Menswear Colors That Work With
Red Hair
Red hair is one of the most visually powerful features a man can have — and most guys with it have never been told how to use it to their advantage. The key is understanding one principle: red hair is warm, vivid, and attention-commanding. The colors you wear either enhance that energy or fight against it. Get this right, and your wardrobe works as hard as your natural coloring.
Discover Your ColorsWhy Red Hair Changes Your Entire Approach to Menswear
Red hair — whether copper, ginger, auburn, or dark chestnut-red — contains warm orange and red pigments that create strong color dynamics. When you wear clothes in similar warm hues, those tones can blur together into an unfocused, muddy effect rather than a cohesive look. The result is that your hair and outfit compete for attention rather than working together.
The solution is rooted in color theory. Green is the complementary color to red on the color wheel, which is why forest green and hunter green look so naturally right on redheaded men. That complementary contrast creates a visual harmony that feels intentional and put-together. Deep navy creates a cool, crisp contrast that anchors the warmth of red hair without fighting it.
Skin tone is also part of the equation. Most men with red hair have fair, often cool-toned skin — meaning their hair is the warmest element of their coloring. Colors that work with fair, cool skin — clear blues, greens, and deep neutrals — tend to look significantly better than colors that pile on more warmth.
Your Most Flattering Color Families
Deep Forest and Hunter Greens
Green is the complementary color to red — and this is the single most important piece of color knowledge for redheaded men. A forest green flannel shirt or a hunter green field jacket against ginger or auburn hair looks striking, balanced, and effortlessly masculine. Dark olive and teal extend the family with slightly different moods. This is your signature color category.
Deep Navy
Navy is the single most versatile color in a redheaded man's wardrobe. It provides cool contrast that grounds the warmth of red hair without clashing with it. A navy wool blazer, a navy OCBD shirt, or navy chinos all work beautifully across casual and formal contexts. Navy does for red-haired men what charcoal grey does for dark-haired men — it's your anchor dark neutral.
Rich Earthy Tones
When you want earth tones in your wardrobe, reach for the richer, deeper versions that have enough visual weight to harmonize with red hair rather than blur into it. Cognac and warm chocolate leathers look particularly good — a cognac belt or boots against green or navy creates a rich, grounded palette. Dark camel in knitwear reads warm and polished against auburn hair.
Cool Jewel Blues and Teals
Cool, saturated blues and teals create a vivid contrast with red hair that makes both elements pop. A cobalt blue rollneck sweater or a teal flannel shirt against copper hair is a striking combination. Steel blue works well in shirting for more casual-smart looks. These shades bring out the richness in red and auburn hair tones in a way that warm colors never can.
How to Build a Wardrobe Around Red Hair
Casual Shirts and Knitwear
Make forest green and hunter green your go-to casual colors. A forest green flannel shirt or a dark green Shetland sweater is among the most flattering things a ginger or auburn-haired man can own. Teal and cobalt blue henleys or crewnecks also work extremely well. For shirting neutrals, choose navy or a deep slate blue over pale beige or chalk.
Blazers and Outerwear
A navy wool blazer is the single most useful item a redheaded man can invest in. It works across smart-casual and business contexts and consistently flatters red hair. Forest green field jackets and waxed cotton coats are excellent casual outerwear. Dark camel overcoats work well for formal winter wear. Avoid brick red or rust outerwear — a coat worn that close to your face and hair will clash directly.
Denim and Casual Layers
Mid to dark blue denim is one of your most reliable pairings. A dark indigo denim jacket or blue jeans in medium wash both create clean, cool contrast with red hair. Layer with forest green or navy above. A camel or chocolate brown knit sits beautifully over a navy shirt. Avoid red-toned denim washes and any orange-adjacent canvas.
Formal and Smart Occasion Wear
For formal occasions, a navy or charcoal suit is your foundation. Pair it with a white or pale blue shirt and a green or teal tie for a look that references your natural coloring beautifully. Bottle green suits are bold but striking if you want something distinctive. Avoid brown suits unless they are very deep chocolate — mid-range tan and khaki suits lack the contrast your coloring demands.
Colors That Work Against Red Hair
Orange and bright warm red clothing
Wearing orange near red hair is the most common mistake. Burnt sienna shirts, terracotta knitwear, and orange-red outerwear all fight directly with the warmth in red hair. The result is a chaotic warm-on-warm effect where your hair and clothing clash rather than contrast. This applies to orange-adjacent reds too — a warm tomato red flannel will do you no favors. Cognac brown or forest green give you warmth without the clash.
Pink
Pink sits too close to red in the spectrum to create clean contrast, and in a menswear context it rarely adds anything useful. Pale pink shirts in particular tend to look washed out against fair redhead skin. If you want softness near your face, a pale blue oxford shirt or a soft grey crewneck will serve you far better.
