[dropcap]M[/dropcap]any men stick to dark colours and neutral shades of clothing. They may occasionally try a bright colored shirt but that’s as far as it goes. However, if you really want to push the envelope and elevate your look, colored pants should be on your shopping list. They will really set you apart from all the other guys wearing blue denim or khaki. If wearing yellow pants or red pants fills you with dread, read on for some tips on how you add color. It doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it seems at first.
If you’ve only ever worn black, gray or navy blue pants, don’t think you have to start with pink right away. Try an olive green or a brighter blue to ease your way into color. Mustard and burnt orange are also great options if you are a little hesitant. Switching up your style takes time but the good news is that there is no need to rush. Fashion is supposed to be fun so don’t put pressure on yourself. Just try a new color when you’re ready. You can also try shorts if you don’t want to wear colored long pants just yet.
Start small and work your way up
Use only one pop of color at a time and avoid getting matchy-matchy
If you’re wearing a brightly colored pair of pants, you don’t want to wear a colorful shirt as well. Feel free to wear your usual tan, grey, navy blue or white shirt with your new pants.
Let’s say you bought yellow pants. You may think you need to add yellow somewhere else in your outfit to pull the look together. This is not the case. You don’t need to match instead, you should look for complementary colors. It may take some time to learn how colors work together but it can be helpful to start with a color wheel. Similar colors are easiest to pair and complementary colors will give you the greatest challenge while contrasting colors fall somewhere in the middle.
You may think orange, yellow or bright blue pants are inherently casual. You can indeed wear them with a T-shirt, hoodie or sweater as you would if you were wearing jeans. However, don’t be afraid to add a crisp white shirt, a tie, and a sports coat. Colored pants look equally fabulous in dressier contexts. You can even wear them to work if your office dress code doesn’t specifically rule them out. Whenever you’re likely to be surrounded by lots of darks and neutrals, you can dress to stand out.
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut wearing the same few colors over and over again. It can be scary to try new things. However, successfully pulling off a risky look can make you feel quite good about yourself. The next time you go shopping for pants, head toward the brighter colors.
