There’s no special trick to matching shoes and suits. The colors either go together or they don’t, there is no middle ground.

At the end of the day, fashion rules were made to be broken, but if you’re just getting the hang of things, this very basic guide should help you stay on track. Black shoes go with just about anything, but if you want to stand out, a tan or dark brown shoe with a navy, blue, or light grey suit can look great. Print it out and pin it up in your wardrobe, and you’ll always match them up correctly. (Just remember to never wear white sports socks.)

If you’re still learning how to dress a bit better, it can help to have some little “cheat sheets” on hand. This infographic shows you what colour shoes go with what colour suits.