How to Wear Gold, Silver and Copper: Metallic Colors for Every Day

The easiest way to wear gold, silver and copper is with calm partners: gold with black, cream, dark green and burgundy, silver with gray, white, navy and rosé, copper with brown, dark blue and cream. The metallic piece stays the only eye-catching item.

Metallic shades are not just for special occasions. A gold belt, a silver necklace or a copper shoe also go with a sweater and jeans. This guide shows how the three shades differ and which colors go with each. It also covers how to keep metallics easy for every day and three outfits you can put together quickly.

Gold, silver or copper: warm or cool?

The three shades fall into two groups. That gives a rough guide when choosing partner colors: warm shades often suit warm colors, cool shades suit cool ones.

• Gold is a warm, yellowish shade. It goes with black, cream, dark green and burgundy.
• Silver is a cool, grayish shade. It goes with gray, white, navy and rosé.
• Copper is a warm, reddish brown with a metallic shine. It goes with brown, dark blue and cream.

Rose gold sits between gold and copper and works with the partners of both. Sequins and glitter have their own guide: Glitter Outfit for Women. This guide is about metallic colors in calm everyday looks.

Wearing gold with black, cream, dark green and burgundy

Black. Black and gold are the clearest combination. With a black blouse or a black sweater, a gold belt or a gold necklace comes into its own. You can read more about black in the guide What Color Goes with Black.

Cream. Cream softens gold. Cream pants with a black top and gold jewelry stay light and calm.

Dark green and burgundy. Both shades are deep and calm and sit well next to gold. A dark green sweater with a gold necklace or a burgundy top with gold earrings is a simple starting point. You will find burgundy pieces in the burgundy clothing.

Wearing silver with gray, white, navy and rosé

Gray. Gray and silver stay in one color family. A gray jacket with silver jewelry or silver shoes is a calm look in which the metallic shine stays quiet.

White. White gives silver a fresh frame. A white blouse with jeans and a silver necklace is quickly put together. You will find more light looks in the white clothing.

Navy and rosé. Navy and silver are clear and cool. Rosé makes the look softer, for example a soft pink top with silver earrings.

Wearing copper with brown, dark blue and cream

Brown. Copper is a brown itself, so it goes with brown in every depth. A brown sweater with a copper shoe or a copper bag is a warm everyday look. You will find more ideas in the guide What Color Goes with Brown. A selection is in the brown clothing.

Dark blue. Dark blue is the counterpart to copper. Blue jeans with a copper belt or a copper bag make a clear contrast.

Cream. Cream brightens copper. A cream top with copper jewelry keeps the shade warm but not heavy. For lighter natural shades, see also the guide What Color Goes with Beige.

Metallics for every day: shoes, bag, jewelry or top?

For every day, a single metallic piece is enough. The more space the piece takes up, the calmer the rest should be.

• Jewelry. A necklace, earrings or a bracelet are the quietest start. They go with almost every outfit.
• Belt. A metallic belt sets a point in the middle of the outfit without needing much space.
• Shoes and bag. Here the piece takes up more space. The rest of the outfit is best kept plain and matte.
• Top or sweater. A metallic top is the most eye-catching piece. Simple pants, jeans and matte shoes go with it.

Mixing gold and silver: one metallic shade per outfit

A rule of thumb: one metallic shade per outfit. If you want to mix gold and silver, pick one as the main shade and use the other only as a small accent, for example on the watch or earrings.

Three outfits with gold, silver and copper

Gold and black. Black muslin blouse, cream pants, gold necklace and black ankle boots.

Silver and gray. Gray bouclé jacket over a white blouse, with jeans, silver earrings and white sneakers. Everything stays cool and light.

Copper and brown. Brown sweater, blue jeans, copper belt and brown boots. Brown, blue and copper make a warm everyday look.

Also in the shop: black clothing. For an overview of more combinations, see the guide Color Combinations in Clothing.

Frequently asked questions

Which colors go with gold?

Black, cream, dark green and burgundy. These shades are calm or deep and sit well next to gold.

Which colors go with silver?

Gray, white, navy and rosé. Silver is a cool shade and combines well with cool and light colors.

Which colors go with copper?

Brown, dark blue and cream. Copper is a warm, reddish shade and sits closest to the browns.

Can you wear gold and silver together?

Yes, if one shade dominates. Pick a main shade and wear the other only as a small accent, for example on a watch or earrings.

How do you wear metallic colors every day?

With a single piece, for example jewelry, a belt, a bag or shoes. The rest of the outfit stays plain and matte.

Is gold warm and silver cool?

Yes. Gold and copper are warm shades, silver is a cool shade. That gives a rough guide for choosing partner colors.