Colours that go together

Short answer: Most wardrobes get messy because the colours were bought one at a time. Choose two base colours and one accent, and almost everything goes together, which makes getting dressed in the morning easier.

Two base colours are enough

Black and navy, or grey and navy, cover almost everything. When most pieces stick to those two, you can take anything from the drawer and know it goes together. Start with the pieces you wear most, because they set the tone for the rest. See bamboo T-shirts for men.

One accent colour at a time

A single colour beyond the base colours keeps the drawer easy to manage. The accent adds some variety without making combinations difficult. Choose one you like and will wear often, and let it appear in a few pieces so it does not stand alone. See bamboo sweatshirts for men.

The layers underneath can be neutral

Underwear in skin tone or grey shows less through light clothes. The inner layer should not draw attention, it just has to fit under everything else. If you have both light and dark shirts, a few neutral undershirts are the most flexible choice. See bamboo undershirts for men.

Why single purchases create a mess

When you buy a jumper because the colour looks nice in the shop, you rarely think about what it will be worn with. After a few years you have many colours that are fine on their own but do not go together. The result is a full drawer and a feeling that there is nothing to wear.

Check what you already have

Lay everything out and sort it by colour. Then you can see which two colours already dominate and which pieces stand alone. The single pieces are often the ones you rarely wear. Use the dominant colours as your base, and wear out the rest before buying more.

Buy within your colours

When you buy something new, stick to the base colours and the one accent. It takes a little discipline, but it pays off every morning. A new piece that goes with everything gets worn a lot. A piece in a new colour often stays in the drawer, because it goes with nothing.

Dark below, light above

A simple rule of thumb is darker colours on the legs and lighter ones on top. It makes combining easy and is easy to remember. Navy or black trousers go with almost any top in grey, white or an accent colour. Stick to that if you are unsure what goes together.

Colours last longer with the right wash

Colours change over time, especially dark ones. Wash dark clothes inside out, at the temperature on the care label and with other dark colours. Let them dry hanging freely and out of direct sunlight. That way navy stays navy, and black does not turn greyish so quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Which colours go with everything

Black, navy and grey. They work with each other and with almost any accent colour, so they are a good place to start when you build up your drawer.

How many colours should a wardrobe have

Two base colours and one or two accents. More makes it harder to put outfits together in the morning, and some pieces often end up never being worn.

What colour underwear under white

Skin tone. White underwear shows through light fabric more than most people think, because the contrast against the skin is greatest right there.