There are two main ways to think about colors in an outfit.
The first is to operate in contrast. That is to say, put on clothes of different colors. For example like this:
It's the simplest way to dress : once you know roughly what colors go together, you can achieve contrasts that work almost every time.
The second way to do it is to create shades. That is to say, to use different tones of the same color in your outfit. For example, if we want to make a shades of brown, we will explore shades such as beige, sand, camel, taupe, fawn, etc.
It's more difficult to dress in monochrome because it requires a bit of flair. You have to have a bit of an eye to find shades that harmonize well with each other.
The more I think about it, the more I find that mastering shades is a great way to progress in style. So to take it to the next level, it happens right at the top.
LOOK 1 – SOFT SHADES OF BROWN
This first silhouette comes from De Bonne Facture ’s fall/winter 2021 lookbook. I think this is a very good look to introduce our topic.
I would describe it as “ soft casual ”. After " soft workwear ", another invention on my part, which means that we are here on a vision of casual style that is very soft in colors and materials.
What I like about this outfit:
- The harmonious gradation of colors , from ecru (shirt) to brown (shoes) via beige (trousers), greige (quilted jacket) and medium brown (hat). There is also a diehard side: even the color of the socks is a shade of brown
- The outfit is simple in its overall composition (no big patterns, complex layering, original accessories) but subtly stands out with the quilted work jacket and Birkenstock clogs
LOOK 2 - I'M BLUE DA BA DEE
I'm not telling you anything, blue is a key color in men's wardrobe. However, I find that making beautiful outfits in shades of blue is not so easy. Hence the choice of this look!
What I like about this outfit:
- A beautiful gradation of blues , which goes from rather light (trousers and socks) to darker (vest) with intermediate shades (sneakers, t-shirt, bucket hat)
- Original clothes : textured chambray pants, slip-ons instead of lace-up sneakers, a rain bucket hat
- A very coherent overall aesthetic , in a streetwear/workwear register that Boras would describe as “ street heritage ”
Do colors really not mean anything to you?
To understand the basics, watch Nicolò's two videos on the subject, in his series (Very) Well Dressed:
LOOK 3 – FADE TO BLACK
Shuhei Nishiguchi had not yet appeared in Gimmick! The time has come to do something about it.
Swipe right to see the full look. 🙂
What I like about this outfit:
- The different black clothes which have a slightly different appearance due to their materials : the simple, very dark knitted sweater contrasts with the slightly shiny leather perfecto, which takes on light reflections in the light. The bag is not in smooth leather but grained, and the slippers are in short velvet
- Gray pants. It is of course black mixed with white, it brings a real gradation with all the other black elements
- The contrast in style between the top, which tends towards a rock style (replace the black sweater with a black metal band t-shirt and... tadaa) and the bottom, more tailored inspired with wool pants with clips and shoes that would look at home with a tuxedo. The harmony of colors helps to create a link between these two rather distant universes.
LOOK 4 - GRÈGE PARTY
Finally, this decidedly casual outfit caught my eye, for the following reasons:
- Its fairly accessible side : the pieces are relatively simple, there is no complicated layering, very original accessories. I think it's a look that we can quite easily identify with.
- It remains a worked look with neutral shades of beige (jacket, cap) and gray (shirt, jeans). The shoes are the link since they feature gray and beige. The combination of beige and gray is not trivial: it gives greige . It's a beautiful color, very versatile, a little underestimated in the men's wardrobe
- Up close, the textures of the jacket and shirt are worth the detour!
BONUS LOOKS
When I do my research, I have to leave out some really nice outfits. Here are a few that could have been in this video.
A superb winter outfit which features a shades of brown with a light ecru-colored pants + overshirt set (ecru is white mixed with a hint of beige, therefore brown), a camel coat, therefore a medium shade (and very bright) and dark brown Belgian moccasins.
We push into the details with the socks which match the pants, and the bandana which includes small touches of camel.
The blue shirt alone brings contrast to this outfit. A nice contrast because the blue goes with the ecru/camel/brown.
Cédric offers many beautiful outfits in monochrome. This is interesting because it shows that there is no need to use shades on all the elements of an outfit. Here, it's a shades of blue with two contrasting pieces: a white t-shirt and beige moccasins.
The light blue noragi works wonderfully here, it brings a bright contrast to the other darker blue clothing (bob, jacket, pants).
This look almost made it into the video. I ultimately favored the De Bonne Facture outfit.
The Stoffà brand gives pride of place to shades. Here you have a t-shirt and ecru pants whose shades are very similar, and a jacket whose color is a little more broken, I would say putty.
This harmony is contrasted at the bottom with black sandals.
