Monochrome outfits for men are an underrated way to mix up your style routine. Not a lot of men execute this look well. Which is a shame, because it can add a whole new dimension to your wardrobe. We explore how can you pull off this tricky look to maximize its benefits. We’ll also look at different color schemes to see which will work best for you and which ones you should avoid.
What is a monochrome outfit?
A monochrome outfit consists of varying tones of the same color. All black is the simplest and most common form of this look, but you can execute this style with other colors too. Varying tones of grey, blue, brown, and green can create killer outfit combinations.
Monochromatic outfits can give you a bold look without having to wear loud or bright colors (although you can dress well with bolder colors too)
Unlike all black outfits, which tend to be the exact same tone, monochrome outfits in these different colors rely on combining slightly different tones or textures of the same color. It’s not easy to put together an outfit using primarily the same color – we’ll break down why you should try it out, and how you can pull it off.
The gentlemen below provide a great example of how great these monochrome outfit combinations can look.
Why you should try the monochrome look
Monochromatic outfits look sleek and modern. They tend to make the wearer look taller, slimmer, and more powerful. There’s a reason why suits are one color and are worn for business or other serious occasions.
Because it takes a high degree of style knowledge to properly pull them off, your sense of style stands out even more if you know how to properly put together a monochromatic look. These outfits are bold in an understated way – they show everyone your natural intelligence and intuition for style without relying on flashy colors or patterns to stand out.
For shorter men or stockier men, the biggest benefit of this style is how it can lengthen your build. Outfits with high contrast colors between pants and tops tend to visually break up the wearer. Low contrast outfits, on the other hand, tend to make its wearer appear taller and slimmer.
If you are very tall and skinny, you should likely stick with higher contrast outfits so your height and leanness doesn’t become overbearing. Almost anyone else can benefit from the slimming and lengthening effect of a monochromatic outfit.
You should never try this look for the sake of wearing a monochrome outfit, as a poorly executed look in a single color stands out even more so in a negative way. You should only go for this style because you are confident it will look good and complement your unique features. Also, it’s not necessarily a style to use every single day, but it’s a great way to add variety to your typical outfit combinations.
How to pull off a monochromatic outfit
The key to pulling off the monochrome look is how you use subtle contrast. Unless you’re wearing a suit or going all black, going with the exact same color tone and texture for your entire outfit rarely works. The single tone denim jeans and jacket look (a.k.a the Canadian tuxedo), for example, is one way it can go wrong.
You want to create subtle contrast in four ways – color tones, textures, patterns, and accessories. Subtle contrast gives you the sliming and lengthening benefits of the monochrome without the visual overload of the same tone and texture throughout the outfit.
For example, while a single tone all-denim outfit can be overwhelming, pairing a navy blue flannel or a blue chore coat with some medium wash jeans can work very well, as the pictures of the gentleman below illustrate.
You can mix different textures and patterns to create the same subtle contrast, as some of the pictures in the next section will show.
Accessories play an important role too. They can help break up the look just enough to keep it from becoming overbearing. For instance, tan or brown shoes can really make an all blue outfit pop. Or a white shirt peaking out from an all-grey ensemble will enhance the look. You can also use something as simple as a colored watch band or belt to break up and complement the entire outfit at the same time.
Examples with different colors
Grey monochrome outfits
You can see below how well the slightly different tones and textures play off each other. The gentleman in the picture on the right (more in-depth breakdown here) uses the different patterns in the jacket and pants to create the subtle contrast needed for his outfit to really shine. The black accessories (tie, shoes, and gloves), also provide a small pop of contrast to keep the look in check.
In the first two pictures, notice how the contrast from the shoes and other accessories enhance these looks as well. The gentleman on the far left does an especially good job of blending white pieces in with his primarily grey outfit, while the gentleman in the middle keeps it simple and sleek with a decent contrast between a mid-grey chunky sweater and dark grey flannel trousers.
Blue monochrome outfits
Blue is a great color for the monochrome outfit for men look, as the three pictures below all illustrate. There are many different tones of blue that can complement each other well, plus dark denim brings a nice bit of texture and variation to a blue monochrome outfit. Notice the varying levels of contrast and how all three use dark blue in some way.
The gentleman on the far left nails the contrast between navy blue and a blue-grey pair of pants. His accessories are simple, provide contrast, and complement the look well without taking away from the sleekness of the outfit.
The gentleman in the middle shows how well an all-navy look can work, with texture, not color, providing most of the visual contrast. While the accessories don’t vary too much from the dark blue palette, the dark brown shoes give the look some contrast (without being too light, thus distracting too much from the look) to keep the darker blue tones from becoming overwhelming.
The gentleman on the right uses a high contrast of blue tones for a more effortless casual look. The white shoes are a great high contrast option to break things up a bit for this more relaxed attire.
A popular combo, denim with a navy blazer, is a monochrome look that works well too. More advice on how to pull of that look here.
Blues can work well for those with pale skin, in addition to these colors.
Brown monochrome outfits
Different tones of brown can create a variety of killer monochrome outfits for men, like you see below. The tone combinations below look great on the gentlemen in the pictures. Because there are so many tones of brown, it’s probably the safest color to try different monochromatic combinations. It can also be the most difficult to execute, since it requires some style knowledge to pull this off.
This look can work well if you have a darker features, as the pictures below also illustrate (check out this article for other colors that work well with darker skin).
Notice how the gentleman below use texture and tone differently to provide the subtle contrast that makes these outfits work so well. All of these outfits contain multiple brown pieces, but the balance is important to notice.
Each of them uses a lighter piece to give the outfit some balance. Whether it’s pants (chinos work well in this color), shoes, or a jacket, utilizing lighter brown and tan pieces is the key to pulling off these brown monochrome looks effectively. You can then mix in some richer and darker tones of brown to complete the outfit.
Also, as one of the key sport coat colors, brown monochrome looks work well with dressier or smart casual outfits too.
Green monochrome outfits
I will admit, green is one of the tougher monochrome outfits for men to execute. I’ve personally never given this one a shot, but the pictures below show how you could pull it off if your style leans in any of these directions. Again, notice how they employ subtle contrast with tones, texture, and even a camo pattern to make these work.
Even though green is a risky color to pull off this look, all of these outfits work well because they follow the structure we’ve outlined discussing monochrome outfits for men.
Where to start
When introducing any new style twist in your lineup, it’s best to start small. Try to put together one monochrome outfit, then work from there. And it’s always best to use what you have before buying something specifically for this purpose.
My suggestion is to start with blue. This color looks good on most men, plus many of you probably have a solid pair of dark denim to use as the foundation. Try to pair your jeans with a different toned blue shirt (t-shirt, polo, or button down), and some white sneakers or brown chukka boots.
If you like the results, you can try out some of the other colors based on what you currently have in your wardrobe. If you think a specific monochrome outfit is missing a key piece, then you can always pick something up in that color to create a more intentional outfit.
Conclusion
As the pictures above show, monochrome outfits for men can give you a slimmer, more modern profile. They are also a great way to show off your style IQ and create bold looks by effectively combining tones of the same color.
