As you know by now, it doesn't necessarily take a display of color to make a good look. Indeed, the most successful outfits in men's fashion revolve around three main colors and their variations: gray, blue and brown.
For those late to the question, a short video is essential (and especially the complete file for matching the colors ) 😉
In short, with these three colors, it's hard to go wrong!
In addition, these common colors lend themselves easily to large areas within a silhouette: you can easily wear one, or even several pieces of just one of these colors, in identical or similar shades (we call this a monochrome) .
Try doing the same thing with yellow or purple and we'll talk about it again, Power Rangers !
These three colors should therefore represent the essentials of your wardrobe. You can obviously have others but you should still know that these shades go together very well, thus allowing you to integrate the others that you would like to add.
However, as subtle as looks using only one of these three colors may be - playing on gradients, shades, contrast and material effects - perhaps you want new shades... ?
It's entirely possible, provided you exercise a little restraint. 😉
First of all: a little reminder of primary school is in order. Lesson #1: the color wheel.
Build your outfit on easy shades: dress with secondary colors
Several possible variations
Secondary colors are obtained by mixing, in equal proportions, two primary colors. We find orange, purple and green.
It is these colors and their variations which, beyond the three basic colors, 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 men's 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 via 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 with monochrome effects within the same color palette).
Here we find different shades of orange seen previously. Used well, they can make a look truly original and attractive. We would still have preferred a little fewer accessories and patterns for a more sober look.
In addition, it is wise when you are starting out not to mix colors from different palettes (except base colors). That said, when your tastes are more certain and more assertive, nothing will stop you from experimenting and, little by little, from contradicting me!
However, to start and integrate these colors into an outfit, consider combining them with the three basic colors seen previously. You can choose just 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 deliberately rolled them up over his shoes.
Also keep in mind that these secondary colors are a very good way to get out of your comfort zone, while remaining sober.
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 seeking originality
Tertiary colors are obtained from mixing two primary colors in unequal proportions. 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 solely reserved for women.
We are talking here in particular about "bright" colors, much less sober than those seen previously:
We're talking about the most "garish" versions of the primary colors.
Colors a priori to avoid
These colors are reserved for those who know what they are doing: handle them with as much care as TNT: they can deliciously spice up your look, just like making you go up in smoke with it!
Paradoxically, it is the least experienced people who risk it first, no doubt because in their eyes they represent an easy shortcut to originality. No, 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've ever come across any good looks with pants or a top that's all turquoise, yellow or pink?
There is a very good chance that the answer is NO.
Of course, there are always exceptions to confirm the rules 😉
These colors are therefore reserved for use in small touches : a detail on a collar, the edging of pants, the contrasting pocket of a t-shirt, the color of socks or even a tie, a wallet ...Apart from that, it's nothing !
These are colors to choose sparingly but which can very well bring out a small detail like a buttonhole.
In the same spirit, it is forbidden to include several touches of the same colors in the same outfit. The reminder would seem too forced, when they are already quite conspicuous. No need to add another layer.
Note, however, that certain styles are more tolerant of the multiplication of original colors, particularly streetwear.
A welcome lapse in taste
You then wonder why I'm telling you about these colors if there isn't much to do with them. Well, think again!
See them as a way to surprise the outside eye. Not in the harmonious way of khaki green, rusty brown, burgundy red or mauve purple, no : we are trying here to shock, to disharmonize, to introduce a discordant note. Oh yeah!
This search for a small act of bad taste, for the small sartorial error, is a way of making an otherwise too perfect outfit more down-to-earth.
The ultimate coquetry, that orange pocket in your suit, or those bright yellow socks, are the little details that show that you don't take the trouble. That style is spontaneous fun for you.
Play on the liveliness of colors and materials
Everything we have seen above concerns only color in terms of tone - that is to say as we see it - but this is not enough to master the language of colors.
Beyond knowing whether you are going to wear blue or not, you must also understand that there are a multitude of different blues. Indeed, several factors influence the way we perceive a color, especially when we are talking about clothing.
Two essential factors must therefore be taken into account here: the vibrancy of the colors and the material of the garment.
How to wear bright colors?
First of all, what is a bright color? This is a color that appears at its maximum richness and vibrancy. These are saturated colors, as opposed to desaturated, which are more commonly said to be faded or dull.
