What Does a Pink Dress Shirt Go with?
Pink dress shirts are a common occurance in a man's wardrobe now that the color is more synonymous with fashion than femininity. In order for pink to have the biggest style impact, it's important to wear the right shade of pink for your skin color and wear it with a suit or pant that complements the color. Pink is a color that can easily go wrong, but it can also put you on the style map when well played. Does this Spark an idea?
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Shades of Pink
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Almost every man can look great in some shade of pink once you figure out which is your best shade. Pink shirts range from barely-there pale pink to medium rose to bright fuschia. The light to medium shades are more appropriate colors for a dress shirt.
Bright pink shades, such fuschia or raspberry, are for the more fashion-forward man. These saturated pink colors look better on a wide range of skin tones but are a bold step if pink is a new addition to your wardrobe. A lighter shade that's closer to neutral is a more versatile color for the less adventurous. Be careful not to wear a pink too close to your skin color. When it comes to choosing a pink that's just right, know your skin undertone.
Know Your Undertone
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Color matching can be a science because of all the different skin tone and undertone combinations.
To simplify, flip your arm over and look at the color of the veins running down your forearm. If the color of the veins appears blue, you have cool undertones. If your veins appear more green in color, you have warm undertones. Determining your undertone as either cool or warm is the first step in finding your perfect shade of pink.
If you have fair to medium skin and cool undertones, look for pinks that are blue in tone, such as rose shades. Avoid very pale pinks, which create a washed-out appearance on fair skin.
If your skin tone is warm, your skin has gold or yellow undertones. Choose warmer pinks such as coral or blush. These pinks contain a tinge of orange or brown which creates a warmer shade. If you have darker skin, you are fortunate in the pink department. Most shades of pink complement dark skin.
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Suits That Work with a Pink Shirt
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Actor Kevin McHale sleekly styles a light pink dress shirt with gray pants and dark suspenders. A dress shirt in a soft pink looks sharper and more balanced under a navy blue or gray suit. Darker pinks look best with darker suits. Pale pinks are close to a neutral white and go nicely with either a dark or light suit. For solid color suits, play with a pink checkered dress shirt or a shirt with stripes. If you're wearing a striped suit, stick with a solid pink shirt.
Wear a tie that correlates with the suit color, such as gray tones with a gray suit or a blue tie that is a shade or two lighter than the suit. If the shirt has pinstripes, wear a solid tie.
Casual Pants That Play Well with a Dress Shirt
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Don't be afraid to wear your pink dress shirt outside of the office by pairing it with less dressy pants. A pink dress shirt with a pair of dark denim or raw, untreated denim is not only on-trend, but also a fun way to combine something refined with something rugged.
Pair dark blue, white or gray slim-fit pants with a pink button down for a stylishly casual outfit. A light pink dress shirt is also perfectly suited for a pair of cuffed khakis and accessorized with a brown belt and brown Oxford shoes.
If you decide to don pink, get used to being noticed. Pink is an attention-grabber because it's a color less commonly seen on men. All the compliments may have you blushing like your shirt.
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References
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