- Hex
- #9FA09E
- RGB
- 159, 160, 158
- Deck
- No. 28
Light grey, mid grey, charcoal
What colors go with grey?
Grey is as neutral as clothing color gets: no warmth, no coolness to speak of, just lightness. That is why it lets almost any partner lead. The things to watch are depth (how light or dark the grey is) and whether its partners need warming up.
Short answer
The colors that go best with grey are white, black, navy, burgundy, blush, mustard, cobalt and camel. White, black and navy keep it classic, burgundy and mustard warm it up, blush softens it, and cobalt brightens it.
- White: clean, quiet and modern
- Black: monochrome and sleek
- Navy: the classic office pairing
- Burgundy: wine red makes grey look rich
- Blush: soft pink, gentle and modern
- Mustard: golden yellow warms grey
- Cobalt: a bright blue accent
- Camel: warm tan against cool grey
Light grey trousers, blush blouse
Garment usedLight grey and white is crisp but cool. The blush silk blouse keeps the outfit soft and light while adding warmth, and because both colors are pale the result looks gentle rather than colorful. This is a good pairing to try when grey on its own feels a little stark on you.
Try your own grey pairing
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Outfit formulas with grey
Each formula lists the colors from top to bottom. Swap the garments freely; the color relationships are what carry over.
Grey, white and black
A white shirt or tee, grey trousers, black shoes. Monochrome and clean; it suits almost any setting.
Navy and grey
A navy knit or blazer with grey trousers and brown shoes. The classic office outfit.
Blush and grey
A blush or pale pink top with light or mid grey. Soft, modern and easy to wear.
Burgundy and grey
A burgundy knit with grey trousers or a grey coat over burgundy. Wine red makes grey look richer.
Mustard and grey
A mustard knit or scarf with grey. Golden yellow warms grey up without much effort.
Tonal greys
Light grey with charcoal, black shoes. Keep the greys far apart in depth and add texture.
Shoes, bags and metals
Shoes
Black is the classic with grey, white sneakers keep it casual, and brown or tan leather warms a mid grey nicely; brown shoes with grey trousers is a long-standing menswear pairing. Burgundy shoes are a good middle ground.
Bags and belts
Black is sharp, tan is warm, and grey is one of the best backdrops for a colored bag: cobalt, burgundy or mustard.
Metals
Silver suits grey's coolness best. Gold works with warm partners like camel and mustard.
Colors to avoid with grey, and why
Nothing is forbidden. These are the pairings that most often look accidental rather than chosen, and what to do instead.
- A grey that almost matches
Two greys that are close but not equal, such as a slightly different grey jacket and trousers, look like a mismatch. Go clearly darker or lighter.
- Beige at the same lightness
Cool grey and warm beige at a similar depth tend to make each other look dull. Charcoal with beige works better than light grey with beige.
- Pale pastels on pale grey
Very light pastels on light grey can look washed out. Pick a deeper shade of the pastel, or wear it with charcoal.
Wearing grey through the year
Grey works year-round, but the shade tends to follow the season. Light grey in cotton or linen suits spring and summer, with white, blush, light blue and pastel partners. Grey marl tees and sweatshirts are casual staples in any month.
In autumn and winter, mid grey and charcoal in wool and flannel take over, with burgundy, mustard, camel, forest green and navy. A grey coat over a burgundy or camel knit is an easy cold-weather combination.
Light grey, mid grey, charcoal
Light grey behaves like a soft white: it suits pastels, navy and black, and looks fresh in summer. Mid grey is the most neutral and the easiest base for color. Charcoal behaves like a softer black: it suits white, light blue, pink and burgundy, and is the backbone of business tailoring.
The darker the grey, the more it can handle bright partners. The lighter the grey, the more it benefits from a dark anchor such as navy or black shoes.
Mid grey is as neutral as color gets. It lets almost any partner lead. In the matcher, the grey chip also suggests charcoal and light grey as tonal partners and blush or cobalt as accents.
Questions
What color goes with grey pants?
White, navy, black, burgundy, blush, light blue and mustard tops all work. Brown, black or white shoes.
Do brown shoes go with grey?
Yes. Brown and tan shoes with mid grey trousers is a classic pairing that warms grey up. With charcoal, darker brown or black looks more formal.
What color shirt goes with a grey suit?
White and light blue are the classics; pink and lavender suit lighter greys. Pair them with a navy, burgundy or green tie.