Mens Fashion Tips

Color can seem to be such a mystery when it comes to clothing.

There are some people out there who seem to have it all together, who seem to be dressed perfectly all of the time - and then there are the rest of the people, the ones who can't seem to figure out what shirt goes with what pair of pants.

It doesn't help that adult clothing is much more complicated than children's clothing. Remember how the entire Garanimals clothing line for kids contained nothing but color-coordinated pieces - and howany pair of pants would match literally any shirt? This certainly isn't the case for men's clothing...

So, to help out with that, to make color-coordinating easier for men's clothing - here are some suggestions on how best to match colors when putting outfits together.

Now, these aren't 'rules,' as there can be many variations on how color is put together; however, following these suggestions can at least get you out the door without looking like a clown:

Avoid colored pants -

Colored pants really don't look good on men. Keep your pants a basic, neutral color-black, or some shade of grey, tan, khaki, or brown will do nicely and will be simple to match. Or, if you are dressing for a casual day, jeans would be great!

Since you have chosen neutrally-colored pants (or jeans), the rest of your outfit will not be difficult to choose as far as colors go.

If your pants are black or grey, stay away from shirts that have any shade of brown in them as these will not pair well. Pants that are tan, khaki or brown or jeans can be paired with just about any color of shirt.

Choosing a shirt -

When choosing a shirt color, though, it is wise to avoid choosing a shirt that is very close to the exact color of your pants or jeans. When you wear a shirt and pant of the same color, it looks like a uniform.

Opting for a pattern on a shirt is fine, just keep to a minimal pattern and make sure that everything else that you choose is neutral.

Socks -

Socks should be close to the color of your pants. As for shoes, avoid brown shoes unless you are dressing casually; business work attire should be accompanied by black shoes.

Here are a few common color pairings that can assist you in putting outfits together,

Use these in conjunction with the suggestions above and you will have no trouble with your color-coordination:

Light colors (pastels) should be paired with dark grey or black pants. Wearing a pastel shirt with, say, tan pants might just make you look like an Easter egg.

Men's Dress Shirts

With so many colors in mens shirts today it is sometimes difficult to know what shirt goes with what pants and what color shirts should be worn on for different occasions. While many men find themselves drawn to black dress shirts, once they get them home they are never quite sure what to wear with them or what types of occasions these shirts are most suited for.

A Casual Look

One of the reasons men are drawn to black dress shirts is that black shirts no matter what style never seem to truly make it beyond the casual category. Unless you are the rare man that can make anything look stylish and formal it is best to avoid wearing that black shirt for job interviews and professional business meetings where the more formal business look is encouraged. That being said there are many occasions where a black dress shirt can make the perfect statement and even help you stand out and look smart.

Great Occasions to Wear a Black Dress Shirt

One occasion where a mens black dress suit can really stand out and make an impression is on a date where you want a dress casual look. Your date will be pleased that you took the trouble to wear a nice shirt, pants, and a tie for the occasion but did not go overboard. You can also wear a black dress shirt to the office if your dress policy is such that just dress shirts and pants are acceptable outfits. These shirts also go well at parties where you can either wear casual style slacks or jeans.

What Colors Go Well With a Black Dress Shirt

If you are going to wear a black dress shirt you are going to want to be extremely careful choosing what color of slacks and ties to go with this shirt. You are going to want to avoid wearing this shirt with a white suit unless you want to look to a movie hit man or someone who still disco dances. You also want to avoid a white tie and shoes as well. Most browns are also a pour choice to wear with your black suit as the two colors seem to class a bit and make you look a bit dull and boring. That being said here are some combination's that look great with that black dress shirt.

Khaki pants in almost any shade except those tending to be more brown than tan will look great with your black shirt. Combine the pants with black shoes and belt.

Light gray also looks great with color of shirt whether you simply choose a pair of well cut dress pants or a suit. The paler the gray the more dressy the look. Combine this shirt and pant ensemble with a black belt, black, shoes, and a silver and gray striped tie for a really great look. You can also wear a light gray sweater without the tie for a more casual look.