What Colour Goes with Orange? How to Wear Orange Clothes

What colour goes with orange? White, cream, beige, brown, denim blue and black are the easiest, because they let the strong orange stand out calmly. Khaki, pink, yellow and red set bolder accents.

Orange is a warm, strong colour. Many people wonder what to wear with an orange dress, orange trousers or an orange top. Here you will find which colours go with orange, how to wear softer shades such as apricot and rust and which three outfits you can put together quickly.

What colour goes with orange? The simple basic rule

Orange gets noticed. That is why the rest of the outfit needs only a little colour. Three rules help you:

• One partner colour. White, cream, beige, brown, denim blue or black are plenty as partners.
• One orange piece. A single orange piece is the centre of the outfit. Everything else can step back.
• Strong or soft. A strong orange goes best with neutral colours. Soft shades such as apricot also mix with delicate pastels.

In the shop the shade is called orange, apricot or rust, depending on the piece. Apricot is lighter and softer, rust darker and earthier, and the rules for combining stay the same. For the warm neighbouring colours, see the guides What colour goes with yellow and What colour goes with red. An overview of more colours is in the guide Colour combinations for clothes.

Orange with white, cream, beige and brown

White and cream are the easiest partners for orange. An orange top with white trousers, orange trousers with a cream top or an orange dress with white sandals make a light, clear look.

White lets orange stand out fresh, cream makes the transition softer. If you wear two light pieces, keep both in the same shade, so both pure white or both cream white. More about light combinations is in the guide What colour goes with white and cream.

Beige and brown are warm tones, just like orange. An orange top with beige trousers, an apricot jumper with brown trousers or an orange dress with brown sandals are simple starting points. This keeps the outfit in one warm colour family.

Beige is the soft partner, brown the dark counterpart. The darker the brown, the more clearly it contrasts with the orange. More about brown is in the guide What colour goes with brown.

Orange with blue and jeans

Blue sits opposite orange on the colour wheel. That is why the combination gives a clear but familiar contrast. An orange top with light or dark jeans works almost every time. Navy is a little calmer than light blue. More about this in the guide What colour goes with blue.

Orange with black, grey and other colours

Black. Black gives the strongest contrast with orange. An orange piece with black pieces is clear and simple. If you want it softer, swap black for grey or brown.

Grey. Grey is a calm partner that does not drown out the strong orange. Light grey is lighter, dark grey contrasts more strongly.

Khaki and green. A muted green such as khaki or olive works as an earthy partner for orange. The look stays natural when only one piece is orange.

Pink. Orange and pink make a bold, colourful mix. It works most easily with soft shades such as apricot and powder pink, while the rest stays in white, cream or beige.

Yellow and red. Orange with yellow or red stays in the warm colour family. One piece in the second colour is enough, the rest stays neutral.

Orange in autumn

Orange is not only a summer colour. In autumn it goes with earth tones and soft fabrics. Brown, beige, khaki and dark blue give orange support, knitwear adds texture to the outfit.

An apricot knitted jumper with brown trousers and a beige jacket on top is a simple starting point. If orange or apricot stays the only strong piece among earth tones, it clearly takes centre stage.

Orange dress, trousers and top

In the shop you will find orange, for example, as a dress with leopard print and as striped crochet trousers, and apricot as a muslin blouse, a knitted jumper and a long-sleeved top. The colour rules apply to all of them.

• Dress: A denim jacket or a beige jacket goes with an orange dress, as do shoes and a bag in white, beige or brown. Fewer accessories keep the eye on the dress.
• Trousers: A white or cream top and light shoes go with orange trousers. Patterned pieces such as the striped crochet trousers often contain several colours. Pick up one colour from the pattern for the top or stay with white.
• Top: A top in orange or apricot goes with light jeans, with white or beige trousers and with a skirt in brown or black.

Three outfits with orange

Light and summery. Orange striped trousers, a white top and light sandals. The pattern is the only pattern in the outfit, the rest stays light.

Classic. An orange or apricot top, light jeans and white shoes. Quick to put on and suitable for many occasions.

Autumnal. An apricot knitted jumper, brown trousers and a beige jacket. Two earth tones and a warm accent make a calm autumn outfit.

Matching in the shop: summer dresses, crochet pieces, muslin blouses and knitted jumpers.

Common questions

What colour goes with orange?

White, cream, beige, brown, denim blue and black go most easily. Khaki, pink, yellow and red also mix with orange, as long as the rest of the outfit stays calm.

Do orange and brown go together?

Yes. Both are warm tones. Brown gives orange a dark counterpart, beige sits in between as a soft middle shade.

Do orange and blue go together?

Yes, blue sits opposite orange on the colour wheel and gives a clear contrast. It works most easily with denim blue.

Do orange and pink go together?

Yes, as a bold colour mix. It is easier with soft shades such as apricot and powder pink. The rest of the outfit stays in white, cream or beige.

Does black go with orange?

Yes, black gives the strongest contrast. If you want it softer, take grey or brown.

What colour goes with apricot?

White, cream, beige, brown and denim blue. Apricot is a soft shade and can be combined much like orange, just with more delicate partners.