Color guide

Outfit color combinations: 10 pairings that work

Which colors go together in an outfit? Ten combinations, each shown on a real look, with the rule that makes them work.

The 60-30-10 rule

Stylists borrow this from interior design. One dominant color covers about 60% of the outfit (usually the biggest garment), a supporting neutral takes 30%, and an accent gets the last 10% — shoes, a bag, a belt. Most outfits that look “put together” follow it, and it is the easiest way to stop a coloring page from looking busy.

Warm and classic

Burgundy + denim: Oxblood leather with a washed denim mini — **Burgundy + denim**Oxblood leather with a washed denim mini

Olive + cream + espresso: A bomber over heritage plaid — **Olive + cream + espresso**A bomber over heritage plaid

Camel + black: The quiet minimalist pairing — **Camel + black**The quiet minimalist pairing

Burgundy and denim

Burgundy
Denim
Espresso
Gold

Deep red against faded blue; brown boots tie them together.

Olive and cream

Olive
Cream
Espresso
Gold

An earthy trio that suits anything with texture.

Camel and black

Coffee
Ink
Espresso
Cream

Black on top, camel below, brown leather to finish.

Bright and deliberate

Cobalt + charcoal: One electric knit, everything else quiet — **Cobalt + charcoal**One electric knit, everything else quiet

Blue + pink: A clash that works because both are saturated — **Blue + pink**A clash that works because both are saturated

Red + aqua + butter: Three brights, one of them pale — **Red + aqua + butter**Three brights, one of them pale

Cobalt and charcoal

Cobalt
Charcoal
Burgundy
White

The accent bag is wine, not black — that is the 10%.

Blue and pink

Cobalt
Hot Pink
Orange
Pistachio

Keep both colors at full strength; a faded pink would lose.

Red, aqua and butter

Tropical Red
Sky
Butter
Plum

Complementary colors with a soft yellow between them.

Soft and tonal

Tonal dressing means staying inside one color family and changing the shade or the fabric instead. It is the most forgiving approach: a red knit with burgundy trousers, taupe with champagne, or three blacks in three textures.

Powder blue + pink: Pastels with a dark red shoe — **Powder blue + pink**Pastels with a dark red shoe

Red on red: One color, two fabrics — **Red on red**One color, two fabrics

Taupe + champagne: Tonal neutrals for evening — **Taupe + champagne**Tonal neutrals for evening

Black on black: Different textures, same color — **Black on black**Different textures, same color

Try a combination before you wear it

This is what a fashion coloring app is useful for beyond relaxing. Color the Look is a fashion coloring app for iPhone and iPad with 250+ outfit pages in 29 collections. Fill an outfit in the colors you are considering, swap one, and compare the saved versions side by side.

Try these palettes in the app

Frequently asked

What colors go well together in an outfit?

Reliable pairings include burgundy with denim blue, olive with cream, camel with black, navy with white, cobalt with charcoal, and pink with red. Use one dominant color, one neutral and one small accent.

What is the 60-30-10 rule in fashion?

It is a proportion guide: about 60% of the outfit in a dominant color, 30% in a supporting color or neutral, and 10% in an accent such as shoes, a bag or jewellery.

How many colors should an outfit have?

Three is a safe maximum for most outfits: a main color, a neutral and an accent. Tonal outfits use one color family in different shades or textures.