What colors go with tan?

Tan is a warm light brown, so it looks best beside something cool or deep: navy, denim, dark brown, teal or burgundy.

What to wear with tan

tan #D2B48C
navy blue #1F2A4D

Tan and navy blue

Neutral base High contrast

Tan and navy stand on opposite sides of the wheel and far apart in depth, so the warm light brown looks golden and the navy looks richer. Both are muted enough to stay calm together.

When to wear it: A tan suit with a navy tie, a navy blazer with tan pants, tan suede shoes with navy chinos, a navy dress with a tan belt and bag. It works all year and looks its best in spring.

What to avoid: Black accessories cut the warmth that makes tan glow beside navy; stay with brown or tan leather. A very pale tan beside inky navy can look washed out, so a mid tan holds up better.

Suits: Soft Summer Bright Spring Deep Autumn

tan #D2B48C
mid-wash #5A7AA6

Tan and mid-wash

Neutral base Medium contrast

Denim's faded blue is the cool partner tan meets every day. It tempers tan's golden warmth, the contrast stays casual, and the pair looks right whether the tan is a jacket, boots or a belt.

When to wear it: A tan suede jacket with mid-wash jeans, tan boots under denim, a tan knit over a denim shirt. It suits weekends, road trips, casual offices and fall evenings out.

What to avoid: A denim shirt with matching jeans plus tan is too much blue, so keep denim to one piece. A yellowish, very pale tan with light-wash denim makes both look faded.

Suits: Light Spring Soft Summer Light Summer

tan #D2B48C
dark brown #4A2C1D

Tan and dark brown

Tonal: one color, light and dark High contrast

Dark brown is tan's own hue at its deepest, so the pair makes a tonal outfit with a clear step in depth. The darker shade anchors tan and keeps it from looking pale.

When to wear it: Fall and winter: a tan coat over a dark brown turtleneck, dark brown pants with a tan cashmere sweater, a tan dress with dark brown boots. It suits office days and autumn walks.

What to avoid: A middle brown slipped between them muddies the gradient, so let the two ends speak. Matching textures look flat; pair suede with wool or leather with knit.

Suits: Warm Autumn Bright Spring Soft Autumn

tan #D2B48C
teal #007B7F

Tan and teal

Opposites on the color wheel Medium contrast

Teal is a deep blue-green that sits across the wheel from tan's orange warmth. The opposites make each other look richer, and teal's depth gives the light brown a strong frame.

When to wear it: Fall and winter: tan chinos under a teal crewneck, a teal dress beneath a tan wool coat, or just a teal scarf knotted at the collar of a tan trench. It works for casual offices, holiday gatherings and weekend brunch.

What to avoid: Let teal be the accent or the top, not half the outfit, or the two compete. A bright turquoise in teal's place looks tropical against tan; keep the blue-green deep.

Suits: Warm Autumn Deep Autumn Soft Summer

tan #D2B48C
burgundy #800020

Tan and burgundy

Contrasting hues High contrast

Wine red and golden light brown sit far enough apart on the wheel to contrast, yet both carry some red, so the pair feels warm instead of jarring. Burgundy brings the depth tan lacks, and tan keeps burgundy from looking heavy.

When to wear it: Cold-weather evenings: a burgundy knit with tan pants, a tan blazer with a burgundy tie or pocket square, burgundy loafers with tan chinos. It suits holiday dinners, theater nights and fall weddings.

What to avoid: Wine shades that lean purple fight tan's yellow, so a red-leaning burgundy sits better. Adding orange or mustard as well crowds the warm side and loses the depth contrast.

Suits: Deep Autumn

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

Colors to keep away from tan

- light grey #CBCBCB
Light grey and tan sit at nearly the same lightness but on opposite sides of warm and cool, so neither sets the other off: the grey looks dingy and the tan looks dusty. Choose charcoal for depth, or white for brightness.
- orange #F37A1F
Tan is orange softened and lightened, so a saturated orange beside it makes tan look faded and the outfit look like two attempts at one color. For warm color with tan, go deeper with rust or burgundy.

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Most wardrobes hold more tan than their owners notice: suede boots, a trench, a belt, a bag. It is a light, golden brown, darker and warmer than beige and a shade lighter than camel, which people often use for the same color. Its warmth is real, a soft yellow-orange, and that warmth decides its partners: cool colors give it contrast, deep ones give it weight.

Because so much tan lives in accessories, it meets navy and denim most often, and both make it look polished. Dark brown builds a tonal outfit for cold months, teal answers it from across the wheel, and burgundy adds depth for evenings. As light brown pants, shoes or bags it works with almost any coloring; as a sweater or shirt by the face, it flatters warm coloring most.

FAQ

What color tie goes with a tan suit?

Navy is the easiest, cool against tan's warmth and dark enough to read from a distance. Burgundy and dark green suit fall weddings, and a soft teal or dusty blue works for summer daytime events. Wear it with a white or light blue shirt and a brown belt and shoes; black leather looks severe with a tan suit.

Do tan and black go together?

Below the waist and in accessories, yes: tan pants with black boots and belt, or a tan coat over an all-black outfit, look bold and modern. By the face the pair is harder, because true black flatters clear, cool coloring and tan's golden warmth flatters the opposite. For a softer version of the same contrast, try dark brown or navy.

Is tan the same as camel?

They are neighbors. Camel is a little darker and more golden, the color of the classic wool coat; tan is lighter and sandier, the color of suede boots. Both pair with the same colors, and wearing them together works as long as one is clearly darker.

Can you wear tan with cool coloring?

Yes, mostly away from the face. Tan's golden warmth can make cool coloring look a little sallow up close, so wear it in pants, shoes, bags and open coats, with navy, grey or soft blue at the neckline. A greyer tan, closer to taupe, is easier near the face.