Why you should start with the neutral colours

Short answer: Start with the neutral colours, because they go with everything you already own and stay in the wardrobe longer than the colourful ones. Neutral does not mean boring. They are the foundation on which all other colours can be built later.

The four neutrals

Black, white, grey and navy are the four neutrals. Each can be worn with the other three and with almost everything you already own. That makes them a safe starting point when you build a wardrobe from scratch or fill gaps in one. See bamboo shorts for men.

Why they go with everything

A neutral colour does not compete with others. It lets the next colour take space without a fight. That is why you can go from a neutral top to a coloured bottom and back without wondering whether it works. It saves time and removes many mistaken purchases.

Why they last longer in the wardrobe

Neutral colours do not go out of fashion the way strong tones do, and you do not tire of them, even if you wear them with the same trousers every week. A garment you keep wanting to put on gets worn more often. See bamboo shorts for women.

Are grey and navy the same

No. Navy looks sharper and grey looks softer. If you own only black and white, one of the two can give a more muted look without moving to a strong colour. Hold them side by side in daylight before deciding which to start with.

Black and navy together

Black and navy can be worn together. In daylight the combination looks like a choice, and in lamplight the difference is hard to see. To be safe, stick to pieces where one colour dominates, and let the other be a small part of the outfit.

Enough for a week

A good target is enough neutral garments for a week without washing, in two of the colours. Then you always have something to put on, and you can wash without facing an empty wardrobe. With that as a foundation, the rest can grow calmly and as needed.

When you can move on

When the base layer covers a whole week, colours can join without leaving gaps. Then you have something to wear them with, and a colour that does not fit will not spoil the rest. Wait until you can name two garments a new colour goes with. See bamboo tank top for men.

Neutral is not boring

Neutral colours do not have to look tired. The difference lies in cut, material and fit, and in how you combine them. A black and a grey piece in the same outfit can look sharp if both fit well. Fit usually decides the impression, not the colour alone.

How to start

Choose two neutral colours you like and buy most of your garments in them. Use them for a while and see what is missing. Then add a third or fourth colour once you have something to wear it with. That way you build the wardrobe at a pace that suits you.