What Unusual Color Combinations Just Work?

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I was looking through some of the archives (deindexing, yay!) and an old suit jumped out to me that was a combination of black, brown, and orange details. As someone raised in Cleveland, this is not an unusual color combination to see… but it still struck me as a color combo that worked independently, also. And I started thinking — what unusual color combinations just work? How often do you wear color with color in general? What color combinations do people keep TRYING to make happen, but just don't work?

(Pictured above: J.Crew's puff sleeve sweatshirt.)

Unusual Color Combinations that Work for Outfits

Olive & Anything

When I saw this homepage at J.Crew a few weeks ago, I snapped a screenshot — after years (and YEARS) of beige-on-beige as the inspiration, it was so unusual to see a major brand celebrating color. We've often talked about how olive green is a hidden powerhouse for work outfits — but I wouldn't have thought to put together any of these combinations together, and certainly not so boldly. Chartreuse and olive! Bright violet and olive! Lipstick red and olive! I think they all work, though.

Mocha and Red

Boden often features really fun color combinations, and this beige sweater that we featured a while ago looks great with the red pants. (I actually used to wear red with brown and a friend thought it was very unusual — thoughts?)

Mint and Purple

Similarly, I think that it's surprising how well mint works with purple, as you can see with these Boden heels that we featured a while ago.

Burgundy and Light Blue

I've always been a huge fan of this combination, and I've done it with a lot of shades fo red and a lot of shades of blue. I've always thought the softness of the blue balances the richness of the burgundy in a way that feels both classic and modern.

Readers, what are your favorite unusual color combinations that just work?

Psst: here's how to wear black with navy.