How to Add Color to Your Work Wardrobe When You Usually Wear Neutrals
Last month, readers had an interesting discussion about wearing — or not wearing — bright colors as you get older, and we thought it would be interesting to have a broader discussion about how to add color to your work wardrobe. Of course, this is a know-your-office situation; what is totally fun and acceptable in one workplace may not fly in a super formal one.
What say you, readers? When you open your closet, do you see a sea of black clothing? Do you prefer to wear neutrals or enjoy wearing a lot of color? Have you switched from one to the other at any point?
If you're most comfortable wearing neutrals — black, white, brown, navy, gray, and so on — you have two main options for adding color to your work wardrobe.
How to Add Color To Your Work Wardrobe in a Big Way
Option #1 is obvious: Jump right in! If you're so used to wearing neutrals that you're not sure where to start regarding mixing colors and so on, it might be easiest to start with a sheath dress in a fun color — like the ones below — and then pair it with neutral heels (e.g., nude-for-you heels or black heels).
Another easy way to add some significant color to your outfit is to wear a blazer in an non-neutral color — like some of the linen blazers below — and pair it with a white or black blouse and pants in a neutral shade.
{related: mixing textures and prints}
You could also wear suits in a bright color with a neutral top underneath, although that option may not be appropriate for every office. (See the comments on that post for readers' thoughts.) We've recently featured pink suits, and light blue suits for summer are such a versatile basic (wear them with everything you'd wear gray with) that we have a mini roundup for that, too.
How to Add Color To Your Work Wardrobe in a Smaller Way
Option #2 is to start small. Stick with your trustworthy neutrals as the base of your outfit and just add a pop of color … say, purple shoes!
Other ways to add a pop of color to a neutral outfit include:
- a scarf
- a belt
- eyeglasses!
- a statement necklace
- a bright blouse under a neutral cardigan or blazer
{related: colorful suits and the working woman}
With either option, a good way to get started if you're intimidated by the idea of complementary colors and so on is to use a personal styling service such as Stitch Fix (sizes 0–24W & XS–3X) or Dia & Co (sizes 10–32). Explain to your stylist that you're trying to move away from wearing mostly (or all) neutrals for workwear and ask for their advice on adding color in a small or big way.
Readers, do tell: Do you prefer neutrals or brighter colors? Are there certain colors you avoid because you feel they're not flattering on you?
I adore the idea of adding color, but the reality is that my job can be messy (tech role that involves job site visits). Dark colors hide grease and dirt.
I dream of the day I find a more theoretical software role, and can fill my work wardrobe with blues and greens. My younger self would buy the full rainbow, but older wiser me knows that yellow and pastels make me look like I belong in a morgue.
I’m pretty solidly a neutrals person. My base neutral used to be black, and I have never really liked how color looks with black so I mostly avoided it. Some muted colors were ok I guess, but would have been better with gray or navy.
Now my neutrals are 80% blue, so navy or denim, and I wear a bit more color with them. My natural colors are dark muted cool tones, so I’m still not a riot of color, but I do have a fuller selection of “my” colors and I enjoy the pick-me-up from wearing them.
I find pink is the hardest shade to find for my skin tone. In summer I find a lot of fuschia toned items available, but I need more of a muted rose and it’s really hard to find. I would like to wear pink because it suits me, but the only items I have been able to find in that shade are bedclothes (which is how I know it suits me.) That and deep burgundy are my reds, so I’ve been fortunate that burgundy has been in style for a couple of winters and easier to find. I probably just need to wait for rose to cycle through again.
I go with manageable doses of color by buying bright silk shells to wear with my existing black and grey suiting. I seldom wear colored shoes or dresses, they feel a bit too girly or fashiony for my taste.
Same. One of my “stuck at home” projects was flipping through my work wardrobe and seeing what I’d actually worn in recent memory (so, no less than 2 years). Of the items I flagged as “never wears” probably two-thirds were brightly colored dresses.
I also like to use nail polish as a bit of bright color. Essie’s Geranium is one of my favorites for summer, and looks great against a mostly-navy summer wardrobe.
For several years, I wore a bright bag as my one nod to color, but that doesn’t seem to be done anymore. My current most often used bag is tan. I also have a deep blue bag that is almost navy. That’s as colorful as anything I’ve seen lately. I feel like color really isn’t done anymore.
Same with cars! Shopping for a vehicle in anything other than black, white, or silver is a trial the past few years. Heaven forbid you be able to find your car in a sea of parking lot clones.
I cycle through ballet pink and blue-grey nails. Oh, I do also wear some jade daytime jewelry that provides some color, and some colored pearls.
This is great. I always wear black but I do like one bright piece like a blazer or a bag.I have trouble wearing one solid bright color.