Fit and colour
Colour Combinations for Men: Outfits That Always Work
Most outfit mistakes are colour mistakes. Learn a few simple rules, then use the tables below for formal, casual, suit and kurta colour combinations that work for Indian skin tones and occasions.
Colour matcher
Choose your top colour to see bottoms and shoes that go with it.
Classic pairings; your skin tone, the occasion and fabric texture matter too.You do not need an eye for fashion to put colours together well. You need a short set of rules and a handful of pairings you trust. Once those are in place, getting dressed takes a minute, and everything in your wardrobe starts to work with everything else.
This guide covers the basic rules first, then gives ready combinations for formal wear, jeans and shirts, suits, kurtas and grey outfits, with advice for darker and fairer skin tones.
Five Colour Rules for Men's Clothes
- Build on neutrals. Navy, grey, white, black, beige, olive and denim blue go with almost everything. Make most of your wardrobe from them.
- Use one accent colour. Add a single strong colour, such as a maroon kurta, a pink shirt or a green bandi, and keep the rest neutral.
- Stick to three colours or fewer per outfit, not counting shoes and belt.
- Create contrast between top and bottom. A light shirt with dark trousers, or a dark tee with light chinos, looks sharper than two mid tones.
- Match your leathers. Brown belt with brown shoes, black with black. Watch straps can follow if leather.
Tonal outfits, such as different shades of blue or grey head to toe, are the exception that also works. Vary texture so the look does not go flat.
Formal Colour Combination for Men
| Shirt | Trousers | Tie | Shoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | Charcoal | Navy or burgundy | Black |
| Light blue | Navy | Burgundy or grey | Black or dark brown |
| Light blue | Beige | Navy knit | Brown |
| Pale pink | Grey | Navy | Brown |
| Lavender | Charcoal | Deep purple or grey | Black |
| White | Black | Black or silver | Black |
These are the best colour combinations for men's formal wear because each pairs a light shirt with a darker trouser and a tie that picks up one tone. For dress codes and interview outfits, read our formal dress for men guide.
Jeans and Shirt Colour Combination for Men
| Jeans | Works with |
|---|---|
| Dark indigo | White, light blue, pink, olive, grey, black |
| Mid blue | White, navy, maroon, mustard, black |
| Light blue | Navy, white, black, rust, olive |
| Black | White, grey, olive, maroon, light blue |
| White | Navy, light blue, olive, black, beige |
| Grey | White, black, navy, pink |
Avoid wearing a denim shirt in exactly the same shade as your jeans; pick a lighter or darker shade instead. For fits and washes, see our jeans for men guide, and for casual shirt options, the shirts for men guide.
Suit Colour Combinations for Men
- Navy suit: white or light blue shirt, burgundy, grey or green tie, brown or black shoes.
- Charcoal suit: white, lavender or pink shirt, navy or silver tie, black shoes.
- Light grey suit: white or light blue shirt, navy tie, brown shoes for day.
- Black suit: white shirt, black or silver tie, black shoes. Keep it for evenings.
- Beige suit: white or light blue shirt, brown or navy tie, tan shoes.
- Brown suit: cream or light blue shirt, green or rust tie, dark brown shoes.
For the best colour combination for men's suit at weddings, add a pocket square that echoes the tie without matching it exactly. More on suit types in our coat pant for men guide, and jacket colours in our blazer for men guide.
Kurta Colour Combinations for Men
| Kurta | Bottom | Bandi or jacket |
|---|---|---|
| White | White or beige | Navy, maroon, mustard |
| Black | Black or white | Grey, silver, gold |
| Yellow | White | Teal, ivory |
| Maroon | Cream or gold | Beige, gold |
| Bottle green | Cream | Beige, gold |
| Navy | White | Grey, ivory |
| Pastel pink | White | Grey, ivory |
A light pajama under a rich kurta keeps the look fresh. For styles and fabrics, see our kurta for men guide; for wedding colour planning by function, see the wedding dress for men guide.
Grey Colour Combination Dress for Men
Grey is the easiest neutral after navy. Pair grey trousers with white, light blue, pink, navy or black tops. A grey blazer works with navy chinos, blue jeans or black trousers. Grey tees look good with olive cargos, black jeans or white chinos. For an all-grey tonal look, combine a light grey top with charcoal trousers and add contrast with white sneakers or brown leather.
Colour Combinations by Skin Tone
Dress colour combination for dark skin men: contrast is your friend. Crisp white, pastel blue, pink, lavender, mustard, emerald, cobalt and maroon all look rich. Avoid dull browns and beiges that sit close to your skin tone near the face.
Medium or wheatish skin: most colours work. Olive, rust, navy, teal and burgundy are especially flattering.
Fair skin: deeper colours such as navy, charcoal, bottle green and burgundy add definition. Very pale pastels can wash you out unless broken with a darker layer.
Whatever your tone, the colour closest to your face matters most, so choose shirts and kurtas carefully and be freer with trousers.
Questions men ask
What is the best colour combination for men?
A white or light blue shirt with navy or charcoal trousers is the most reliable combination for formal wear. For casual wear, a white tee with dark blue jeans and white sneakers is hard to beat. Both work because they pair a light top with a darker bottom using neutral colours.
What colour shirt goes with black jeans?
White, grey, light blue, olive and maroon shirts all work well with black jeans. A white shirt gives the sharpest contrast, while olive and maroon add warmth. An all-black outfit can also look good if you vary the textures and add white sneakers or brown boots.
Which colours suit dark skin men?
Clear, saturated and contrasting colours suit darker skin well: white, pastel blue, pink, lavender, mustard, emerald, cobalt and maroon. Navy and charcoal suits with white shirts look especially sharp. Muddy beiges and browns close to your skin tone can look flat near the face.
How many colours should a man wear in one outfit?
Aim for three colours or fewer, not counting shoes and belt. Most good outfits use two neutrals and one accent colour, such as navy trousers, a white shirt and a maroon bandi. Tonal outfits in shades of one colour also work if textures differ.
What colour trousers go with a navy blazer?
Grey is the classic choice, from light to charcoal. Beige and stone chinos, white trousers in summer, and mid or light blue jeans also work. Avoid navy trousers that are close but not the same shade as the blazer, since they look like a mismatched suit.
What is a good kurta colour combination for men?
A rich kurta with a light bottom is the easiest rule: maroon or bottle green with cream, navy with white, black with white. Add a bandi in a neutral or metallic tone like beige, grey or gold. For haldi, yellow with white is the classic pairing.