Men's Fashion 101: Expert Tips for Matching Clothing Colors (2024)

Louis Copeland's

Elevate your outfit game by mastering the art of color coordination, turning heads and boosting your style with skillful color choices.

  • Solid Shades: Start with solid colors in blues and neutrals to create versatile outfits that elongate your body and provide variety without overwhelming.

  • Monochrome: Embrace the timeless combination of black and white for a striking and versatile look that pairs well with almost anything.

  • Working with Prints: Incorporate patterns sparingly, choosing one printed piece as the focal point of your outfit and keeping the rest plain to let the pattern shine.

  • Tone-on-Tone: Experiment with wearing different shades of the same color for a sophisticated and cohesive look that minimizes the risk of clashing.

  • Know your Neutrals: Understand the role of neutrals like black, white, grey, navy, camel, khaki, and beige, as they seamlessly complement other colors and provide a fail-safe option for outfit coordination.

April 17, 2023

For many men, color is often something to avoid, perhaps even fear. During the summer months, you might occasionally see a pastel pink polo shirt or some aquamarine shorts make an appearance in their seasonal wardrobe. However, for the most part, many of us prefer to play it safe and stick to a tried-and-true, risk-free palette of classic masculine colors: black, navy, and grey.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. When handled with skill and confidence, color has the power to elevate an outfit from ordinary to extraordinary. It can lift your mood and, at its best, even turn heads.

For beginners, playing with color can indeed be confusing at first. If you get your color combinations wrong, the result can be a visual mess; but get it right, and your outfit can be a standout success.

So, what are the basics? How can colors be worn together to create a look that is complementary rather than clashing?

With a few simple tips, you’ll have your color coordination game nailed. Here’s how:

Solid Shades

Mastering colors doesn’t have to mean embracing the brightest hues in the rainbow and incorporating them into your wardrobe.

You can stick to solids in the same color and still create a great look. This approach also has the added visual effect of elongating your body, making you appear taller and slimmer since it doesn’t visually cut your body in half.

For the color novice, it’s best to start with blues and neutrals. These provide a variety of outfit options, and once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll gain the confidence to be a bit more daring.

Monochrome

A step beyond dressing in solid, single colors is to embrace a monochrome look, particularly using black and white. These two contrasting colors complement each other beautifully and can be paired with virtually anything, making for a highly effective and versatile combination. After all, opposites attract, and in the realm of fashion, this pairing can create striking and stylish outfits that stand out effortlessly.

Working with Prints

Once your color confidence is up to speed, it’s time to consider incorporating patterns into your wardrobe. However, in this area, less is definitely more.

Choose a single printed piece for your outfit—whether it’s a patterned jumper, jacket, or, for the bold fashion enthusiast, a pair of trousers—and keep the rest of your outfit plain. This approach allows the pattern to stand out and be the focal point of your ensemble, making it a stylish conversation starter.

Tone-on-Tone

A bit more daring than wearing solid colors or monochrome, tone-on-tone dressing offers a discreet yet stylish way for the conservative man to experiment with color.

As the name suggests, this approach involves wearing various shades of a single color. For example, you might pair navy trousers with a baby blue shirt and a midnight blue blazer, creating a cohesive and sophisticated look.

Tone-on-tone outfits typically work best with colors like grey and blue, as mentioned. The minimal margin for error makes this style ideal for men seeking to subtly but significantly alter their approach to color in their wardrobe.

Know your Neutrals

While the color wheel serves as a fantastic starting point, it's equally important to understand the significance of neutrals and their role in outfit coordination.

Neutrals—think black, white, grey, navy, camel, khaki, and beige—are essentially colors that seamlessly complement all others. Conveniently, they never clash, making them a go-to choice for those who may feel uncertain about color combinations. Regardless of your expertise in styling, every man should incorporate a few essential neutral pieces into his wardrobe.

Best Sellers

Shop Now

Shirt Single Cuff Slim Fit - White

Louis Copeland Shirt Single Cuff Slim Fit - White

15.5 16 16.5 17 17.5 18

€129.00

Oxtown Short Sleeve Tailored Shirt Navy

Barbour Oxtown Short Sleeve Tailored Shirt Navy

M L XL 2XL

€70.00

The Louis Copeland Super Slim Single Cuff Shirt

Louis Copeland Twill Super Slim Single Cuff Shirt - White

15 15.5 16.5

€129.00

The Louis Copeland Shirt Double Cuff Slim Fit

Louis Copeland Shirt Double Cuff Slim Fit - White

Many Sizes Available

€129.00

The Louis Copeland Classic Fit Double Cuff Shirt

Louis Copeland Classic Fit Double Cuff Shirt - White

16 16.5 17 17.5 18.5

€129.00

Plain Contrast Button With Inlay Shirt White

Stenstroms Plain Contrast Button With Inlay Shirt White

15.5 16 16.5

€159.00

Casual Twill Shirt Blue

Stenstroms Casual Twill Shirt Blue

M L XL

€159.00

Linen Shirt Blue

Stenstroms Linen Shirt Blue

L XL 2XL

€179.00

Arthur Gourounlian's TV Debut: Tailored by Louis Copeland and Sons

By Louis Copeland

Decoding Business Casual

By Louis Copeland

Elevate Suit Appointments into Unforgettable Experiences! Prepare for Your Wedding Day with Perfect Groom Style

