Nailing the right clothing color combinations can enhance your appearance immensely by achieving a balanced and complete look. So, if you want to boost your style, there’s no better way than to be more thoughtful in the tones you choose to wear. Below, we have outlined different color combinations for men so your outfit will always look well put together.
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Colour Combinations for Clothes
When it comes to selecting color combinations for clothes, the color wheel can be useful. By allowing you to identify complementary and similar colors, the color wheel can act as a rough guide on what hues go well together. Complementary colors, opposite on the wheel, offer a balanced contrast. However, they can be intense, so split complementary colors are often used in their place. Analogous colors are next to one another on the wheel, meaning they have similar tones and blend well together. Triadic colors are three evenly spaced hues. They work in harmony but can be quite bold. While the wheel can provide a useful guide, you shouldn’t rely on it solely. Nailing the perfect combinations will come with experience and knowledge about shades and styles.
When wearing navy, it’s generally best to avoid black as it can make your overall look appear overly dark. Instead, use white or beige to lift your appearance. For example, a white shirt with a navy suit looks clean and classic and will always be a winning combination. Soft pink can also lift navy, while light shades of blue provide a gentle blend of similar tones. Additionally, touches of maroon or red can also complement navy.
Burgundy Clothes
Burgundy can appear seriously stylish but also tricky to match, especially if you don’t usually rock the shade. Unlike shades like white and black, burgundy is a bit more restrictive with what you can wear with it. That said, some fantastic options will achieve a smart burgundy style. Navy is a great partner to burgundy as it creates a timeless and flattering appearance. However, neutrals, such as black, white, grey, and even brown, can also work well.
Green Clothes
Green can be a surprisingly versatile color and a great addition to your wardrobe. The trick to nailing the look is to choose the right shade. Dark green hues and olive and khaki tones are some of the most flattering for gents. Also, keeping your color combinations simple will help highlight your green garments and avoid clashing. As such, black makes an excellent option that never fails to complement green. Likewise, white can also partner well, as can wintery tones like brown, burgundy, and navy.
Beige Clothes
Due to its soft shade, beige works best with light hues. It appears especially stylish when worn with crisp white, blue, or tan. Just be mindful of the tone of beige you’re wearing, as yellow-based shades of beige can often be more challenging to match. If you wear a yellow-based beige, try partnering with rich tones, such as maroon, navy, or brown.
Red Clothes
Red is a bold color, so it tends to appear more balanced with neutral hues. So, when wearing red, try partnering with white for a fresh and bright appearance or black for an edgy style. Alternatively, try balancing the hot hue of your red clothes with a cool navy for a flattering and classic look.
Black Clothes
Black is beloved for its versatility, meaning it can work with almost any other color. However, some tones do appear more traditionally stylish than others. White, for instance, always works well with black as it balances light and dark. But that combination can also be quite striking due to its contrast. To lessen the difference, opt for just a touch of white to break up your black look, such as a white shirt beneath a black suit. Like white, other light tones, like pink and baby blue, can also complement black. On the other hand, bold colors like red provide a striking accent.
White Clothes
White can work with a variety of colors, especially when worn sparingly. However, when worn all over, it requires thoughtful styling to look its best. Cool tones, such as black, navy, and light blue, work best with white. However, neutral tones like beige and sand can also work well, especially in the warmer months.
Gray Clothes
To successfully partner grey with another color, you must consider its shade. Generally, light tones of grey partner best with other light hues, including white, light blue, and soft pink. Dark greys can also look good with white. However, they can also work with dark tones, including black and burgundy.
Brown Clothes
Like grey, brown requires you to consider the shade when styling it. Light shades of brown, like tan and camel, tend to work best with other light shades, such as white, cream, and light blue. Dark brown tones can also work with neutral hues like white. But they also appear flattering when worn with rich shades, such as black, burgundy, navy, or deep green.
Pink Clothes
Pink is a color that many men avoid because they’re unsure how to style it. If that sounds like you, try starting with a light pink shirt or sweater to break into this hue. Light tones of pink are more versatile than loud shades, making them simpler to wear. Pair your pink garment with grey, blue, white, tan, or beige to nail the look. If you’re experienced with pink and prefer a more vibrant hue, try wearing it with navy, black, or dark grey instead.
Clothing Colour Combinations Style Tips
- Aim to strike a balanced appearance with the colors you wear.
- Pair bold colors with neutral hues to avoid clashing.
- Try partnering navy with burgundy or red for a smart and stylish combination.
- Partner light shades of grey and brown with other light colors and darker tones with other dark hues.
- Use light colors like white, pink, and light blue to break up a black outfit.
FAQs
How do you mix and match colors for clothes?
There are a few methods for mixing and matching clothing colors. You can opt for analogous colors from the same side of the color wheel, or pick complementary shades on opposite sides. If you’re feeling more adventurous, split complementary takes one color, mixing it with hues on either side of its direct opposite. Lastly, you can go triadic and mix shades from three equal points around the wheel. It’s also best to try to match the depth of color and base tones.
What colors should I not wear together?
Avoid mixing colors that have different undertones, as this will look off. Warm and cool undertones can appear in any color and can be tricky to pick up when starting out, but recognizing them will come with practice. Also, be wary of mixing different shade depths, such as pastels and brights. It can be done but requires a bit of practice to get it right.
Taylah Brewer holds a bachelor's degree in fashion and business and is a skilled writer with several years of experience in the world of online content creation and copywriting. She is passionate about fashion, beauty, and all things lifestyle-related and has been writing for The Trend Spotter since 2016. She currently works as the Head of Digital & Ecommerce at White & Co.
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