Bright color palette.
Same palette, but this time the colors are desaturated: they appear significantly duller but also softer. We could translate them as pastel colors.
As you can see, bright colors are more difficult 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 prohibited, you can of course wear them provided you respect the ultimate rule of balance.
In this outfit, we only see the brightly colored sweater. Neither blue nor gray calms color. For what ? Because purple is a cold 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 room or by reminders of colors. Be careful, these must be subtle: we will avoid the red belt / red sneakers combo, or even bright green sweater and matching socks.
These reminders are not necessarily to be avoided in general, but only in the case where you choose bright colors
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 men's dressing ). Note that the beige cardigan tones down the bright color and makes the whole look very cohesive.
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 primary rule of balance: the rest must be sober.
The orange sneakers are the strong piece here: without them, the outfit would be very bland. They bring a colorful and dynamic touch, while being framed by very neutral colors.
Play with materials to tone down a strong color
A strong color is a color that will tend to take precedence over the others. So it's a bright color or a color that's a little off the beaten track.
It is necessary, if you choose to wear a strong color, to favor beautiful materials. This is logical, since the eye will be more attracted: you should not neglect the piece in question. So nice material, but also nice cut!
This is not the only point of thinking about "materials", remember one important thing: the same color will not have the same visual effect depending on the material of the garment. Example in picture:
The color yellow 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 bias that must be accepted. On the right, the yellow is less bright and is muted by the other colors of the outfit.
You can therefore play with materials to tone down a strong color , denim is a very good example. You can very well wear a red denim jacket: the fabric will wear out and bring out the red color, making it dull. It will thus be easier to match because it will attract less attention than a bright red.
However, chinos lend themselves very well to bright colors. Here, the orange-red is toned down by the navy blue of the jacket and sneakers. With the beige sweater, it works; one more color would have ruined the whole thing.
In short, playing with materials and their visual appearance is a good way to advance your style with new colors, while remaining in nuance and balance.
The case of the color black
Ah la la, the famous black color... Many times, we have advised you to ban it altogether from your wardrobe (apart from leather pieces, which take on light differently). This 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 lots of black is austere at best, downright dodgy at worst.
We have already written an article on how to wear black , but here I suggest you see what other colors you can pair it with.
How to wear black for a man
A quick reminder of the essential keys to wearing black well:
An impeccable material is non-negotiable : black absorbs light and reflects few reflections.
In these conditions, if the garment is not cut from a pretty black fabric, like a Star Trek light vortex, well it won't do it. A fabric that collects dust is immediately visible, as are the tears and stains.
Ditto for a slightly faded black, the result of washing on a material that was not good enough from the start.
Conversely, see how black can enhance a material. Jil Sander fashion show, Fall Winter 2014-2015.
Create contrasts of materials to flesh out the outfit. You will also need to find beautiful black pieces... in various materials.
Play with compositions that reflect different reflections: linen, cotton, wool, viscose, leather, but also on different types of weaving (oxford, jersey, poplin, etc.) or different gauges (i.e. more or less tight weaving to give aspects that are sometimes very fine, sometimes coarser).
Here, Billy Lagré 's outfit is completely black but has many different textures: jeans, cotton of the perfecto, poplin of the shirt, leather of the shoes... The fairly strong design therefore supports black. Also note the bracelet which adds a little 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, now is the 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. If the whole thing is black, it is no less attractive.
What other colors to wear black with?
Like I said earlier, an all-black style is shady. Otherwise, you already have a very cutting-edge style of your own, and that is to your credit!
If this is not the case and you want to wear black without going for the total look, here are three different color palettes that go well with black:
- White, navy blue, ivory.
These are three colors (okay, white is not a color), which go well with black. White and ivory by contrast, navy blue by similarity
A very cohesive and elegant outfit consisting of only white, ivory and black.
- Grey, sand, taupe.
These are three fairly dull colors, which are therefore not “eaten” by the black. On the contrary, they calm him down.
The black is counterbalanced here with the heather sweatshirt which brightens the outfit, and by the casual shirt. These two elements help break the austere side of 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 is 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 awaken 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 favor metallic colors that do not look too precious. Those which have a patina, which are a little “dirty” or dull.
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, brighter colors to highlight details and awaken your spontaneity;
- Use bright colors 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.
