What Colour Goes with Khaki and Olive? How to Combine Khaki

What colour goes with khaki? Beige, cream, white, brown, black and pink all combine well with khaki and olive. Earth tones look calm, black and pink add contrast.

Khaki hangs in many wardrobes: as cargo trousers, a skirt, a jacket or a top. Even so, it is often unclear which partner colour works without making the outfit look dull or heavy. Here you can read how to combine khaki and olive, which colours are the safest base and how to add a soft accent with pink. There are also three outfit ideas and answers to common questions.

What colour goes with khaki? The basic rules

Khaki is a muted shade between green, grey and brown. Because it is not loud itself, it goes with many colours. Three simple routes help:

• Earth tones: Beige, cream, sand and brown stay in the same colour family. The outfit looks calm and warm.
• Contrast: White brightens, black adds depth. Both give the outfit clear structure.
• Accent: Powder pink, dusty pink or a stronger pink add colour without making the look busy.

As a rule of thumb: khaki plus one or two more colours. An outfit rarely needs more. If you are unsure, start with cream or white and then add shoes or a bag in brown or black. You will find an overview of more colours in our guide Colour combinations for clothes.

What colour goes with olive? The difference from khaki

Khaki and olive are close neighbours. Khaki is usually lighter and mixed more with grey or beige. Olive is darker and greener. In everyday use, both words are often used for the same shade.

The same rules apply to both. Combining olive green is easiest with cream, beige, brown and black. A dark olive goes well with a light partner such as white or cream. A light, greyish khaki can also take black or dark brown as a counterweight.

What matters is that the shades are not almost identical. A khaki top with trousers in almost the same olive quickly looks undecided. Either you go tone on tone on purpose, with clearly visible steps between the shades, or you choose a different colour for the second piece.

Combining khaki with beige, cream and white

Beige and cream. These shades sit close to khaki and make a soft gradient. A cream blouse with khaki trousers is quickly put together. You can find a selection in the beige clothing. A middle shade that goes with both is taupe. How it works is explained in the guide How to combine taupe.

White. A white top or tee brightens khaki and makes the outfit look fresh. It is the simplest solution when khaki on its own looks too flat. White is clearer than cream, cream is warmer.

Sand and camel. If you like it warm, go one step darker: sand or camel as a jacket, bag or shoes. The outfit stays in one colour family and still has depth.

Khaki with brown and black

Brown. Khaki and brown are both earth tones and look especially harmonious in autumn. Brown ankle boots, a belt or a knit jumper in cappuccino or chocolate brown go well with it. You can find more pieces in the brown clothing.

Black. Black and khaki is a clear, slightly stricter mix. A black tee or a black jumper with khaki trousers gives the outfit structure. A light piece in white or cream softens the look. You can find a selection in the black clothing.

Combining khaki with pink

Pink is the surprising but harmonious addition. Khaki is muted, pink is soft, and together they make a calm contrast. Powder pink and dusty pink work especially well. A stronger pink sets a more noticeable accent.

The easiest way is one piece in pink, such as a jumper, and the rest in khaki, cream or white. You can find pink knitwear in the pink jumpers.

Combining khaki: cargo trousers, skirt, jacket and top

In the shop you can find khaki in several pieces, for example cargo trousers, pleated trousers, skirts, blouses and light jackets. The colour rules apply to all of them.

• Trousers: With khaki trousers, a cream or white top and shoes in white, brown or black work well. More ideas are in the guide How to combine cargo trousers.
• Skirt: A khaki skirt goes with a white top, a black tee or a jumper in beige.
• Jacket: A khaki jacket goes with black, white, cream and brown underneath.
• Top: A khaki top looks calm with light or brown trousers and clear with black.

Three khaki outfits

Earthy and soft. Khaki trousers, a cream top, brown ankle boots and a camel belt. Calm, warm and quickly put together.

Clear with contrast. Khaki skirt, black tee, white trainers and a black bag. White and black give the outfit structure.

With pink. Khaki trousers, a powder pink jumper and shoes in cream. The soft contrast keeps the look light.

How to build such colour combinations in layers in autumn is shown in our guide Autumn outfits for women.

Matching items in the shop: Beige trousers and Women’s tops.

Frequently asked questions

What colour goes best with khaki?

Beige, cream and white are the safest choice. They brighten khaki and are easy to complete with brown or black.

Can I combine khaki with black?

Yes, black gives khaki depth and a clear look. A light piece in white or cream makes the look softer.

Does pink go with khaki and olive?

Yes, powder pink and dusty pink go well. Wear pink in one piece and keep the rest in khaki, cream or white.

Which shoes go with khaki trousers?

White trainers, brown ankle boots or black boots. Brown suits earth tones, white freshens up, black gives structure.

Is khaki warm or cool?

Khaki is seen as a warm earth tone. With cream, camel and brown the warm impression stays, with white and black it becomes clearer.

What colour goes with khaki in autumn?

Brown, camel, cappuccino and cream. A jumper and a jacket in earth tones make a calm autumn look.