What colours go with white?
The figure wears a white T-shirt with grey trousers, the engine’s first choice for white. The T-shirt is locked, so a shuffle keeps it and changes the rest.
Drag to turn · tap a piece to change it · Space shuffles · L locks
This look
White T-shirt, grey trousers and white sandals
Casual, right for 24 °C.
Why this works
- Light pieces for 24 °C, about as much as people typically wear at that temperature.StandardHavenith et al. (2012)
- White T-shirt with grey trousers: a relaxed twist on a smart look.Less sure · ConventionStylist convention
- The white T-shirt against the grey trousers gives a clear light-and-dark contrast, which people tend to like.ResearchSchloss & Palmer (2011)
Or try
Wearing this today?
Log it, and the picks rotate what you wear.
How this works: Method, 7 sources,
How this works
Method
With no wardrobe it builds a look from colour schemes; with yours it picks from what you own, leaving out pieces archived, in the wash or worn recently. A pick must suit the occasion and the weather, then it is scored on colour harmony (the Ou–Luo model and scheme rules, in OKLab), light against dark, warmth (garment insulation summed as in ISO 9920, against the UTCI clothing model), formality and rotation. The same day and wardrobe give the same pick until you shuffle.
Sources
- Ou, L.-C. & Luo, M. R., "A colour harmony model for two-colour combinations", Color Research & Application 31(3) (2006)
- Schloss, K. B. & Palmer, S. E., "Aesthetic response to color combinations", Attention, Perception & Psychophysics 73(2) (2011)
- Ottosson, B., "A perceptual color space for image processing" (OKLab) (2020)
- ISO 9920, Ergonomics of the thermal environment: estimation of thermal insulation of a clothing ensemble
- ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy (garment insulation table)
- Havenith, G. et al., "The UTCI-clothing model", International Journal of Biometeorology 56(3) (2012)
- MET Norway, Locationforecast 2.0 (weather data, CC BY 4.0)
Changes
- Added 21 pages: what colours go with navy, black, grey, beige, olive, burgundy, brown, white, denim and pink (each table from the engine), and what to wear from 40 to 80 °F and 5 to 25 °C.
- First published.
How white with grey scores
The engine scores a pair of colours as a top and trousers, with the parts of its outfit score that depend only on colour. White has a lightness of 0.98 and a colourfulness (chroma) of 0.00; grey has 0.69 and 0.00.
- Light against dark: the lightness gap is 0.29, which earns 1.00 of 1.
- Harmony: the Ou–Luo model gives 0.86; blended half and half with the all-neutral scheme’s credit of 0.95, that is 0.91.
- One statement piece: 1.00 of 1.
(0.22 × 0.91 + 0.08 × 1.00 + 0.07 × 1.00) ÷ 0.37 = 0.94
The weights are the ones the tool uses for these parts of every outfit. The harmony model was fitted to people’s ratings of flat colour patches on a screen, not clothes, so treat the score as a strong hint rather than a verdict.
The 8 best partners for white
Ranked by the engine, best first. The evidence column says how sure each reason is: research, design theory or stylist convention.
| Colour | Why it works | Evidence | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| grey | Two neutrals: white and grey go together easily, with a clear light-and-dark contrast. | Convention | 0.94 |
| charcoal | Two neutrals: white and charcoal go together easily, with a clear light-and-dark contrast. | Convention | 0.91 |
| khaki | Two neutrals: white and khaki go together easily, with a clear light-and-dark contrast. | Convention | 0.91 |
| black | Two neutrals: white and black go together easily, with a clear light-and-dark contrast. | Convention | 0.90 |
| denim | Two neutrals: white and denim go together easily, with a clear light-and-dark contrast. | Convention | 0.89 |
| lavender | White is a neutral, so lavender can be the one colour in the outfit. | Convention | 0.87 |
| emerald | White is a neutral, so emerald can be the one bright colour in the outfit. | Convention | 0.83 |
| pink | White is a neutral, so pink can be the one colour in the outfit. | Convention | 0.83 |
White is the lightest neutral
White sits at the top of the lightness scale (0.98), so every partner is darker. Mid-tones such as grey and khaki give a soft, easy contrast; charcoal, black and navy give a crisp, graphic one.
Because white has no hue, any colour beside it looks clear and strong. That makes a white top the simplest base for one bright piece: emerald, cobalt or pink trousers, or just a coloured jacket.
Does white keep you cooler?
Less than people think. In a classic study, black robes did not leave people hotter than white ones in the desert, because air moving under loose robes carried heat away. For staying cool, a loose fit and breathable cloth matter more than colour, and the tool says so on hot days.
All-white outfits work best with a mix of whites, such as ivory, cream and bright white, or a texture change, so the pieces don’t look like one piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colour trousers go with a white shirt?
Almost any. Grey, navy, black and khaki are classic; denim is casual; a bright colour works as the one statement piece.
Can you wear white and cream together?
Yes. They are close in lightness, so the look is soft. Some people prefer a clear step between them, such as bright white with a darker cream, so the difference looks chosen.
What shoes go with an all-white outfit?
White or light sneakers keep it airy, tan sandals or loafers add warmth, and black shoes give it a sharp edge.
Is white a good choice in hot weather?
It is comfortable, but colour matters less than fit and fabric. A loose linen or cotton piece in any colour can be cooler than a tight white one.