Can men wear espadrilles with a suit?

With a linen suit, yes. DMARGE advises trousers with no break at the hem, ideally cuffed, and pale colours that suit the relaxed shoe.

What colour espadrilles should a man buy first?

A neutral: beige, navy, black, white or olive, the colours Zalora's guide recommends because they go with linen, denim and cotton.

How to Wear Espadrilles: A Practical Guide for Men

For men, espadrilles are the summer shoe that sits between a sneaker and a loafer. The two style guides we read, from the men's style site DMARGE and the retailer Zalora, agree on the basics: wear them with light fabrics, keep the outfit simple, show the ankle, and pick a neutral colour first. They work with shorts, chinos and jeans, and even with a linen suit.

The four outfits that always work

Outfit	How to do it	Source
Shorts	tailored, drawstring or Bermuda shorts in denim or chino cloth, linen shirt or plain tee; invest in good fabrics because simple looks show everything	Zalora, DMARGE
Chinos	light fabrics such as cotton blends or seersucker; avoid very slim cuts, which clash with a relaxed shoe	DMARGE
Jeans	light or worn-in wash, cuff rolled, plain white tee; striped espadrilles look good with denim	DMARGE, Zalora
Linen suit	no break at the hem, cuffed trousers, pale colours; contrast works too, such as an olive suit with taupe espadrilles	DMARGE

Colours

Zalora recommends starting with neutrals: beige, navy, black, white or olive. Its examples: grey and white for an elegant look, light blue and white for a fresher one. DMARGE adds that pale shades suit the relaxed spirit of the shoe, and that patterned or striped pairs are best kept for denim.

Socks or no socks?

Both guides prefer bare ankles. Zalora calls going without visible socks a signature of the look and suggests invisible no-show socks if you want more comfort. DMARGE allows one exception: thin black socks with black espadrilles under a tailored suit, for a bolder style. Details on espadrilles with socks.

Where they work

Beach and holidays: a breezy shirt and shorts.
City walks: chinos or jeans and a linen shirt.
Smart-casual events: Zalora says this is where espadrilles "truly shine"; add a blazer or shirt jacket to lift a denim outfit.
Weekends away: DMARGE suggests they are an easy shoe to pack.

Where to skip them

Rain and wet ground: Zalora warns that jute soles are easily damaged. See can espadrilles get wet?.
Very formal dress codes: Zalora advises against full formal trousers if you want the look to stay casual, and heavy layering or too many accessories.

Three mistakes to avoid

The first is mixing a casual shoe with stiff, heavy clothes: a thick wool trouser or a stiff dark jacket pulls the outfit towards the office and makes the shoe look out of place. The second is choosing a cut that fights the shoe. DMARGE warns against very slim chinos, so give the leg some ease and let the hem stop at or above the ankle. The third is neglect. Because the outfit is simple, a frayed rope edge, a grubby canvas or a flattened heel shows at once, so brush the shoe dry after wearing and let it air out. If you are unsure, build the outfit from two or three plain pieces, one light colour and one neutral, and let the espadrilles be the only relaxed note. A look that follows these few rules rarely goes wrong, and it needs no special occasion: it suits an ordinary summer weekend.

A little history to wear them with confidence

Men wore espadrilles long before they were fashionable. English Wikipedia notes that the traditional shoe was worn by men and women, and lists Picasso, Dalí and John F. Kennedy among the figures who made it popular in the 20th century. TOAST recalls Dalí wearing lace-up espadrilles with red socks, and Wikipedia credits Miami Vice, with Don Johnson as Sonny Crockett, for a revival in the United States in the 1980s.

Fit check

For EU, UK and US equivalents, see the size chart. A classic canvas pair should feel snug at first because the fabric relaxes, as explained in do espadrilles stretch?.