What Color Shirt Goes With Black Pants? (Outfit Ideas)

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Black pants are one of the most versatile and common colors in every guy’s wardrobe, so it’s not a surprise to see men wearing them in a variety of settings and occasions. But what color shirt goes with black pants?

While it’s true that you can pair nearly any color shirt with black pants, some colors are a better choice than others. To simplify your choices, I’ve selected nine shades that, in my view, coordinate beautifully with black trousers.

What Color Shirt Goes With Black Pants?

The shirt colors that best complement black pants are white, blue, grey, black, beige, pink, green, purple, and burgundy.

Though there are various shades of black, the subtle distinctions often go unnoticed by most guys, only apparent in direct comparison. So let’s take a look at each shirt color individually and find out what color shirt goes with black pants.

Black Pants With White Shirt

The white shirt serves as the cornerstone of every gentleman’s wardrobe. Pairing black pants with a white shirt is a no-brainer, as these neutral colors create a perfect and striking contrast. Black shoes are also a great option with black slacks.

A white shirt with black pants is a good choice for any occasion, whether it is a formal, semi or casual event. It’s timeless and effortlessly smart. Definitely, my favorite combination when I’ve to provide an answer for what shirt goes with black pants.

A white shirt complements all skin tones, creating a striking contrast, especially for those with dark skin. Pair it with black dress shoes and any tie color for a great look.

Black Pants With Blue Shirt

Read: What Color Shirt Goes With Grey Pants?

It’s not one of my favorite combos, but most men love to pair a light blue shirt with black pants (you have better options). While there’s nothing wrong with a navy shirt and black pants, there are certainly more appealing options to consider, a light blue shirt always provides more contrast than a dark one.

Reserve the light blue shirt and black slacks combo for business meetings, weddings, or casual events, avoiding it for formal occasions. Blue shirts complement various skin tones. For pale skin, opt for a darker shade, and avoid light blues; for dark skin, royal blue pairs beautifully with black trousers.

Black Pants With Grey Shirt

Black pants with a grey shirt create a subtle and masculine combination, offering sophistication (even if some guys say it’s a bland combination). Light greys, silver, and steel shades are my personal favorites. For formal occasions, opt for a shirt with a dark shade of grey.

Wearing a light grey shirt with a black suit and a black tie is the perfect choice for formal events. Save red or burgundy ties for more casual occasions. I wore a red tie with a grey shirt and black pants for a wedding, and it looked great.

If you have pale skin, avoid wearing light grey shirts because you will look even paler, and a dark grey will look too dark. If you have a dark skin tone, light grey shirts are a great pick with black pants.

Black Pants With Black Shirt

For a monochromatic and bold look, pair black pants with a black shirt. This basic yet sophisticated ensemble is perfect for formal events or evening semi-formal meetings. Experiment with two or three shades of black, as subtle differences can make a noticeable impact.

You can skip the tie and still look amazing in this all-black ensemble. If you choose to wear a tie, opt for a silver one and pair it with black shoes and a matching belt for a polished look. A black tie with a black shirt is ideal for a black-tie event.

Skip a black shirt with black pants if you have pale, fair, or dark skin, but for medium, olive, or brown tones, it’s a great choice, thanks to the contrast it provides.

Black Pants With Beige Shirt

Black pants and a beige shirt create a cool and uncommon combination, ideal for daytime casual or semi-casual occasions, offering a relaxed and stylish look. Incorporate shades of grey or black into your shoes, tie, and watch to elevate your look and achieve a cool style.

Avoid dark brown beiges when pairing with black slacks; opt for light beiges with grey undertones instead. Dark skin tones can benefit from a beige shirt to enhance the contrast, especially if you pick a pastel beige.

Black Pants With Pink Shirt

A light pink shirt with black pants exudes a playful and flirty vibe. Avoid vibrant or dark pinks because you want a subtle contrast. Save this combo for casual or business occasions, avoiding any super formal events.

For a stylish look with a pink shirt and black slacks, go for a monochromatic style with a black tie, black shoes, and a black belt. You will not regret it when people start to complement your outfit.

