What colors go with khaki?

Khaki does little on its own and goes with nearly everything. Navy, white, cognac, dark green and pink do the most with it.

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What to wear with khaki

khaki #C3B091
navy blue #1F2A4D

Khaki and navy blue

Neutral base High contrast

Navy is cool and deep, khaki warm and light, so they balance each other twice over, in temperature and in depth. The pair reads smart without effort, which is why a navy blazer with khaki chinos became the business-casual default.

When to wear it: A navy polo or knit with khaki chinos, a navy blazer over a white shirt and khaki pants, a khaki trench over a navy dress. It works for offices, client lunches and campus visits all year.

What to avoid: Black shoes make the pair stiff; brown or cognac leather keeps it relaxed. Both colors in identical cotton twill can look like a work uniform, so add a knit or suede.

Suits: Soft Summer Bright Spring Deep Autumn

khaki #C3B091
white #FFFFFF

Khaki and white

Neutral base Medium contrast

White brightens khaki and makes it look crisp instead of dusty. The contrast is moderate, so the pair stays casual, and white's clarity offsets khaki's greyish cast.

When to wear it: Summer: a white linen or oxford shirt with khaki shorts or chinos, a white tee under a khaki safari jacket, white canvas sneakers with khaki pants. It suits barbecues, garden parties and summer offices.

What to avoid: In bright sun the pair can look bleached and unfinished. Give it one darker anchor, such as a navy belt, brown loafers or a striped shirt in place of a plain one.

Suits: Bright Spring

khaki #C3B091
cognac #9A4E1C

Khaki and cognac

Tonal: one color, light and dark Medium contrast

Cognac is the deep, reddish brown of polished leather, khaki's own warmth turned up and darkened. Together they read as one tonal family, and cognac gives khaki the depth it needs at the feet and waist.

When to wear it: Cognac belts, loafers, boots and bags are the classic leather for khaki pants. In fall, a cognac suede jacket over a khaki shirt brings that warmth up toward the face.

What to avoid: A belt and shoes in two different browns look careless against such a quiet base, so match them. Brassy, orange-tinted leather cheapens khaki; look for a deep cognac with some red in it.

Suits: Warm Autumn Soft Autumn Warm Spring

khaki #C3B091
dark green #234F32

Khaki and dark green

Contrasting hues High contrast

Dark green sits a third of the wheel from khaki's yellow and is far deeper, so the pair contrasts in both hue and depth. Khaki's green undertone links the two and keeps them from looking random.

When to wear it: Fall and winter: a forest green sweater with khaki chinos, a dark green quilted vest over a khaki shirt. It suits country weekends, hikes and casual offices.

What to avoid: Add olive pieces or camouflage prints and the outfit looks like army surplus; keep the greens deep and clean. A green so dark it reads as black loses the link to khaki.

Suits: Deep Autumn Warm Autumn Bright Spring

khaki #C3B091
pink #F2A0BC

Khaki and pink

Contrasting hues Low contrast

Pink and khaki sit close in lightness, so pink's cool red against khaki's warm sand makes a gentle hue contrast, not a sharp one. The result looks fresh and a little preppy without getting loud.

When to wear it: Spring and summer: a pink oxford shirt with khaki chinos, a pink polo with khaki shorts, a khaki skirt with a pink blouse. It suits daytime weddings, brunch and summer offices.

What to avoid: Bubblegum pink is too sweet for khaki's dusty tone; choose a soft, slightly muted pink. Black shoes break the summery mood, while brown loafers, boat shoes or white sneakers keep it.

Suits: Soft Summer Light Summer Soft Autumn

Which of these flatter you depends on your color season. Find my season →

Colors to keep away from khaki

- tan #D2B48C
Tan and khaki are close but not matching: tan is warmer and more golden, khaki greener and greyer. A tan jacket over khaki pants looks like a suit someone failed to match. Choose a clear step in depth instead, such as navy or brown.
- plum #6E2F5E
Plum is deep, cool and purple-red; khaki is light, warm and muted. They disagree in undertone, depth and saturation at once, and no season's palette holds both. Wear plum with grey or navy, and give khaki warmer partners.

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In a business-casual office, khaki chinos are the default pant: they hide wear, take almost any shirt and stay in the background. That last quality is also their limit. Khaki, named after an old word for dust, is a muted, greenish sand, darker and more yellow than beige, with enough grey that it never looks golden, so on its own it does very little.

Because khaki usually sits below the waist, the top sets the mood: navy and white for work, pink for a preppy summer, dark green for fall, with cognac leather to finish all of them. Warm and soft coloring can wear khaki up high too, as a shirt or a trench. If it makes you look sallow, keep it in pants and shorts and let the top carry the color.

FAQ

What color blazer goes with khaki pants?

Navy is the classic: it balances khaki in warmth and depth and looks smart at the office or a daytime event. A dark green or brown tweed jacket suits fall, and a charcoal blazer gives a cooler, more urban version. Skip a tan or camel blazer close to the pants' shade, which looks like a suit that does not match.

What do you wear under a khaki trench coat?

Anything darker or cleaner than the coat. Navy, charcoal and dark denim give it a crisp frame for fall; a white shirt or a navy-striped top keeps it light for spring. A red scarf adds one bright note. Avoid sandy beige or tan underneath, which blurs into the coat and makes the whole outfit look dusty.

Is khaki a warm color?

Yes, khaki is warm, a yellowish sand with a green-grey cast that keeps it muted. That mix is why it suits soft and warm coloring most easily near the face. Cooler coloring can still wear it in pants and shorts, with navy, white or light blue on top.

Is khaki green or beige?

Both, depending on where you shop. In the US, khaki usually means a light sandy brown, the color of classic chinos; in military use and in some countries it leans olive. The sandy version pairs like a beige, the greener one more like olive, so check the undertone before choosing partners.