Mid blue looks best under a pale shirt in another hue, such as pale yellow or light pink; white, light blue and navy cover every other day.
Find what fits me bestPale yellow is the warm partner mid blue lacks: the two hues sit a third of the wheel apart, and the soft shade keeps that contrast sunny instead of loud. Beige canvas shoes or espadrilles bridge the colors. It is a seaside outfit for July, and it flatters warm coloring more than the cooler shirts below.
A light pink shirt brings in red, the hue a third of the way round the wheel from blue, but so pale that it only hints at it. Next to the pink, the pants look deeper and more deliberate. Tan loafers keep the mood relaxed for a garden party, a summer wedding reception or a spring brunch.
White over mid blue is the cleanest contrast: the shirt looks brighter and the pants richer. Brown loafers and a belt take the chill off for a terrace dinner or a casual Friday.
Pale blue over mid blue is one hue in two depths, a tonal outfit that looks put-together with no effort. Keep the shirt clearly pale, and let white sneakers break up all that blue.
A navy shirt or knit polo turns the order around, and the depth on top makes the pants look brighter. Dark brown loafers keep this quiet, tonal version smart enough for a restaurant.
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Royal blue sits close to mid blue but not close enough: two saturated blues a shade apart look like a failed attempt to match. Go much paler on top, or switch to navy, which reads as a deliberate dark partner.
A red shirt over mid-blue pants sets two strong, saturated colors at equal strength, and the outfit looks like a sports uniform. If you want red near blue pants, keep it small: a thin red stripe on a white shirt, or a deeper burgundy knit.
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Blue pants, meaning mid-blue chinos, linen pants or dress pants and not jeans, carry more color than most pants people own, and that is what makes the shirt matter. This blue is cool and fairly saturated, so it reads as part of the outfit, never as a backdrop. A shirt of similar strength competes with it; a pale one lets the blue become the point of the outfit.
What mid blue wants most is a pale shirt in a contrasting hue. Soft yellow and light pink both contrast with blue in hue while staying quiet in strength, which makes the pants look brighter and the outfit warmer. After those come the basics: white for crisp contrast, light blue and navy for a tonal look in one hue. Brown leather shoes and belts warm the cool blue up; white sneakers keep it fresh in summer.
Brown is the safest family: tan and cognac in summer, dark brown for the evening. White leather sneakers suit weekends, and navy suede gives a tonal finish. Black works mainly with dark blue dress pants and a white shirt; with brighter blue chinos it tends to look heavy and severe.
Light blue pants need a shirt with more depth than they have. Navy, a deeper blue, rust or a soft brown knit give them structure, while white makes a very summery, low-contrast look. Avoid a pale shirt in the same lightness as the pants, which washes the whole outfit out.
It is not the easiest match. Black is so much heavier than mid blue that the pants look brighter and slightly cheap next to it. If you like a dark top, navy does the same job with less weight because it shares the blue. Black does work with very dark blue dress pants in the evening.
A light grey shirt or tee works well: it is a cool, colorless neutral that lets the blue stay the color of the outfit. Mid grey is quieter and suits an office day. Keep shoes white or dark brown, and skip a charcoal shirt, which can look dull next to a bright blue.
Mid-blue wool or cotton pants are fine in creative and relaxed offices, with a white or pale blue shirt and brown leather shoes. In a conservative office, or for an interview, navy or grey pants are the safer pick, because a brighter blue draws more attention than a meeting usually needs.