A wardrobe that works with five colours

Short answer: Choose two neutral base colours, a third neutral and two accent colours. Then almost everything matches almost everything without you having to think.

How the system is built

Two dark neutrals, for instance black and navy, carry bottoms and outer layers. A light neutral such as white or light grey carries the tops. Two accent colours add variety without breaking the system.

Why it works

When every garment shares a small colour universe, each piece can be combined with several others. Twelve garments in five colours give more usable outfits than twenty garments in fifteen colours. See bamboo clothing for women.

How to choose your five

Start from what you already wear most. Count the colours of the clothes you reach for in an ordinary week and build on the three that recur. See bamboo clothing for men and bamboo t-shirts for men.

Frequently asked questions

Does it not get boring

Less than you would think. Variety comes from cut, fabric and layers rather than colour.

Can accent colours change with the season

Yes, that is exactly the idea. The base colours stay, the accents change.

Should underwear follow the system

No. Underwear is chosen for what it goes under, meaning skin tone and black.