As you know by now, you don't necessarily need a display of colors to make a good look. In fact, the most successful outfits in men's fashion revolve around three main colors and their variations: gray, blue and brown.
For those who are late to the question, a short video is essential (and above all the complete file for matching colors ) 😉
In short, with these three colors, it’s hard to go wrong!
In addition, these common colors lend themselves easily to large flat areas within a silhouette: you can easily wear one, or even several pieces of a single color, in identical or similar shades (this is called a monochrome).
Try doing the same thing with yellow or purple and we'll talk about it again, gentlemen Power Rangers !
These three colors should therefore represent the essentials of your wardrobe. You can obviously have others but know that these shades go very well together, thus allowing you to integrate the others that you would like to add.
However, as subtle as looks using only one of these three colours can be - playing on gradients, shades, contrast effects and materials - perhaps you want new shades...?
It is entirely possible, provided you exercise a little restraint. 😉
First of all: a little reminder of elementary school is in order. Lesson #1: the color wheel.
Building your outfit on easy shades: dressing in secondary colors
Several possible variations
Secondary colors are obtained by mixing, in equal proportions, two primary colors. We find orange, violet and green.
These are the colours and their variations that, beyond the three basic colours, will be the easiest to integrate into your wardrobe. These are all the slightly less common shades, which many men do not dare to try, but which are still found quite frequently in the male wardrobe.
- The orange palette and its variations:
- The purple palette and its variations:
- The green palette and its variations:
How to integrate secondary colors into your outfits?
These colors can be integrated into your outfits through accessories, details on clothing, or even on an entire piece like a t-shirt, sweater or pants.
However, they quickly become too much when you wear several items in these colors (unless you play on monochrome effects within the same color palette).
Here we find different shades of orange seen previously. Used well, they can make a look really original and attractive. We would have preferred a little less accessories and patterns for a more sober result.
Also, it is wise when you are starting out not to mix colors from different palettes (except basic colors). That said, when your tastes are more certain and more assertive, nothing will stop you from experimenting and, little by little, contradicting me!
However, to start and integrate these colors into an outfit, think about combining them with the three basic colors seen previously. You can choose only one, for example navy blue, the important thing is to balance the whole. The chosen color will be more valued.
Red is beautifully highlighted in this outfit, framed by simple, neutral colors. To break up the formal side of the pants, Jonathan intentionally rolled them up over his shoes.
Also keep in mind that these secondary colors are a great way to get out of your comfort zone, while still remaining understated.
They represent a good alternative to the three basic colors and remain an essential step to take before experimenting with tertiary colors.
Tertiary colors, for those looking for originality
Tertiary colors are obtained from a mixture of unequal proportions of two primary colors. They are more difficult to approach and must be present in small touches only!
These colors are part of a palette used more in women's fashion, without being reserved exclusively for women.
We are talking here in particular about "bright" colors, much less sober than those seen previously:
We are talking about the most "garish" versions of the primary colors.
Colors to avoid a priori
These colours are reserved for those who know what they're doing: handle them with as much care as you would TNT: they can deliciously spice up your look, just as they can make you go up in smoke with it!
Paradoxically, it is the less experienced people who risk it first, probably because they see it as an easy shortcut to originality. Not at all, on the contrary, it is very difficult to integrate them effectively into looks.
To begin with, in 99% of cases, it is impossible to integrate an entire room in one of these colors. Do the mental exercise and tell me if you have ever come across good looks with pants or a top entirely in turquoise, yellow or pink?
There is a very strong chance that the answer is NO.
Of course, there are always exceptions to confirm the rules 😉
These colours are therefore reserved for use in small touches : a detail on a collar, the edging of trousers, the contrasting pocket of a T-shirt, the colour of socks or even a tie, a wallet... Apart from that, it's a no !
These are colors to choose sparingly but which can very well brighten up a small detail like a buttonhole.
