Men's Guide To Wearing Colour | Alan Paine
Stock Up On Neutrals
The starting point for introducing any colour into your outfit is having the right shades to complement it. Neutrals are simple to understand: they’re low‑contrast, adaptable colours that work with almost anything, including each other. This includes black, white and every shade of grey, as well as light beige and navy.
Having a strong selection of neutral pieces makes adding standout colours far easier and much less daunting. You’ll have a ready‑made wardrobe of items that can be thrown together quickly but never look thrown together. Neutrals create balance, give structure to an outfit and allow bolder shades to shine without overwhelming your look.
If you’re building out your neutral base, we recommend brown tones, our range of chino trousers and shorts, and essential crew neck T‑shirts and sweaters. These staples give you endless combinations and make experimenting with colour feel natural and effortless.
Curate Your Own Palette
Each season the fashion world releases a palette of colours that are predicted to be favourites and must‑haves. It’s useful to look at these trends and lean into them if you want to, but the truth is simple: not every colour suits everybody, and you shouldn’t wear a shade just because it’s considered the colour of the moment.
The best approach is to figure out a range of colours that genuinely work for you. Your skin tone, complexion, hair colour and eye colour all play a part in how a shade looks once it’s actually on. If you’re pale, very light and bright colours can make you look washed out, so deeper and richer tones will be far more flattering. If you have a tan or naturally darker skin, more vibrant hues will be your friend and will enhance your features rather than overpower them.
Choosing colours based on what suits you rather than what’s trending is the key to building confident, modern outfits that feel intentional rather than experimental.
Contrast
Creating contrast between two hues is one of the sharpest ways to wear colour. The contrast doesn’t have to be bold or eye‑popping; it can be as simple as pairing a navy blazer with light chinos. When you’re building contrast, choose one shade as your main colour and think of the other as a supporting tone. As a general rule, avoid wearing more than three main colours at once. There are exceptions, but the principle helps prevent your outfit from becoming overly complicated.
If you want to introduce brighter shades, keep the rest of your look grounded. Step outside in a bright red or yellow and pair it with two neutrals such as white, black, grey or sand. This balance keeps the outfit intentional, modern and easy to wear without feeling loud.
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Play Safe With Earth Tones
Maybe you feel that colour really isn’t your thing. No worries. Stick with earthy tones such as brown, olive, slate blue and beige. These shades are naturally flattering, easy to wear and give you the same depth and interest as brighter colours without feeling bold. Earthy tones pair effortlessly with neutrals and create a grounded, confident look that still feels considered.
Find Your Colour
Inject a little tropical energy into your wardrobe with our selection of flamingo pieces. They’re bright, we know, but you can absolutely pull them off. A simple white shirt and navy chinos will subtly complement this show stopping colour and keep your outfit balanced. Flamingo shades add personality without feeling over the top, especially when paired with clean, classic neutrals that let the colour take centre stage.
