Walk through most men's wardrobes and you'll find the same three colours: navy, grey and black. Safe, easy — and forgettable. Colour is the fastest way to look more considered and more like yourself, and it's far less risky than most men assume. The trick isn't bravery; it's a few simple rules. Here they are.
Start with one colour, not five
The most common colour mistake is doing too much at once. The reliable route in is a single hero colour against neutrals — one saturated shirt with stone, navy or white trousers. Let the colour lead and keep everything else quiet. It's the same principle that makes a bold print work: one statement per outfit.
Know what suits your colouring
Colours read differently depending on your skin tone, hair and eye contrast. As a rough guide: cooler complexions tend to suit blues, greens, and cool pinks; warmer complexions carry earth tones, terracotta, gold and warm reds well. High-contrast colouring (dark hair, light skin) can handle bold, saturated colour; softer colouring often looks better in slightly muted tones. None of this is a rule you can't break — it's just a place to start.
Confidence with colour isn't about wearing more of it — it's about wearing one colour well, and letting everything else get out of its way.
How to combine colours (without overthinking it)
Three combinations that almost always work:
Neutral + one colour. The safest and often the sharpest — a coloured shirt with neutral trousers.
Tonal. Different shades of the same colour family (e.g. a mid-blue shirt with navy trousers) looks deliberate and elegant.
Complementary accents. A small hit of an opposite colour — a pop in a print, a pocket square — adds life without taking over.
Colour and print together
A printed shirt is really just colour with a pattern on top, so the same rules apply: let it be the hero, and keep the rest restrained. If you want to go further, our guide to the 3-3-3 rule covers mixing pattern and colour with confidence, and the floral and paisley collections are good places to see colour and print working together.
Build colour in gradually
If bright colour feels like a leap, start at the edges: a coloured shirt under a neutral jacket, or a print worn open over a plain tee. As it starts to feel natural, let the colour take up more of the outfit. Confidence is a habit, not a personality trait.
Wearing colour: FAQs
What colours are easiest for men to start with?
A single saturated colour — blue, green or burgundy are forgiving — worn with neutral trousers. Start with one hero colour before combining several.
How do I know which colours suit me?
Use your skin tone and contrast as a guide: cooler complexions suit blues and greens; warmer complexions suit earth tones and warm reds. Higher-contrast colouring can carry bolder, more saturated colour.
Can you wear two bright colours together?
Yes, but keep one dominant and the other an accent, or use tonal shades of the same family. Two equally loud colours competing is where it goes wrong.
Ready to add some colour? Explore the men's printed shirts collection and find your hero piece.
