Guide to Color Contrast in Men's Fashion

Understanding Contrast in Men's Fashion

When it comes to color coordination, a lot of men jump into the process rather blindly. The fact is, however, coordinating colors isn’t something that is reserved for women as many people like to think. Men who have an interest in fashion know that contrast is everything, and it all comes down to which colors you decide to wear as part of an ensemble. Thinking about color choice in terms of contrast opens up a great deal of possibilities in terms of what you can wear on a given day/night, and can dramatically improve your ability to dress effectively. The following are just a few tips for adding contrast to your appearance, all of which can help you to attract attention in a subtle manner.

Creating a High Contrast
There are a variety of reasons why one might want to create a high contrast with the way they dress. The higher the contrast, the more attention-grabbing an outfit tends to be. This look is especially effective for those whose hair contrasts with their skin immensely, and is perfect for low-light conditions (in which case low-contrast outfits don’t typically stand out well). Creating a high contrast doesn’t have to be difficult, and mostly comes down to choosing ensemble elements that are starkly different from one another in color. One of the best ways to go about doing this is to wear a white dress shirt with a dark suit. This will allow you to play around with different ties, as just about any solid that doesn’t clash will work well and add further contrast to the ensemble. Finish the look off with charcoal trousers for a sleek, sophisticated business-casual appearance.

Creating a Low Contrast
Creating contrast with an outfit doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pull out all the stops and wear completely different ensemble elements. Rather, some people like to wear low-contrast outfits, which can draw subtle attention to one’s appearance without going over the top. This is a great look for men who have both light hair and light skin, and is perfect for daily wear. Try wearing a relatively dark suit with a lighter (yet still fairly dark) dress shirt underneath; pinstripes are ideal for creating contrast without making it utterly obvious. You can also create vertical contrast by wearing light-colored pants with a dark blazer or suit jacket, depending upon the situation. Ties in more muted colors such as classic navy, cherry, and burgundy are excellent. The picture above is a perfect example of a man with a lower color profile wearing a low color contrast on suit, shirt, and tie. Notice how the lighter contrast on his clothes bring out his complexion and draw attention to his face.

Medium Contrast - The Best of Both Worlds
If you aren’t sure whether you want to create low or high contrast with your ensemble, it may be wise to shoot for the path in the middle. Medium contrast outfits are perfect for men whose hair and skin create a middle-of-the-road contrast, and are ideal for wearing to the office. The principles of creating medium contrast are the same as those for creating high and low contrast, yet require one to take a more moderate approach. For example, you can take the “dark suit, white shirt” concept and simply substitute the dress shirt out for one that is light-blue or similar in color. In general, if you feel as if you could create either more or less contrast with a given outfit, you’ve probably reached the medium contrast that you’re shooting for.

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team