This article is a continuation of my series about colors. For more experienced or advanced dressers, this probably won't be something new, but if you often have a hard time deciding which colors to wear together, I think these few simple rules might be useful.

The Monochrome Base Rule

This one is very straightforward: your base (trousers and shirt or sweater) should be in the same color. Then, add a contrasting jacket to make it more interesting (optionally, you can also add contrasting shoes). If the base is light, the jacket should be dark, and vice versa.

The Sandwich Rule

Balancing colors in an outfit by repeating the same color at the top and bottom, with a different color in between. This keeps your outfit balanced by layering one color around another, like a sandwich. Since you match your shirt or sweater and jacket with your shoes, you're mostly limited to neutral colors for most of the year - mainly browns, beiges, and black. But then in the warmer months, if you wear sneakers or espadrilles, you can add colors like white, navy, or yellow. The outfit might look something like this: navy canvas sneakers, white trousers, and a navy polo. If you choose very bold colors, it can quickly look like you're trying to stand out too much.

The Light-Medium-Dark Rule

You wear one light, one medium, and one dark piece in the same color to create a balanced look with depth and contrast. This rule is also limited to neutral colors. You can use different shades of brown, gray, olive, beige, or even navy.

The Earth Tones Rule

Here we are talking about building outfits around earthy, natural colors like brown, olive, rust, tan, beige, and mustard. Style multiple earth tones together for a warm, more sophisticated look. Or mix them with neutrals like white, black, gray, or navy for contrast, and use textures (like suede, wool, and leather) to highlight the effect. For example: olive trousers + beige sweater + brown suede boots, or a tan blazer + light blue shirt + dark brown loafers.

The One-Color Highlight Rule

If you prefer to keep your outfits mostly neutral (beige, white, navy, gray, black), then you can add just one pop of color to make it more interesting. This prevents the outfit from looking too busy while still allowing for a bold or standout element. Add one piece in a brighter or richer color - like socks, a sweater, a bandana, or a hat. For example, ecru trousers and a navy jacket with a yellow sweater or socks.

These 5 simple rules should serve as a baseline for using colors in casual outfits. Let me know if you swear by any of those or do you use any other rule?