In the same spirit, it is forbidden to insert several touches of these same colors in the same outfit. The reminder would seem too forced, while they are already quite flashy enough. No need to add another layer.
Note, however, that some styles tolerate the multiplication of original colors more, particularly streetwear.
A welcome mistake in taste
So you might be wondering why I'm telling you about these colors if there's not much to do with them. Well, think again!
Think of them as a way to surprise the outside eye. Not in the harmonious way of a khaki green, rust brown, burgundy red or mauve violet, no : here we seek to shock, to mismatch, to introduce a discordant note. Oh yeah!
This search for a small act of bad taste, a small clothing error, is a way of making an otherwise too perfect outfit more down-to-earth.
The ultimate coquetry, that orange pocket square in your suit, or those bright yellow socks, are the little details that show that you don't take things too seriously. That style is for you a spontaneous amusement.
Playing on the liveliness of colors and materials
All that we have seen previously concerns only color in terms of tone - that is, as we see it - but this is not enough to master the language of colors.
Beyond knowing whether or not to wear blue, you also need to understand that there are a multitude of different blues. In fact, several factors influence the way we perceive a color, especially when it comes to clothing.
Two essential factors must therefore be taken into account here: the vividness of the colours and the material of the garment.
How to wear bright colors?
First of all, what is a bright color? It is a color that appears at its maximum richness and brilliance. These are saturated colors, as opposed to desaturated ones, which are more commonly said to be faded or dull.
Bright color palette.
Same palette, but this time the colors are desaturated: they appear much duller but also softer. We could translate them as pastel colors.
As you can see, bright colors are harder to match because they are the ones you see right away. They catch the eye and capture all the attention.
This does not mean that they are forbidden, one can of course wear them provided that one respects the ultimate rule of balance.
In this outfit, all you can see is the bright sweater. Neither the blue nor the gray calms the color. Why? Because purple is a cool color, just like blue and gray. Warmer tones like brown or burgundy would have been needed to tone down the purple.
A matter of balance
We can first insert them in small touches, via a piece or by reminders of colors. Be careful, these must be subtle: we will avoid the combo red belt / red sneakers, or even bright green sweater and matching socks.
These reminders are not necessarily to be generally prohibited, but only in the case where you choose bright colors. . It will be better to play at the level of details : seams, braids, jewels, reflections of a fabric... We will not dwell too much on this point, if you wish to become pros at recalling colors, we have already written an article on the subject 😉
Another way to wear a bright color is to introduce it through accessories.
Here, the red scarf brightens up the outfit and goes very well with the navy blue suit (once again, a pivotal shade of the male wardrobe ). Note that the beige cardigan tones down the bright color and makes the whole look very coherent.
Finally, you can also choose to wear a bright color on a strong piece , which will then be the central element of your outfit. In this case, do not forget the essential rule of balance: the rest must be sober.
The orange sneakers are the key piece here: without them, the outfit would be very bland. They bring a colorful and dynamic touch, while being framed by very neutral colors.
Playing with materials to tone down a strong color
A strong color is a color that will tend to take precedence over others. It is therefore a bright color or a color that is a little off the beaten track.
It is necessary, if you choose to wear a strong color, to favor beautiful materials. It is logical, since the eye will be more attracted: it is especially important not to neglect the piece in question. Beautiful material therefore, but also beautiful cut!
This is not the only interest in thinking "materials", remember one important thing: the same color will not have the same visual rendering depending on the material of the garment. Example in image:
The yellow color doesn't look the same on a blazer as it does on a denim jacket. On the left, the entire outfit is colorful: it's a real choice that you have to make. On the right, the yellow is less bright and is toned down by the other colors in the outfit.
You can therefore play on the materials to tone down a strong colour , denim is a very good example. You can very well wear a red denim jacket: the fabric will wear out and make the red colour fade, making it duller. It will therefore be easier to match because it will attract less attention than a bright red.