Pink complements all skin tones when you pick the right shade. Pastel pink suits darker skin tones, while paler skin tones shine in darker pink hues.

Black Pants With Green Shirt

Avoid vibrant green shirts with black pants; instead, opt for dark green, khaki, or olive-toned shirts for a contemporary look. Light green can work for some, so it’s worth a try if you like the combination, although it’s not my personal preference.

When you pair a green shirt with black pants, it suits a wide range of occasions, excluding super formal or ultra-casual events. Select dark green shirts with black pants for business meetings and khaki or olive shirts for semi-casual occasions. To elevate your overall look when wearing a green shirt with black pants, maintain a monochromatic theme by adding black shoes, a black belt, and a black tie.

Black Pants With Purple Shirt

I appreciate various shades of purple with black pants. I know that light purple shirts offer better contrast when paired with black slacks, but dark purple also looks great. Your choice will ultimately depend on the occasion.

For a cocktail party or evening semi-casual event, choose a dark purple shirt with black pants. For daytime semi-casual or casual occasions, go for a light purple shirt paired with your black trousers. For an elegant look, complete the outfit with black shoes, a black tie, and a black belt.

Purple is a versatile color that complements various skin tones especially if you have a medium or olive skin tone. Light shades work well with brown or dark skin, while darker shades suit pale or fair skin, but avoid going too dark for a balanced contrast.

Black Pants With Burgundy Shirt

Black slacks paired with a burgundy shirt exude power, seriousness, and elegance. Complete the look with black shoes, a black belt, and a charcoal necktie for a stunning combination. Opt for a dark burgundy shirt as it complements black pants exceptionally well.

A burgundy shirt with black trousers is one of my top choices for a stylish wedding outfit. It allows you to stand out while staying within the limits of not overshadowing the groom. This combination works exceptionally well for men with fair, medium, olive, or brown skin tones.

How To Match A Shirt With Black Pants?

When choosing a shirt to match your black pants, factors such as color coordination, contrast, pattern usage, skin tone compatibility, and dressing according to the occasion are all crucial considerations.

Colors

When selecting the perfect shirt color to complement your black slacks, consider the analogous colors of black, which share similar undertones and create a harmonious effect. White and grey shirts work well in this context.

Black, as a neutral hue, lacks traditional complementary colors, but you can achieve a monochromatic look by pairing different shades of black with your shirt and trousers.

Contrast And Patterns

Creating contrast with black pants can be challenging, but it’s achievable by pairing them with shirts in light shades of pink, blue, white, beige, or grey. Additionally, dark shirts work well with black pants, even if the contrast is subtle, due to the overall aesthetic appeal.

When choosing a patterned shirt with your black pants, it’s crucial to balance the outfit by opting for plain pants, and vice versa. If you’re wearing patterned black trousers, choose a non-patterned shirt to maintain a well-balanced look. Additionally, if your black patterned pants incorporate a shade of grey, pairing them with a plain grey dress shirt can accentuate the color connection within your ensemble.

Skin Tone

When choosing a shirt to pair with your black pants, it’s important to consider not only the best color mixtures for your overall look but also how the selected colors harmonize with your skin tone, as the correct colors can highlight your natural features and complement your undertone, ultimately enhancing your appearance.

If your skin tone doesn’t precisely match those in the image, simply select the one you find most compatible with yours and choose the colors that you believe work best, ensuring they also pair well with your black pants.

Dress For The Occasion

Black pants are versatile for any occasion, depending on the rest of your outfit. When choosing a shirt color to match, consider the event’s formality, whether formal or casual. To make your life easier I’ve included recommendations for each shirt color in the previous pictures.

Common Questions

Can I Wear A Brown Shirt With Black Pants?

The black pants and brown shirt combination can be subjective, with mixed opinions. Personally, I’m not a fan of black slacks with brown shirts, specifically if you have chosen a dark tone of brown. Consider experimenting with light brown shirts paired with black pants and see if it suits your style.

What Color Shoes With Black Pants?

The two best shoe colors to match with black pants are black and grey. While black shoes are the most common choice, a less conventional option is grey. Most other shoe colors are typically avoided when pairing with black pants. You can also check what color shoes to wear with a black suit.