The first thing a person notices about a dress shirt is its color. In a room full of suits, the choice of shirt colors will help you stand out or blend in; the key here is what your intentions are and you know how to mix and match your clothes to achieve them. The only way to do this is to master an understanding of 1) what shades of color complement you and 2) how those same colors frame you in your environment. The goal of this article is to help you begin to understand both.

The role of your complexion, hair and eye color

A man’s complexion, hair color and eye color are the key indicators to use when selecting the color of a fabric that will cover his body. Unfortunately, most men make their color decision based on what they’ve worn in the past, what colors are readily available, and the ever-changing winds of fashion. The result is what you see today, a sea of ​​solid white and blue jerseys. The two most important factors when selecting shirt color are a man’s skin tone and hair color. Eye color is a wild card factor; In cases where eye color contrasts strongly with a man’s complexion and hair color, it can be used to introduce colors that would not otherwise complement a person. It is the relationship between these three factors that determines which contrast category a man falls into: high, low, or medium contrast.

high contrast men

Simply put, these are men whose hair color contrasts sharply with their skin tone; black hair with white skin is a perfect example. For high contrast men, the key to looking good is being able to mimic this color difference in your clothing with the contrast on your facial area. A dark navy suit with a white shirt and a dark gray suit with an ice blue shirt are two pairings that complement the high-contrast men. In general, light colored shirts with dark suits and dark/vibrant ties with light colored suits. Dark shirts can be achieved with light suits, but achieving this requires skill. High contrast men are always accessorized with strong ties that stand out from the shirt.

low contrast men

As the name suggests, these are men with a subdued appearance. Light hair and light skin is the most common variant, but men with red hair, bald men, and men with thinning hair also fall into this category. The strengths of these men are the exact opposite of the high-contrast men above. Low-contrast men should go for a monochrome look, as a high-contrast outfit will easily overpower their muted tones. Remember that the purpose of a frame (your clothing) is to enhance the image (your face). In general, low-contrast men do well with dark blue and earth-tone dress shirts paired with dark suits. When wearing light gray or tan suits, low-contrast gentlemen should stick with lighter colored shirts and earth tones; White is allowed here if the suit is light enough to avoid stark contrast. Be careful with the choice of tie, if the tie sticks out too much it can divert attention from the face to the chest and stomach.

medium contrast men

If you don’t fall into one of the two extremes, you will most likely fit into this group. Brown-skinned men with dark hair are common members, along with lighter-skinned men with gray and white hair. With such a wide selection of face tones and hair colors, it’s hard to give specific guidance in this category. What we will say is that most men don’t exactly fit in the middle; instead, they lean toward low or high contrast. The dark-haired men with brown skin mentioned above; they lean towards high contrast, and can not only utilize that man’s color combinations, but can also get away with some subtle monochrome combinations. The same with light-skinned gentlemen with gray hair. He is more similar to the low contrast individual and would do well to follow the rules set for such a man. However, he can pull off a contrasting outfit very successfully, especially if his eyes or another feature of his complements the chosen color scheme. In short, men of medium contrast can enjoy the best of both worlds, but should be careful about venturing too far in one direction.

The role of the seasons

It is worth mentioning that although your natural colors are the dominant factors in determining what color clothing you should wear, they are not the only things you should pay attention to. A dandy also pays attention to the seasons, paying attention to the effect that the colors around him have on the whole that he has created. The dark suit and dark-colored shirt you decide to wear may look great on you, but at a summer wedding you’ll find yourself not only hot under the collar, but also sticking out like a sore thumb. Let’s take a quick look at the seasons and the color tones they invoke.

Spring

The season of rebirth, this is where we have pinks, lavenders, and lighter shades of blue. The lightest fabrics are dusted from his winter sleep, and a man would speak well of himself if he wore checks and multicolored stripes to complement him.

Summer

A time when light and bold colors dominate the scene. Gold striped shirts, red checks, and of course, a wide variety of blue solids and prints should grace the well-dressed man’s wardrobe. 100% cotton, linen, and silk are popular fabric choices due to their absorbent qualities.

fall out

Earth tones and heavier fabrics start to make an appearance. Clothes tend to take on a sombre look with the arrival of cooler weather, and now that the weather has turned cooler is a great time to wear mixes. Its heat retention qualities are good on a cold afternoon when you are caught without a coat.

Winter

Dark colors and heavy fabrics like flannels make their appearance. You can liven up your wardrobe a bit with a pink or maize oxford, but winter is the season when you want to make the most of fabrics designed to keep you warm. Forest green and brown tones are a stable during this season.

It is important to remember that confidence in one’s appearance is vital to looking good. When people look at you a little more than usual, you need to be confident in your outfit to know that it’s because you look so good (as opposed to looking so bad!). Our advice is to have the courage to know yourself and, from that knowledge, choose the colors that best complement you as an individual.