It is not at all true to say that, when it comes to style, colour is strictly feminine. Some of the most-admired male dressers of this day and age were stalking around in brightly coloured frock coats, embroidered in dazzling threads of rainbow hues. In medieval times, when certain dyes such as purple were rather difficult to get hold of, bright colours were only for the rich and powerful. The point we are trying to make here is that colour in menswear has a historical pedigree. Colour is a great way to make an impact. The following tips shares how men can rock colours stylishly:
1. Stock up on neutrals
The starting point of wearing any colour is having the right shades to mix it with. This includes black, white and all greys in between. It also includes beige (but not so dark that it’s almost brown) and navy (but not so light that it’s royal blue). By making sure you have a wide selection of items in these colours, you will have a far easier time introducing more standout shades alongside them. You will also have a ready-made wardrobe of things that can be thrown together and look more or less acceptable.
2. Curate your palette
Every six months or so, the fashion world will come up with a selection of colours that are foisted particularly strongly on consumers. This is all very well for the sake of novelty, but the truth is that not all colours suit everybody, and you shouldn’t wear a colour just because it happens to be on the rails at any given time. Instead, figure out a range of colours that work for you, based upon your skin tone, complexion, hair and eye colour.
3. Learn the word “Tonal”
When fashion people say “tonal” they tend to mean something along the lines of “two different shades of the same colour used together”. That is, if you wear a light-blue shirt under a darker-blue jacket, you might call it “tonal layering” What’s more, mixing together different shades of the same colour makes the impact of the colour both more subtle and richer.
4. Think about contrast
One of the sharpest ways to wear colour is by creating a contrast between two hues. The greater the distinction, the more you notice both, and the more complicated and assured the outfit will look. This contrast doesn’t have to be eye-popping or startling (though that can be effective). In fact it can be as subtle as, for example, pairing a navy blazer with a pair of light-grey trousers, or tan desert boots with some olive-coloured chinos. The important thing is that the eye clearly perceives two colours, and that they are in a harmonious balance.
5. Change with the seasons
The one remaining thing to say about colour in style is that, as in nature, it changes with the seasons. This doesn’t mean you have to throw out what works for you personally just because the shelves are being restocked in the shops – or because one designer is strenuously pushing a particular hue – but it does mean you should subtly adjust your personal colour palette so your clothes are more able to cope with atmospheric conditions. The best way to adapt colour to seasonal changes is not to have two separate palettes but to adapt your existing colour palette and, within it, change the emphasis of each colour. Certain neutrals (particularly navy, darker beiges and mid-greys) will work well in both halves of the year and so can be kept continually in rotation