What colors go with teal?

Camel, light grey, navy, coral and burgundy all work with teal, because a blue-green takes warm and cool partners alike.

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What to wear with teal

teal #007B7F
camel #C19A6B

Teal and camel

Neutral base Low contrast

Camel is a golden tan that sits roughly opposite teal on the wheel, so it draws out teal's depth without fighting it for attention. The two are close in lightness, which gives a mellow, grown-up pairing with little edge.

When to wear it: Autumn and winter: a teal sweater under a camel coat, a teal silk blouse with camel wide-leg pants, or a teal dress with a camel belt, boots and bag. It moves easily from the office to a weekend market.

What to avoid: With so little light-dark contrast, the outfit can look flat on a grey day. A cream layer at the neckline or a chunky gold earring gives it the edge it needs.

Suits: Warm Autumn Soft Summer Deep Autumn

teal #007B7F
light grey #CBCBCB

Teal and light grey

Neutral base Medium contrast

Light grey (or gray) cools teal and lets its blue side lead. It is pale enough to set off the deeper teal yet gentler than white, and the result looks quiet and modern.

When to wear it: Workdays and travel: grey pants with a teal shell under a grey blazer, a teal scarf on a pale grey wool coat, or a heather grey sweatshirt with teal joggers on a Sunday. It works from early spring through late fall.

What to avoid: Beige-tinged greys muddy the effect and make teal look greener and duller than it is. Pick a clean, cool grey, and let silver or white gold carry the jewelry.

Suits: Cool Summer Soft Summer Bright Winter

teal #007B7F
navy blue #1F2A4D

Teal and navy blue

Neighbors on the color wheel Medium contrast

Navy and teal are neighbors on the wheel, navy the darker and bluer of the two, so they read as one cool family. Teal brings the life and navy the depth, which makes this the easiest way to wear teal somewhere conservative.

When to wear it: A teal tie or pocket square on a navy suit, a teal blouse under a navy blazer for a client meeting, or a navy pencil skirt with a teal cashmere knit. It suits winter weddings and evening events too.

What to avoid: In dim rooms navy can swallow a dark teal entirely. Keep the teal a shade brighter than the navy, and add a pale shirt collar or a silver watch so the two stay distinct.

Suits: Cool Summer Soft Summer Bright Winter

teal #007B7F
coral #F7785A

Teal and coral

Opposites on the color wheel Low contrast

Coral is a warm orange-pink almost directly across the wheel from teal, so each makes the other look brighter. Their depths are similar, so the energy comes from the change of hue rather than from light against dark.

When to wear it: Summer and vacations: a teal maxi dress with coral earrings and sandals, a coral linen top with teal shorts, or a teal swimsuit under a coral cover-up. It also suits a garden or beach wedding as a guest.

What to avoid: A half-and-half split makes the two compete. Let coral fill a third of the outfit or less, and leave out a third bright color such as yellow, which makes the whole outfit look busy.

Suits: Warm Autumn Deep Autumn

teal #007B7F
burgundy #800020

Teal and burgundy

Contrasting hues Medium contrast

Both are saturated jewel tones a third of the wheel apart, rich together without either overpowering the other. The red in burgundy warms teal's coolness, and their shared depth keeps the outfit dark and polished.

When to wear it: Fall and the holiday season: a burgundy velvet dress with a teal wrap, a teal sweater with burgundy cords, or bridesmaids split between the two shades at an autumn wedding.

What to avoid: In flat, matte cotton the pair can look heavy. Lean on texture such as velvet, silk or a fine rib, and keep one light element in the mix, an ivory blouse or pale tights.

Suits: Deep Autumn Deep Winter Cool Summer

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

Colors to keep away from teal

- emerald green #00936B
Emerald sits right beside teal on the wheel and shares its saturation and depth, so the two look like a near miss, as if one piece had faded in the wash. If you love both, separate them with cream, ivory or navy.
- lime green #8CD13A
Lime is a sharp, yellowish green that drags teal toward a sour, neon effect. Both are loud, but at opposite temperatures, so neither settles. A pale mint brings the fresh green note to teal without the fight.

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A teal wrap dress, a chunky teal knit or a teal silk blouse can carry a whole outfit, because the color is deep enough to act almost like a dark neutral and still reads clearly as blue-green. Its middle position between blue and green also explains why it turns up in so many palettes: a clear, bluish teal suits cool, high-contrast coloring, a softened one suits muted coloring, and a teal with a hint of yellow sits easily on warm, deep coloring. Up by the face it is often kinder than a pure blue or a pure green, being neither icy nor sallow.

Which partner to reach for depends mostly on the time of year. Camel and burgundy belong to the dark months, coral to summer, and light grey and navy to any working week. If you are unsure of your undertone, camel leans warm and light grey cool; whichever looks better beside your face is the safer first buy.

FAQ

Is teal a warm or cool color?

Teal is usually counted as cool because it leans blue, but the green in it adds a little warmth, so it sits nearer the middle than navy or cobalt. Bluer, cleaner teals suit cool, high-contrast coloring; greener, slightly muted teals look more natural on warm, deep coloring. That range is why teal appears in summer, autumn and winter palettes.

Is teal blue or green?

Both. The name comes from the blue-green stripe on the head of the common teal, a small duck, and in clothing the word covers everything from a deep peacock blue to a dark sea green. Lighter, brighter versions are usually sold as turquoise. If a teal looks too green on you, try one that leans blue, and the other way round.

What color shoes go with a teal dress?

Tan or beige shoes are the safest, because they lengthen the leg and leave teal as the only color. Metallics suit evening: gold with greener teals, silver with bluer ones. Black works for winter and formal events but can look heavy with light summer fabric. For a bolder look, burgundy or coral shoes repeat one of teal's best partners.

What colors go with teal bridesmaid dresses?

Ivory and champagne for the bride's side keep teal from looking dark. For flowers, burgundy, deep plum and copper suit an autumn wedding; coral, peach and blush suit a summer one. Gold or copper accents warm the scheme, silver keeps it wintry. Skip a second blue-green in the flowers or ties, which makes the teal look mismatched.

Does teal go with purple?

Yes, when the purple is deep and cool. Purple lies a step past teal's blue side on the wheel, far enough for a real change of hue, and the two share their coolness and depth, which makes a rich, peacock-like pairing for evening. Lavender is softer and works in spring with a muted teal. Avoid reddish violets, which can turn the pair murky.