How to Match Casual Clothing (For Guys)

Restrict patterned clothing to a single item, or risk looking uncoordinated.

Men's clothing styles are far more limited than those for women. Coordinating formals likely poses little to no trouble, but 69 percent of American men prefer a casual style, according to a 2011 Men's Wearhouse survey. If you find yourself among those more challenged than relieved by the restricted options of men's casual fashions, you're not alone. Tim Gunn, fashion consultant and chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne, says most men "get a look that they're comfortable with and simply stay there." Learn to follow several principles that will free you to create well-coordinated, casual outfits.

Instructions

1. Match your shoes to your belt. Pair black shoes with a black belt, or wear brown shoes and a brown belt together.

2. Limit yourself to one patterned item. Wear a patterned shirt with a solid-colored cardigan. Pair a patterned casual tie with a solid-colored shirt. Don't experiment with mixing patterns until you've mastered matching basic clothing items.

3. Coordinate the level of casualness between clothing and shoes. Restrict sneakers and flip-flops to jeans. Wear slightly dressier loafers or boat shoes with khakis.

4. Avoid the combination of black and brown, as well as black and navy.

5. Stick to neutral bottoms, which are simple to match. Wear khakis or jeans. Wear casual pants in shades of gray and black. Mix neutrals with nearly any color you desire.

6. Be mindful of your color combinations. Wear complimentary colors, opposite of each other on the color wheel, to create high contrast. Pair two analogous colors, those next to each other on the color wheel, for a subtler look. Don't venture far from these until you've gained an understanding of color pairing.

References

• Men's Wearhouse; Well-Dressed Men Survey; Caitlin Murphy; January 2011
• Oprah; Tim Gunn's Man Makeovers; November 2009
• Made Man; How to Match Clothes for Men; Lynn Wallace; March 2010
• Mens Fashion; Mens Fashion Tips -- How to Coordinate Clothing Colors; Tom Reiser; November 2010
• Be Stylish; Men Clothes Color Matching 101; August 2010