Eiseman coined the “colortime system” in the ’80s, and it remains relevant today. It’s based on three color palettes: sunrise, sunlight, and sunset. Sunset, for example, encompasses the warmer colors, for the most part, but there are still cooler colors included for balance.

“A guy with warm brown hair, brown eyes, and a warm cast to the skin is going to look good when they wear those sunset colors,” says Eiseman. “Not that you’re going to stick with exactly those colors all the time, but this is a starting point that can help you feel good with your choices.”

This approach may feel less limiting than the four seasons color analysis.


Let secondary colors be your secret weapon

Secondary colors are a mix of two primary colors. That means purple (blue + red), orange (yellow + red) and green (yellow + blue). They add depth and are often more wearable and more unexpected than primary colors.

“I often work in that secondary color palette specifically because it speaks to my playfulness and my optimism about life,” says Lexson Millington, a fashion creator with 456,000 followers on TikTok. “It’s easy to express those feelings through secondary colors.”

These oranges, greens, and purples can be bold and saturated. But they don’t have to be. “I like that secondary colors don’t always have to be vibrant,” says Millington. “They can be lighter or darker tones.”

Muted secondary colors (olive green, dusky purple, rust orange) can be easier to wear day-to-day because they’re closer to a neutral. If you want to use a more saturated version, and you’re just starting off, try adding it with an accessory.

John Smedley

Merino Wool Polo Shirt

Beams Plus

Wide-Leg Cotton Trousers

Frizmworks

Deck Ribbed Wool-Blend Zip-Up Cardigan

De Bonne Facture

Lounge Straight-Leg Linen Shorts

Buck Mason

Hemp HBT Soft Pack Station Shirt

Todd Snyder

7″ Cotton Linen Hudson Short


Nature never gets it wrong

That perfect color pairing might be growing right under your windowsill.

Conway suggests grounding your color choices with the natural world. That natty camel crewneck sweater you’re unsure how to style? Look to the desert. Rich browns, terracotta and sky blues all come pre-paired with camel in the wild.

“If you have a particular color that you like and want to know what goes with it, find that color in nature and then see what color nature puts with it,” says Conway.

Think about a juicy, citrus orange still attached to a branch covered in leafy greens. These secondary colors complement each other both in nature and on the color wheel.

Alex Mill

David Windbreaker

J.Crew

Relaxed-Fit Suit Pants

Banana Republic

Cashmere-Linen Crew-Neck Sweater

Bather

Solid Ocean Swim Trunks


Not all color trends are worth following

As a stylist to the stars, Michael Fisher has dressed everyone from Jake Gyllenhaal to David Harbour. He says that just because a color is trending doesn’t mean it belongs in your closet.

“Color trends are interesting to watch,” Fisher says, “but I’m not rushing out to buy each one. It’s inevitable you’ll see trends in stores, but it’s not something you have to abide by.”

Fisher reminds us that style, including how to wear color, isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about knowing what works for you, even if that’s outside the moment.


But if you want to stand out at an event, go green

“If you’re going to be captured on camera, green always looks fresh,” says Fisher, explaining how greens—especially darker shades—pop on camera and in real life. If you’ve got a wedding to go to or a toast to give, an emerald or forest green suit offers a bold but sophisticated alternative to the expected black or navy.

Knickerbocker

Lane Cotton Twill Suit Jacket

Knickerbocker

Canal Tapered Twill Cotton Pant

Boglioli

Double-Breasted Garment-Dyed Linen Suit Jacket

Boglioli

Tapered Linen Suit Trousers


Think about past compliments you’ve been given

If you get gas every time you wear that hunter green button-up, chances are, it’s a color that looks good on you.

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