However, chinos lend themselves very well to bright colours. Here, the orange-red is toned down by the navy blue of the jacket and sneakers. With the beige sweater, it works; one more colour would have ruined the whole thing.
In short, playing with materials and their visual aspect is a good way to advance your style with new colors, while remaining nuanced and balanced.
The case of black color
Ah la la, the famous black color... Many times, we have advised you to simply ban it from your wardrobe (apart from leather pieces, which take on light differently). This is for several reasons:
- It's complicated to match (contrary to what everyone tells you);
- It is a color that fades quickly, unless you have high quality clothes in beautiful materials;
- An outfit with a lot of black is at best austere, at worst downright shady.
We have already written an article on how to wear black , but I suggest you see here what other colors you can combine it with.
How to wear black well for a man
A quick reminder of the essential keys to wearing black well:
An impeccable material is non-negotiable : black absorbs light and gives off few reflections.
Under these conditions, if the garment is not cut from a nice black fabric, like a Star Trek light vortex, well it's not going to work. A fabric that collects dust is immediately visible, as are the snags and stains.
The same goes for a slightly faded black, the result of washing on a material that wasn't good enough from the start.
Conversely, see how black can enhance a material. Jil Sander fashion show, Fall Winter 2014-2015.
Create contrasting materials to flesh out the outfit. You will also need to find beautiful black pieces... in a variety of materials.
Play on compositions that give off different reflections: linen, cotton, wool, viscose, leather, but also on weaves of different types (oxford, jersey, poplin, etc.) or different gauges (i.e. weaves that are more or less tight to give sometimes very fine, sometimes coarser aspects).
Here, Billy Lagré 's outfit is completely black but presents many different textures: jeans, cotton of the perfecto, poplin of the shirt, leather of the shoes... The rather strong design therefore supports black. Note also the bracelet which brings a small touch of color.
Rely on a beautiful design and volume effects on the silhouette. So yes, you will have to favor beautiful cuts. On the other hand, it is time to choose pieces that are a little more designer, with interesting volumes or unusual details.
It's not an easy look to pull off, but the design of the jacket really brings something strong to the outfit. Even though the whole thing is black, it's no less attractive.
What other colors can you wear black with?
As I said earlier, an all-black style is shady. Otherwise, you already have a very sharp style of your own, and that's to your credit!
If not, and you want to wear black without going for the total look, here are three different color palettes that pair well with black:
- White, navy blue, ivory.
These are three colors (okay, white is not a color) that go well with black. White and ivory for contrast, navy for similarity. .
A very cohesive and elegant outfit composed only of white, ivory and black.
- Gray, sand, taupe.
These are three rather dull colours, which are therefore not "eaten" by black. On the contrary, they calm it down.
The black is here counterbalanced by the mottled sweatshirt that brightens the outfit, and by the casual shirt. These two elements help to break the austere side of the black.
- Metallic colors
A few metallic details through the accessories can add something extra: copper, gold, silver bracelets and chains... As long as you don't fall into bling-bling and choose these aged or rusty materials: above all, nothing flashy!
We promise, it's not about dressing up as Z-6PO from Star Wars . Simply, a touch of metallic colors can be a good addition to a look , especially if it's very classic.
In absolute terms, I advise you to favor metallic colors on very small surfaces: glasses, men's jewelry, straps, etc.
A well-chosen piece of jewelry brings a touch of sparkle that will brighten up the black color.
However, slightly iridescent or metallic effects on larger pieces can also be of interest: on ankle boots or sneakers, for example.
Finally, always choose metallic colors that don't look too precious. Those that have a patina, that are a little "dirty" or matte.
How to bring new colors to a man's outfit: the results
- Think about secondary colors and their variations to brighten up your outfits;
- Play with unusual, more vibrant colors to highlight details and awaken your spontaneity;
- Use bright colours in small touches and play with different materials to tone them down;
- Dare to wear black if you feel comfortable, but pair it with the right colors.
