How do I combine two shades of brown?

Choose one light and one dark shade, for example camel and chocolate brown. A piece in cream or beige in between keeps things calm. Two almost identical shades right next to each other quickly look like a mistake.

Which accent colour goes with a black outfit?

Burgundy, pink and red go well with black, and so does cream as a softer counterpart. Start with a single piece, such as a jumper or a bag, and keep the rest black.

How do I build new colour combinations from the pieces I already own?

Lay your pieces out next to each other by colour and try the pairs from the overview. A base colour you wear often is the best starting point. Even one new piece in a second colour gives you several new outfits.

Colour Combinations for Clothes

Colour combinations for clothes made easy: pick a calm base colour such as beige, brown or black, add a second colour and use one accent at most. With two to three colours per outfit, almost any combination looks balanced.

The same question comes up in front of the wardrobe: which colours go together, and why does one outfit look calm and another restless? Usually it is not the single piece but the mix. Here you will find four basic rules, an overview of which colour goes with which, and three ready-made outfit ideas.

Colour combinations for clothes: the four basic rules

Good colour combinations follow a few simple patterns. Once you know them, you no longer need a colour chart.

Neutral plus accent. Two thirds of the outfit in calm colours such as beige, brown, black or grey, plus a single piece in colour. This is the easiest way in.
Tone on tone. You stay within one colour family and mix light and dark shades, for example cream, sand and camel. The outfit looks calm and considered.
Contrast. You put light next to dark, for example white with black or cream with brown. The stronger the difference, the clearer the picture.
Season. In autumn and winter, muted, earthy shades fit. In spring and summer, light and soft colours are often seen.

A rule of thumb for everyday: three colours at most, with shoes and bag counting too. White, black and denim blue usually count as neutral.

Which colours go together? The overview

This list shows which colour goes well with which. Use it as a starting point, not as a fixed rule.

Black goes with white, cream, grey, pink, burgundy, camel and red.
White and cream go with almost everything, especially brown, beige, black and blue.
Beige goes with brown, white, taupe, black, olive and soft shades of pink.
Brown goes with cream, beige, pink, light blue, green and burgundy.
Taupe goes with black, white, pink, lilac and warm browns.
Burgundy goes with grey, beige, pink, camel, black and dark green.
Butter yellow goes with white, beige, light blue, brown and grey.
Pink goes with brown, grey, beige, red, white and black.

Colour guides at a glance

Many colours have their own guide. Each one shows which partner colours work and how to wear the colour in outfits.

Combining neutral colours: the base of your wardrobe

Neutral colours are the foundation of every wardrobe. They mix with each other and carry accent colours with ease.

Beige, cream and sand. Light natural shades go with brown, white and taupe and are a calm choice for many occasions. You will find a selection in the beige clothing collection.

Brown and camel. Warm earth tones such as chocolate brown and camel go with cream, beige and pink. Brown is seen as a base colour in many outfits. You will find the pieces in the brown clothing collection.

Black. Black is the clearest base and takes any colour as an accent. With white it makes a strong contrast, with grey a calm picture. More in the black clothing collection.

How to build a small wardrobe from such base colours is covered in the guide capsule wardrobe basics.

Combining colours in clothes: tone on tone, contrast or accent?

Which of the three methods fits depends on how much attention the outfit should get.

Tone on tone is the calmest option. It works best with natural shades: a cream jumper, sand-coloured trousers and camel ankle boots. To keep it from looking flat, mix textures such as knit, satin or corduroy.

Contrast is the clear option. Black and white are the best-known pair. It gets softer with brown and cream or grey and pink.

Accent is the lively option. A single piece in burgundy, pink or butter yellow is enough, and the rest stays neutral. The accent can be a top, a scarf or the bag.

Colour combinations by season: what goes when?

Autumn and winter. Brown, burgundy, taupe, dark green and grey count as typical colours of the cold months. Cream and black work as calm counterpoints. Which colours are often seen this season is shown in the article trend colours autumn/winter 2026/27.

Spring and summer. White, beige, butter yellow, light blue and pink are light companions. The same applies here: one base, one accent, no more than three colours.

In-between weather. Here you can mix both worlds, for example a beige coat with a pink top and brown shoes.

Three outfits with clear colour combinations

Earth tones. Beige cardigan, white long-sleeved top, brown trousers and camel ankle boots. Four natural shades that blend softly into one another.

Black with pink. Black trousers, a black fine-knit top and a pink jumper as the only accent. Add black boots and a cream bag.

Taupe with white. Taupe trousers, a white blouse and a simple brown belt. Calm, light and suitable for almost every day.

Matching items in the shop: taupe clothing and pink jumpers.

Frequently asked questions

How many colours can an outfit have at most?

As a rule of thumb, three colours, with shoes and bag counting too. Neutral shades such as white, black or denim blue hardly count.

Do black and brown go together?

Yes, the combination is no longer considered a taboo. It is calmest when one of the two colours clearly dominates and cream or beige mediates between them.

Which colours count as basic colours in a wardrobe?

Black, white, cream, beige, brown, grey and denim blue. They mix with each other and form the base for every accent colour.

Which colours go with pink in autumn and winter?

Brown, grey, beige and black go well with pink. A pink jumper with brown trousers is a soft, autumnal combination.

Can I combine patterns with several colours?

Yes, if you pick up one colour from the pattern in the rest of the outfit. With a brown and beige leopard print, for example, brown trousers or a beige top go well.

How do I find out which colours I like?

Hold a piece up to your face in daylight and look in the mirror. If you like the colour there, you will probably enjoy wearing it. If in doubt, try a second piece in a similar shade next to it.