face shades such as lime or chartreuse.
Dark shades such as forest green and olive green are also good options.
While this outfit looks especially good during the winter and fall months, don’t feel restricted by seasonality. It would look fantastic year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs on this combo to finish up.
Can You Wear A White Shirt And Brown Shoes With Blue Jeans?
Blue jeans look great when worn with a white shirt and brown shoes in casual settings.
While the color combination will work no matter what, consider the style of white shirt and brown shoes here.
At the end of the day, the shirt and shoe combo needs to be casual enough to make sense when worn with ultra-casual blue jeans.
When you’re really dressing down and going casual, consider a white T-shirt and brown espadrilles/sneakers combo.
If you’re wearing blue jeans in a more smart-casual capacity, go for a dark wash pair of jeans and consider a white polo, Henley, or OCBD.
For the shoes, loafers (with the jeans cuffed) or suede Derbys would look great here.
Can You Wear A White Shirt And Brown Shoes With Black Jeans?
A white shirt can be worn with brown shoes and a pair of black jeans for casual and smart-casual events.
Again, the white, brown, and black combination will always work.
The contrast between the white shirt and black jeans will be noticeable, yet subtle at the same time.
Consider wearing a pair of brown loafers, monk straps, or suede Derby shoes.
Conclusion
As you can see, a white shirt and brown shoes pairing will never leave you short of options when it comes to the color of your pants.
However, think carefully about which pants color would work best for your specific circumstances.
Consider the dress code, as well as your preferences.
Enjoy.
Ready Sleek founder. Obsessed with casual style and the minimalist approach to building a highly functional wardrobe. Also a fan of classic, vintage hairstyles.
