Guys, Give Navy a Rest. A Skeptic’s Guide to Wearing Color (and White Jeans) in 2025

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When it comes to donning color, men tend to be boring, rarely venturing beyond gray, navy or maybe (gasp!) a lilac button-up. But lately, that timidity seems to be ebbing. On the recent fall menswear runways, royal purple and ‘Brat’-lime green made a splash—and store owners report that style-conscious shoppers are more regularly branching out into subtle shades like olive green and ochre.

“We’ve definitely seen a shift toward more guys buying color,” said Justin Felizzari, owner of New York menswear store Cueva , which sells pieces such as terracotta-hued tailoring by Studio Nicholson. At Canoe Club in Boulder, Colo., the shop’s co-founder Timothy Grindle says Japanese brand Auralee’s punchy red designs are in high demand. “Most men aren’t looking for a bright head-to-toe look,” said Felizzari. “They just want one piece that adds something special to their closet.”

Ready to liven up your own palette but not sure where to start? Or whether you can pull off that most controversial color-related item: white jeans? Here, a men’s guide to making smarter—and brighter—clothing choices.

I don’t want to look like Bozo the Clown. Where’s a safe place to begin?

First, take a deep breath: No one is suggesting you commit to a closet that resembles a box of cupcakes. If you’re ready to ease out of your comfort zone, start by swapping navy, black and white pieces for more-unexpected hues you’re likely to find in nature. Think: olive green, beige or earthy brown.

Celebrity stylist Michael Fisher’s trick is to combine similar colors in one outfit—such as brown with tan or khaki—or to mix neutrals with a brighter color. Another easy way to break out of the navy rut: seek out indigo-dyed clothing, which is typically a more vivid blue. Chase Selby, 34, an educator in Los Angeles, might wear a pair of military-green fatigues with an indigo-dyed jacket and a white “ringer” tee with a contrast yellow collar. “I’m not consciously thinking ‘blue and yellow make green,’” he said. “But the colors just look nice together.”

How do I figure out which colors suit me?

Color analysis, a 1980s phenomenon that analyzes skin undertones, is experiencing a revival: You may have seen viral videos online of people being draped in swatches and told they look repulsive in violet but passable in mustard. Though the method is best taken with a pinch of salt, consider dabbling with Colorwise.me , an AI-powered color analysis app. “In general, if you’re fair, lighter colors or pastels may suit you better. If you have more melanin in your skin, deeper colors like burgundy or evergreen might suit you better,” said Karen Young, founder of Key Color Analysis in New York. During a 90-minute, $200 in-person appointment, Young can identify the shades that flatter you most.

Can I pull off white jeans?

Though a warm-weather staple, white jeans might be the most controversial color-related clothing item for men. That doesn’t mean they can’t work. First, avoid anything that’s “optic white, with stretch,” said Fisher. He particularly likes painter’s pants. “Most guys can get their head around these.”

Stephon Carson, assistant manager of tailoring brand the Armoury , is a white pants veteran—though he prefers trousers over jeans. “White is an easy color to match—it’s hard to find something that doesn’t go well with it.” His favorite pairing is a jacket or vest in a neutral like tan. “It’s a clean and balanced look. Nothing is screaming at you,” he said. And the rule of not wearing white after Labor Day? “It’s outdated,” said Carson.

How much color is too much?

“One of my pet peeves is when people learn their colors [during color analysis] and think they need to wear a hot pink shirt and purple pants. Please do not do this,” deadpanned Young.

To work a small amount of color into an outfit, try printed fabrics, says Fisher. If prints aren’t your jam, Felizzari notes that bolder colors look best when the fabric is embroidered or has an interesting texture, as it “softens the eye.” New Delhi label Kartik Research sells handwoven cotton shirts in forest green or burgundy with white or pineapple-colored embroidery. German brand A Kind Of Guise makes a summery white linen shirt embroidered with a pale yellow paisley pattern (it’s selling well at Cueva). Auralee’s Ryota Iwai, meanwhile, garment-dyes his sweaters to create washed, worn-in shades of blue or mint green. “I often go for something with a heathered look, woven texture or a bit of fading,” he said. “It makes the color feel more subdued and [is] easier to incorporate into an outfit.”

I can’t commit to a turquoise shirt. Can I try some baby steps?

Smaller pieces like scarves, pocket squares, socks or bandanas let you go bold with less risk of appearing clownish. To lend vibrancy to a beige or cream suit, Carson adds patterned socks or a silk scarf from Turkish brand Rumisu , whose kaleidoscopic prints come in too many colors to count.

Draped around the neck, the scarf offers a more-casual alternative to a tie or pocket square. “It gives just the right amount of color,” he said.

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