How to Wear Grey

Co-authored by Sahra Brandt

Last Updated: November 1, 2021

When it comes to clothing, grey is a pretty neutral color. While “neutral” may seem synonymous with “boring,” it is actually quite the opposite. Because of it’s versatility, grey can work with so many other colors, prints, and accessories. By figuring out how to style this hue, you can create countless different looks for all different occasions. If you’re a fan of neutrals but want a softer look than black, grey should be a staple in your wardrobe.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Pairing with Colors

1
Choose the proper grey. If you have cool undertones, you can rock virtually any shade of grey. If you have warm undertones, you’ll need to be a bit more careful to ensure that the grey doesn’t wash out your face. Keep your skin looking bright by wearing grey on the bottom half of your body, or by limiting grey to accessories.^{[1]
X
Research source} Of course, you can play around with different shades and fabrics, and at the end of the day, just wear whatever you feel great in.
- If your skin is cool-toned, that means it has tones of pink, red, or blue. An easy way to determine this is by looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they look blue, you're cool-toned.
- If your skin is warm-toned, it is more peachy or gold. If the veins on the underside of your wrist look more green, you're warm-toned.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
2
Wear light grey with dark colors.^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Sahra Brandt
Image Architect
Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.} If your grey piece is on the lighter end of the spectrum, get bold and pair it with a darker color. Jewel tones, like a deep purple, ruby, or a striking royal blue work extremely well with grey. Because light grey alone can look a little drab, pairing it with a more intense color will add balance to your outfit and keep it interesting.

Advertisement
3
Pair dark grey with softer hues. This comes from the same school of thought as the tip above! To keep the balance in your outfit, lighten up your dark grey with softer, less intense colors. Consider a dark grey sweater paired with a light pink necklace, or a deep grey dress with a baby blue scarf. Contrasting these lighter colors against the darker shade of grey will help make sure your outfit isn’t too dark and dreary.
4
Keep it neutral. For a sleek and more formal look, pair your grey with nude. Try styling a grey dress with nude heels, or pairing an off-white ensemble with grey accessories.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Sahra Brandt
Image Architect
Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.} You don’t have to mix your grey with a fun or bold color to have an eye-catching outfit. Create a refined, sophisticated look by keeping it all neutral.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Because grey comes in all different shades and often has hints of different colors, it can truly go with almost any color. The main thing to be wary of is wearing multiple shades of grey at once. If you're going to combine greys, keep them the same shade.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Styling Your Grey

1
Combine your grey with bold prints. Because this color provides such a good, neutral foundation, add some excitement to your outfit by combining it with fun patterns. Throw on a bright polka dot shirt with your grey pants to add some flair. Throw a paisley cardigan over a grey dress to give it a pop of excitement. The great thing about grey is that it can work with virtually any pattern.
2
Choose grey clothing with fun textures. If you’re worried about a grey outfit looking drab, add dimension with fun textures. Look for grey pieces with lace, ribbing, leather, suede, fringe– anything that’s different!^{[6]
X
Research source} This adds a bit of edge to your outfit, while still being sophisticated and posh with the beautiful neutral color.
3
Opt for a fun cut. Because it’s such a basic color, you can pick pieces with a dramatic hem. Show skin with short skirts, cropped shirts, or fun cut-outs. You certainly won’t look plain or dreary if your grey outfit has a daring cut or creates an exciting silhouette.^{[7]
X
Research source}
4
Add a bright accessories. Nothing breaks up an all-grey outfit like a single pop of color, whether it be a bright red purse or a pair of cobalt blue shoes. Grey goes with everything, so don’t be afraid to grab your brightest and boldest accessory. By changing up the pieces you add to an outfit, you can style one dress in dozens of different ways!
- You can also wear a bright lipstick for the same effect.^{[8]
  X
  Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

What color goes well with grey clothes during winter?

Sahra Brandt
Image Architect
Sahra Brandt is an Image Architect and the Founder of Shop the City, a company dedicated to helping others attain their style goals. With over ten years of fashion industry experience, Sahra specializes in wardrobe audits, personal shopping, and remote styling. She also runs Que Sera Sahra, a lifestyle blog. Sahra holds a BBA in Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising from LIM College.

Sahra Brandt

Image Architect

Expert Answer

For the fall and winter seasons, you can wear a muted gray with darker tones, like brown and more saturated tones of blue and pink!
Question

Can you wear grey in the summer?

Sahra Brandt
Image Architect
Sahra Brandt is an Image Architect and the Founder of Shop the City, a company dedicated to helping others attain their style goals. With over ten years of fashion industry experience, Sahra specializes in wardrobe audits, personal shopping, and remote styling. She also runs Que Sera Sahra, a lifestyle blog. Sahra holds a BBA in Fashion Merchandising and Visual Merchandising from LIM College.

Sahra Brandt

Image Architect

Expert Answer

For sure! That said, you should go for a contrasting look. Try wearing a soft muted grey with an aqua blue or a baby pink, for example.