18 Formal Color Combinations for Men's Outfits

Getting the shirt, trousers and jacket to match is where most formal outfits go wrong. The cut is easy. The colors are the hard part.

These 18 formal color combinations for men show what works, from the safe white and navy to bold teal, burgundy and red. Each one lists the pieces and tells you where to wear it. If you have a dress code to meet, pick from the first half. If you want to stand out, go further down.

1. Teal Shirt With Grey Check Trousers

Teal is a strong color, so everything below it stays quiet. The grey check is soft enough that it reads as a texture, not a pattern. Black shoes and a black belt tie the look together.

Wear it to: a client lunch, a smart dinner, a relaxed office day.

Swap: if teal feels loud, try a dusty blue shirt with the same trousers.

2. Light Blue Shirt, Dark Tie and Deep Green Trousers

Light blue against dark green is a cool-on-cool pairing that feels calm. The dark tie gives the pale shirt a clear center line. Rolled sleeves keep it from looking stiff.

Wear it to: a business casual office, a networking event.

Swap: navy trousers give a similar effect and are easier to find.

3. Teal Blazer, White Shirt and Black Trousers

A bright blazer works when the rest is plain. White and black underneath let the teal do the talking. The bow tie is small but makes it feel like an event.

Wear it to: a prom, a wedding reception, a dinner party.

Swap: a plain black tie instead of the bow tie makes it a little quieter.

4. Royal Blue Suit With a Pink Tie

A single bright blue, head to toe, looks planned and sharp. The pale pink tie is a soft contrast, not a loud one. The brown bag adds a warm color against all that blue.

Wear it to: a wedding, a daytime event, a big presentation.

Swap: for a conservative office, move to navy and keep the pink tie.

5. Red Blazer With a Black Waistcoat

Red and black is the strongest pairing in this list. The black waistcoat breaks up the red and keeps it from taking over. Only the top half is shown, so the trousers are a suggestion: black.

Wear it to: a date night, a party, a celebration dinner.

Swap: skip the patterned tie and wear a plain black one for a cleaner look.

6. White Shirt and Black Trousers

This is the base every formal wardrobe starts from. White and black have the highest contrast, so the outfit looks clean at once. Rolled sleeves and no tie keep it easy.

Wear it to: an interview, a restaurant job, a formal dinner (add a jacket).

Swap: add a black blazer and a tie and it works at any dress code.

7. Grey Turtleneck With Light Grey Trousers

Two greys, slightly different, look refined together. The turtleneck replaces the shirt and tie. A black belt and black boots add the only dark points.

Wear it to: a smart dinner, a gallery, a cold-weather office day.

Swap: add a charcoal blazer over it to make it work for meetings.

8. Dark Green Shirt and Light Grey Trousers

Dark green is rich without being loud. Light grey trousers keep it fresh. It's a good choice when black feels too heavy.

Wear it to: a dinner out, a creative office, a gallery opening.

Swap: white or cream trousers give a lighter, summer version.

9. White Shirt With Navy Trousers

White and navy is the safest color pair in menswear. It goes with almost any shoe color. Black shoes keep it formal.

Wear it to: an interview, a work event, a family dinner.

Swap: brown shoes and a brown belt give the same outfit a warmer tone.

10. Black Shirt and Mid Grey Trousers

Black on top and mid grey below gives a strong tonal look. The open collar and rolled sleeves make it a night-out outfit more than an office one. Black shoes keep the look sleek.

Wear it to: a date night, cocktails, a dressy dinner.

Swap: add a charcoal blazer if the venue asks for a jacket.

11. Burgundy Suit With a White Shirt

Burgundy is a deep red that works for daytime. A white shirt and black shoes keep it serious. The fall leaves behind him match the suit.

Wear it to: a fall wedding, a business meeting, an evening event.

Swap: a navy suit is the safe version, and burgundy as a tie works too.