By Louis Copeland

View all posts

Men's Fashion 101: Expert Tips for Matching Clothing Colors (2024)

FAQs

How do you match clothes with different colors? ›

20 of the Best Color Combinations for Clothes to Try Right Now
  1. Pink and Green. Christian Vierig/Getty Images. ...
  2. Green and Blue. Edward Berthelot/Getty Images. ...
  3. Pink and Red. Christian Vierig/Getty Images. ...
  4. Yellow and Pink. NurPhoto/Getty Images. ...
  5. Green and Purple. ...
  6. Purple and Orange. ...
  7. Green and Yellow. ...
  8. Pink and Blue.
Apr 16, 2024

How to match clothes for dummies? ›

How to Mix and Match Clothes
  1. Embrace the Color Wheel. Understanding color combinations is the key to creating eye-catching outfits. ...
  2. Start with Neutrals. Neutrals are the backbone of any versatile wardrobe. ...
  3. Play with Patterns. Don't shy away from patterns! ...
  4. Experiment with Different Textures. ...
  5. Consider Your Skin Tone.
Jun 7, 2023

What is the color combination rule for clothes? ›

A mix of Neutral and Complementary colors

Neutral colors are quite important as they can add more balance and harmony to your outfits. Neutral colors also match with any bright, soft, or primary colors. The only thing to pay attention to is to match cold neutral shades with cold shades of other colors and vice versa.

How to figure out what colors match? ›

You can use a color wheel to find color harmonies by using the rules of color combinations. Color combinations determine the relative positions of different colors in order to find colors that create a pleasing effect.

How do you coordinate clothes by color? ›

Group “types” of clothing together (ie. dresses, blouses, jackets, etc.) Within each group of clothing type, create color blocks. Use the rainbow (ROY G BIV) to color coordinate: White, tan, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, brown, grey, black.

What is the sandwich method outfit? ›

To break it down in simple terms, the sandwich rule puts a name to the practice of matching your top with your shoes (like two slices of bread) and choosing bottoms (the sandwich filling) of a different color or print.

What is the 5 outfit rule? ›

What Is the Five Outfit Rule? Per Barber, the five outfit rule goes like this: If you're going to buy something, it has to go with five things you already own. If it doesn't, you need to leave it behind. Overconsumption is a global issue that can impact your mental health more than you realize.

What is the color theory in fashion? ›

Color theory is a foundational principle in fashion design that explores how colors interact with each other to create visually appealing combinations. It helps designers understand the relationships between primary, secondary, tertiary, and other color schemes.

How to match clothes with shoes for guys? ›

There are many rules to match a man's clothes and shoes, but there are also some guidelines that you should follow when choosing your outfit. You should never match a brown shoe with a black shirt, and vice versa. Try putting your outfit together with the help of a colour wheel to ensure that it looks harmonious.

What is the style 3 color rule? ›

At its core, the 3-color rule advocates for avoiding the combination of more than three colors in a single outfit. While not an absolute law, this rule offers a helpful framework for creating visually appealing ensembles.

What is the rule of color combination? ›

Its simple rule is to choose two opposite colors on the color wheel to create a complementary color scheme. The complementary color scheme is based on contrast, and, therefore, it attracts a lot of attention. However, one must use it with great care and precision since it can overturn a graphic design layout.

How can I match the color of my clothes? ›

How to Match Clothes Using the Color Wheel
  1. Start with analogous colors. ...
  2. Embrace complementary colors. ...
  3. Wear accessories that don't “match.” Unless you're going for a full monochrome look, don't worry about matching your belt to your handbag and shoes. ...
  4. Mix neutral colors. ...
  5. Wear denim as a neutral color.
Jun 7, 2021

How do I know what colours suit me men? ›

We recommend choosing a suit that is in keeping with your natural undertone for a truly cohesive look. For example, a warm olive green suit will truly complement those with deeper, warmer skin tones, and a cool-toned blue suit will flatter those with paler, cool tones in their skin.

How do I find my color palette for clothing? ›

The 4 Basic Colour Groups

As you can see by identifying your undertone, cool or warm, and then deciding on your tone preference you can start to narrow your colour palette into a group of complimentary colours. The key is to look for colours with blue or yellow undertones to match your own.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5766

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Merrill Bechtelar CPA

Birthday: 1996-05-19

Address: Apt. 114 873 White Lodge, Libbyfurt, CA 93006

Phone: +5983010455207

Job: Legacy Representative

Hobby: Blacksmithing, Urban exploration, Sudoku, Slacklining, Creative writing, Community, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Merrill Bechtelar CPA, I am a clean, agreeable, glorious, magnificent, witty, enchanting, comfortable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.