Orange is a bright, warm color that can really make an outfit pop. But finding the right colors to pair with orange clothing can be tricky. Certain shades will look vibrant and energetic together, while others can clash or look overwhelm. So what are the best color matches for orange clothes? Here are some top recommendations for creating fashionable orange outfits.
Complementary Colors
One of the most classic and foolproof approaches is to pair orange with its complementary color directly across the color wheel: blue. Orange and blue inherently want to be together, creating a striking visual contrast that flatters both shades. Light powdery blues like sky blue, baby blue, or robin’s egg look airy and refreshing against the fiery orange. Navy blue, royal blue, and cobalt make elegant, nautical combinations. Turquoise and teal blues lend a tropical vibe.
Blue isn’t the only complementary shade for orange though. Violet and plum purple hues also balance orange beautifully. Soft lilac, lavender, orchid, or eggplant purples look regal and sophisticated next to a bright orange. Magenta, fuchsia, and wine-colored purples create an electrifying color pop.
Monochromatic
Don’t be afraid to pair orange with other shades of orange for a monochromatic effect. Lighter peachy-oranges, deeper burnt oranges, muted terracottas, or salmon pink-oranges all work together seamlessly. The varying shades, intensities, and undertones of orange can create depth and visual interest in an outfit. Just be careful not to use colors that are too similar, as you still want some contrast. Cluster different orange hues together, like burnt orange pants with a peach blouse.
Analogous Colors
Colors adjacent to orange on the color wheel also combine nicely. Warm red-oranges like coral, peach, salmon, and melon allow you to bridge the gap from orange to other red clothing pieces. Yellow-oranges and golds create cheerful, summery looks. Chartreuse greens, citron yellows, lime, and olive greens give off a zesty, tropical vibe next to orange.
| Color | Specific Shades |
|---|---|
| Blue | Sky blue, baby blue, robin’s egg blue, navy blue, royal blue, cobalt blue, turquoise, teal |
| Purple | Lilac, lavender, orchid, eggplant, magenta, fuchsia, wine |
| Peachy-orange | Salmon, coral, melon, peach, burnt orange, terracotta |
| Yellow-orange | Gold, amber, marigold, saffron |
| Green | Chartreuse, lime, olive green, citron |
Neutrals
Don’t overlook classic neutral colors like white, black, gray, tan, and brown when building an orange outfit. Crisp white makes orange pop even more. Light neutrals like stone, ecru, ivory, and beige create pleasant, subtle contrasts against orange. Darker neutrals like charcoal, black, chocolate, and espresso brown ground bright orange with a classic, sophisticated look.
Creamy neutrals like oatmeal, tan, and taupe offer a softer, more muted pairing for when you want to tone down the orange a bit. Metallic silvers, golds, coppers, and bronzes lend orange a glamorous flair. Overall, neutrals are extremely versatile pairings for orange that work for many different styles and occasions.
Avoid Overwhelming Combinations
When working with bright orange clothing, it’s important to avoid color combinations that are overpowering. Certain shades that are too close to orange on the color wheel like vivid yellow, red-violet, and chartreuse green can look jarring. Extremely bright, saturated colors like hot pink, lime green, and electric blue tend to clash. Stick to softer, more muted versions of these colors.
Steer clear of pairings like red and orange or yellow and orange that are so highly saturated they vibrate against each other. Too many competing bright colors will overwhelm an outfit. Make sure orange is the focal point by keeping the accompanying colors neutral or not as vibrant.
Best Color Matches for Different Orange Tones
Bright Orange
Vivid bright orange pops against dark neutrals like black, charcoal grey, chocolate brown. Blue is also a foolproof match that creates striking contrast. For softer accents, try light pink, lilac purple, sky blue, or cream. Metallic shoes, handbags, and jewelry make fun accent pieces.
Burnt Orange
Deeper burnt orange works well with navy blue, emerald green, plum purple, and magenta. Tan, beige, light grey, and ivory are foolproof neutrals. Mustard yellow, brick red, and forest green make earthy combinations.
Peach Orange
Pair soft peach orange with light pastels like mint green, lavender, baby pink, and seafoam blue. Cream and light grey are perfect neutral matches. Salmon, melon, and blush pink make tonal monochromatic combinations. White tops, denim, and metallic accessories complete the look.
Coral Orange
Vibrant coral orange looks great with turquoise blue and chartreuse green for a tropical vibe. Try pairing with crisp white, navy blue, yellow, or black. Red-orange and fuchsia add more bright pops of color. Khaki, denim, tan, and gold are safe neutral matches.
Terracotta Orange
Muted terracotta works well with other earth tones like deep greens, rich browns, cream, taupe, and grey. Violet, plum, mustard, olive green, and rust red create an earthy autumnal palette. Distressed denim, natural linens, and brown leather add texture.
Outfit Ideas
Here are some chic outfit ideas that showcase how to effectively match different colors with orange clothes and accessories:
– Bright orange shift dress paired with navy cardigan and nude heels
– Burnt orange pants with lavender button up top and brown loafers
– Peach orange skirt with white crop top, jean jacket and wedges
– Coral orange maxi dress with turquoise statement necklace and tan gladiator sandals
– Terracotta orange jumpsuit with olive utility jacket and platform espadrilles
– Cream ruffled blouse with burnt orange circle skirt and cognac knee-high boots
– Bright orange blazer over charcoal shift dress and black pumps
– Salmon orange cashmere sweater with black skinny jeans and silver ballet flats
– Peach pleated midi skirt with off-white turtleneck sweater and metallic mules
– Dark wash skinny jeans with burnt orange silk cami and black motorcycle jacket
Seasonal Considerations
Certain color pairings work better for orange clothing depending on the season and occasion:
Spring/Summer: Light pastels like sky blue, mint green, lilac, and soft pink. Crisp white. Metallics and shimmery finishes. Tropical colors like turquoise, lime, and sunny yellow. Cream and beige neutrals.
Fall/Winter: Deep, richer hues like navy blue, plum, emerald, mustard, rust, and chocolate brown. Black and grey neutrals. Cream, ivory, tan, taupe, olive, and earth tones. Avoid pastels.
Work/Professional: Navy, black, gray, white, and darker neutrals. Metallic accessories for subtle flair. Avoid neons.
Casual: Lighter blues, vibrant greens, sunny yellows. Distressed denim. Natural tones like cream, tan, brown.
Evening: Deep blue, black, silver, pewter, charcoal, wine purple. Metallic shoes and clutch. Avoid brown tones.
Tips for Wearing Orange
– Make orange clothing the statement piece and choose more subtle tones for accompanying items
– Add orange statement accessories like shoes, handbags, scarves to neutral outfits
– Mix different textures like silk, linen, leather, suede, knits for depth
– Incorporate orange into prints and patterns like polka dots, stripes, florals
– Limit orange to one statement garment per outfit
– Use lighter peach and coral orange for spring/summer, burnt orange for fall/winter
– Pair bright orange with dark neutrals and soft orange with light neutrals
– Introduce orange slowly for the office by starting with muted burnt orange
Conclusion
Orange is a playful, feel-good color that instantly energizes an outfit. When matching colors with orange clothes, the key is balance. Complementary shades like blue and purple automatically work in harmony. Monochromatic orange outfit in varying shades create visual interest. Analogous colors like yellow-orange and red-orange blend seamlessly. Neutrals are foolproof for anchoring bright orange. Avoid pairings that are too vibrant or overwhelming. Use lighter corals and peaches for spring and summer, deeper burnt orange when fall arrives. With the right combinations, orange clothing can be stylishly showstopping. Just add a pop of orange as a statement piece to liven up any wardrobe.