12. Teal Shirt and Black Tie With a Teal Blazer

This look stays in one color family. Shirt, blazer and trousers are all teal tones, and only the tie and belt are black. Same-color dressing looks planned and puts the focus on the fit.

Wear it to: a conference, a dinner, a dressy work event.

Swap: a navy suit with a light blue shirt is the same idea in a safer palette.

13. White Short-Sleeve Shirt and Navy Trousers

Short sleeves keep this smart outfit cool in summer. White with navy still looks sharp. A dark-strap watch is all the extra it needs.

Wear it to: a summer lunch, an outdoor event, a casual office.

Swap: try light grey trousers in the hottest weather.

14. Light Blue Blazer, Yellow Shirt and Cream Trousers

Blue and yellow sit opposite each other, so the outfit looks bright and sure. Cream trousers calm things down. White sneakers make it casual.

Wear it to: a garden party, a daytime wedding, a summer brunch.

Swap: a white shirt instead of yellow makes it a quieter spring look.

15. All-Red Suit With a Black Turtleneck

A matching red suit is bold, so everything else is kept black. A turtleneck takes the place of a shirt and tie. It only works if you wear it with confidence.

Wear it to: a party, a photo shoot, a New Year's Eve dinner.

Swap: a red blazer with black trousers is the toned-down version.

16. Navy Suit With a Dark Turtleneck and Red Pocket Square

Navy is the easiest suit color, and the dark turtleneck makes it modern. The red pocket square is the only bright spot. Polished black lace-ups keep the focus on the red square.

Wear it to: a dinner, a gallery, a work function.

Swap: use a white shirt and a plain tie for a more traditional office version.

17. Pale Patterned Blazer With Cream Trousers and Blue Loafers

A light patterned blazer and cream trousers are soft in tone. The blue loafers pick up the blazer color. The yellow wall behind him is a bonus.

Wear it to: a summer wedding, a garden event, a vacation dinner.

Swap: brown loafers are an easy swap if blue feels like too much.

18. Taupe Blazer With Brick-Red Trousers

A muted blazer with deep rust trousers gives an earthy, grown-up pairing. Brown shoes are the right match. It's a good one for fall.

Wear it to: a fall dinner, a gallery, a creative workplace.

Swap: navy trousers are a quieter option.

How to Match Colors in a Formal Outfit

Start with one base color. Navy, charcoal and black are the base. Build the rest of the outfit around one of them.

Keep the shirt lighter than the trousers. Light shirts are the easiest. A dark or bold shirt works, as in the teal, green and black looks above, but then keep the trousers simple.

Use only one loud color. Most outfits above have one strong color, such as teal, red or yellow, and the rest is calm. Two loud colors fight each other.

Check the mix before you leave. Stand in daylight and look at the outfit from head to shoe. The jacket, shirt and trousers should read as three clear shades, not two that almost match. If two pieces are close but not the same, change one of them.

Match your belt to your shoes. Black with black, brown with brown. It is a small detail, but it shows when it is wrong.

Base color	Shirts that work	Shoes
Navy	White, light blue, pale pink	Black or dark brown
Charcoal or grey	White, light blue, black	Black
Black	White, grey, burgundy	Black
Burgundy	White, pale grey	Black or dark brown
Cream or beige	White, light blue, navy	Brown, tan

For more on matching colors in a quieter style, see our old money color combos. Dressing for a job interview? These interview outfits with a tie use the same ideas in a work setting. For warmer weather, try these formal spring outfits.

FAQ

What colors go well together in formal wear? White with navy, light blue with grey, and black with white are the safest. After that, add one accent such as burgundy, teal or a pink tie.

What color shirt goes with a navy suit? White, light blue and pale pink. All three work with black or dark brown shoes.

Can I wear black and navy together? Yes, if the two are clearly different, such as black shoes with a navy suit. Avoid a black jacket with navy trousers, since the two shades look like a mistake.

What is the most formal color for men? Black and dark navy. For a formal event, wear them with a white shirt and black shoes.