Hey,
The other day, I was putting away laundry and noticed that some of my clothes don't really work with most others. I have this cobalt blue shirt I love, but it fights with almost everything else in my closet.
I then realized that I've been buying colours at random, hoping they'll somehow work together.
Most men do this. We pick up pieces we like individually, without thinking about how they'll fit into what we already own. Or we stick to black because it's "safe."
Colour doesn't have to be complicated. And although "colour theory" sounds deep and complex, it really isn't. What you need is a simple way to think about colours that makes getting dressed easier, that's all.
Let's figure this out together.
Look at your closet for a minute.
You'll probably notice that most of your clothes fall into three categories:
- Your neutrals (blacks, whites, greys)
- Your main colours (maybe blue or green), and
- Your statement pieces (that bright yellow jacket you bought last summer)
Here's all you really need to know about colours:
1. Your building blocks are your neutrals. Think of them as the spaces between words — they make everything else work better. Navy, black, white, grey, beige. You probably already own these.
2. Then you've got your main colours. These are what people notice first. Deep greens, rich blues, warm reds. Pick ones that make you feel good - we'll talk about why this matters more than what's "trending" in a bit.
3. Finally, your accent colours. These are your attention-grabbers. That bright scarf, that bold tie. Used sparingly, they make everything more interesting.
The trick isn't in knowing every possible colour combination. It's in understanding a few that always work:
- Colours right next to each other on the wheel always play nice (like different blues and greens)
- Colours opposite each other create contrast (blue and orange, for example).
And that cobalt blue shirt that doesn't play well with others? Here's how to avoid that problem:
Remember the 60-30-10 rule.
Take your wardrobe and mentally divide it:
60% should be your easy players — your navys, greys, whites, beiges, and blacks. The stuff that goes with everything.
30% goes to your main colours. Here's where you need to be intentional. Look at what colours you wear most often, not what you think you should wear.
10% is for your statement pieces. That fire-engine red scarf. That mustard yellow beanie. Even an emerald cuff or ring. The stuff that makes basic outfits interesting.
Common ways we mess up with colour aren't always obvious.
There are some real problems I see people run into all the time.
- Buying something because it looked great on someone else.
- Trying too hard to match everything perfectly.
- Having too many "special" pieces and not enough basics.
- Using black as a crutch. Yes, black is reliable. But it can also be harsh, especially against certain skin tones. Sometimes a softer neutral like navy or charcoal can do more for you.
Speaking of skin tones — this deserves its own section.
For darker Indian skin tones:
- Deep, rich jewel tones are your best friends
- Bright yellows and oranges pop beautifully
- Shades of white look striking
- Pastels can work, too
For wheatish/medium skin:
- Earth tones work great (olive, rust, bronze)
- Deep reds and burgundies
- Navy (often better than black)
- Most colours work, just avoid anything too pale
For lighter Indian skin:
- Softer colours like rose pink and powder blue
- Deep greens and teals
- Maroon and wine reds
- Skip the pastels and be careful with yellow - they can make you look washed out
Notice how some colours (like navy) work for everyone? That's not an accident. Some colours are just more versatile. When in doubt, those are your safe bets.
So how do you actually use all this?
Next time you're getting dressed or shopping, try this. It works for almost everyone:
For cool palettes:
- Start with navy as your base neutral
- Add deep green or burgundy as your main colour
- Keep bold colours like bright blue or purple minimal
For warm palettes:
- Start with brown or khaki as your base neutral
- Add rust orange or olive green as your main colour
- Use mustard or terracotta as accents
Or if you want to play it really safe:
- Grey works as a neutral for both warm and cool tones
- White can work for both warm and cool palettes — cool whites for cooler palettes and warm shades for warmer palettes
- Deep blue-green works across skin tones
- Keep your bold pieces in the same temperature as your base (warm or cool)
Build from there.
Sure, there are people who can break these rules and look great. But they probably spent years understanding colour before they started breaking rules. Until then? These guidelines will keep you looking sharp.