When it comes to men’s style and color combinations, your mind is thinking that it’s a girl’s thing. Well, in recent years, men have begun to take care of color combinations as well.
Men began to wander which combinations go well, whether there are no rules with hipster styles, or there are contrasting nuances, and what not.
Below I present you five rules on the topic of men’s style and color combinations that should be followed and respected:
1. Gather enough colors to be able to combine with them
We all have favorite colors, and that’s good. However, look to have at least two garments of other colors to make it easier to combine styles.
Concrete examples:
- Office-ready: charcoal suit, pale-blue shirt, and a mustard or rust knit tie for a subtle pop.
- Weekend: olive chinos, white tee, and a camel overshirt—add a navy cap if you want an extra anchor color.
- Date night: dark denim, burgundy shirt, and tan suede loafers.
Why this matters: having a small palette of 4–6 complementary pieces makes daily dressing easier. It ensures you can mix-and-match without clashing and creates a cohesive wardrobe that reads as intentional.
2. Create your own color palette
Keep in mind what skin tone you have, color of eyes, hair, and stick to those colors that complement your appearance. Choose colors that make you happy.
Warm vs. Cool Skin Tones: How to tell & what to wear:
- Warm undertones (olive, golden, or tan skin): look best in earth tones — mustard, burnt orange, olive, warm browns, camel, and warm greens. Example outfit: olive field jacket, cream henley, and brown chukka boots.
- Cool undertones (pinkish, fair, or very pale skin): are flattered by jewel and cool tones — navy, sapphire, emerald, cool greys, and crisp white. Example outfit: navy pea coat, light grey turtleneck, and black brogues.
- Neutral undertones can often wear both palettes; pick richer shades for contrast.
How to check: look at veins — greenish veins often indicate warm; bluish veins indicate cool. Also test by holding up clothing near your face in natural light.
3. Remember what the word “TONAL” means
It is a mix of two shades of the same color. E.g. a light blue shirt under a dark blue denim jacket.
Multiple tonal examples & why tonal works:
- Smart casual: pale-blue Oxford shirt + navy blazer + indigo jeans. The tonal shift creates harmony and elongates the silhouette.
- Refined look: light grey sweater + charcoal overcoat + slate trousers — tonal greys read sophisticated and minimal.
- Laidback: sand tee + camel overshirt + chocolate chinos — warm tonal layering reads intentional and cozy.
Why tonal works (color theory): Tonal outfits use variations of a single hue to create a calm, cohesive effect. The eye perceives them as unified and elegant; tonal dressing is a low-risk way to look refined without relying on high-contrast pops.
4. Contrast is a good thing
Remember that the colors that were forbidden to combine once ago are now necessary. Sometimes, it depends on the moment – the stranger the mix of shades, the better.
Specific contrast examples & psychology:
- High-contrast business-casual: navy blazer + crisp white shirt + cognac brogues. The navy signals authority while the white adds clarity; the warm cognac shoe adds approachability.
- Bold weekend: cobalt sweater + rust bomber jacket + dark jeans — cool vs warm creates vibrancy and draws attention.
- Accented neutrals: charcoal suit + pastel pink shirt + black boots — the pastel provides a soft counterpoint to the suit’s formality.
Why contrast works: Contrast draws the eye and creates focal points. On a psychological level, cool colors (blue) feel trustworthy and calm; warm colors (red, orange) feel energetic and inviting. Combining them strategically helps you communicate mood — professionalism, friendliness, or confidence — through color.
5. Follow the trends, because each season brings different focus colors.
Men’s style and color combinations are like nature, they change with the seasons. But don’t let this sway you into throwing out what works for you. It just means that you should adjust your color palette with the season that is present.
Seasonal examples & fabric notes:
- Spring/Summer: linen and cotton in lighter shades (sky blue, mint, sand). Outfit: coral linen shirt + navy chinos + white sneakers.
- Autumn/Winter: wool and tweed in richer tones (oxblood, forest green, deep navy). Outfit: tweed blazer + cream rollneck + brown brogues.
Why fabric matters with color: certain colors look and behave differently in specific materials — a bright hue in glossy silk reads loud, while the same color in matte wool reads muted and sophisticated.
Final Tips & Practical How-To
How to build a starter palette: Choose two neutrals (navy, grey), two accent colors that suit your skin tone (olive and rust for warm, burgundy and teal for cool), and one statement color for seasonal use (coral or mustard).
Quick outfit recipes:
- Work smart: navy blazer + light-blue shirt + charcoal trousers + black loafers.
- Casual weekend: white tee + olive jacket + dark denim + brown chukkas.
- Summer weekend: coral linen shirt + navy chinos + white espadrilles.
Thanks for reading this post! – MyPlugin