Pale chalky tones
Light beige, chalk, and pale khaki drain contrast from fair, redhead complexions. Against red hair, these shades look undefined and low-energy — neither bold enough to create contrast nor warm enough to harmonize. If you need a light neutral, ivory has more definition. If you need a tan, go for a richer camel or warm oatmeal.
Mustard and warm yellow
Warm yellow and mustard sit in the same warm frequency as the orange tones in red hair. Wearing mustard next to copper or ginger hair creates a muddy, indistinct effect. Yellow-green shades like chartreuse are similarly problematic. Dark olive can work because it has enough green to counteract the yellow — but stay clear of anything that reads clearly yellow.
Smarter Wardrobe Choices for Men With Red Hair
These swaps replace the shades that fight your coloring with ones that make it work harder for you.
Orange clashes directly with the warm tones in red hair. Forest green uses the complementary color relationship to create a sharp, intentional look.
Mustard amplifies the orange in red hair. Teal and cobalt create cool contrast that makes red and auburn tones look vivid and intentional.
Chalky pale tones wash out fair redhead skin. A richer camel has warmth with enough depth to harmonize, while ivory offers clean brightness with more definition.
Mid-range tans lack contrast against red hair and skin. Navy is your most powerful smart-casual color. Forest green creates a distinctive, complementary pairing.
Any red-adjacent coat worn close to red hair creates a warm-on-warm clash that reads as an accident. Navy and forest green both create clean contrast.
Heavily faded denim has warm, orange-yellow tones that fight with red hair. Dark indigo gives you cool blue contrast that works beautifully.
Which Seasonal Palette Fits Men With Red Hair?
Red hair appears across several seasonal palettes depending on whether your red leans warm and vivid or deeper and muted. Your skin tone and eye color refine the match further.
Warm Autumn
Learn moreIf your red hair leans toward auburn, copper, or warm chestnut, and your skin has golden or peachy undertones, Warm Autumn is likely your palette. Your ideal wardrobe has depth and richness — dark greens, deep camel, chocolate leather, and rich teal all sit within your range. Keep the earth tones in the deeper register and let the greens and blues do the contrast work.
Warm Spring
Learn moreIf you have brighter, lighter ginger hair with clear, warm skin, Warm Spring is worth exploring. Your palette sits slightly lighter and fresher than Autumn — medium-value greens, clear navy, and warm but lively earth tones suit you better than the heaviest, darkest Autumn shades. Your energy is bright rather than deep.
Deep Autumn
Learn moreIf your red hair is dark — deep auburn, burgundy-brown, or dark chestnut-red — and your overall coloring is rich and high-contrast, Deep Autumn may be your match. You carry darker, more intense colors well: deep forest green, dark chocolate, midnight navy, and bottle green all work. Your palette has intensity to match the depth of your coloring.
Find Your Exact Colors
Red hair covers a wide spectrum — from light strawberry blonde to dark auburn — and the ideal wardrobe palette shifts considerably across that range. The guidance here gives you the principles, but a personalized color analysis maps your specific hair tone, skin undertone, and eye color to the exact shades that will make your particular coloring look its best.
Get Your Color AnalysisFrequently Asked Questions
What colors look best on men with red hair?
Deep forest and hunter greens, navy, rich earth tones (cognac, chocolate brown, dark camel), and cool jewel blues and teals are the strongest colors for men with red hair. Green is the complementary color to red, making it the most naturally flattering choice. Navy is your best dark neutral across casual and formal contexts.
What colors should men with red hair avoid?
Men with red hair look best avoiding orange and orange-red clothing (which clashes directly with warm hair tones), pink, mustard and warm yellow, and pale chalky beige tones. These shades either fight with the warmth of red hair or drain contrast from fair redhead skin. Opt for deep greens, navy, and rich browns instead.
What is the best suit color for a man with red hair?
Navy is the strongest suit color for men with red hair — it provides cool contrast that complements warm hair without competing with it. Charcoal grey is a close second. Dark chocolate brown works well for auburn-haired men with warm skin tones. Avoid tan, khaki, and warm camel suits, which lack contrast and look unfocused next to red hair.
Can men with red hair wear green?
Yes — green is arguably the best color for men with red hair. Red and green are complementary colors, creating natural visual harmony. Forest green, hunter green, and dark teal are particularly strong. A forest green flannel shirt or a green field jacket against ginger or auburn hair is a classic, sharp combination. Avoid yellow-green shades like chartreuse, which sit too warm.
What casual shirts work best for men with ginger or auburn hair?
Forest green, hunter green, teal, cobalt blue, and navy shirts all work exceptionally well. For flannel and casual shirting, green and navy are your strongest choices. Avoid burnt orange and rust flannels, which create warm-on-warm clashes. Mid to dark blue chambray and denim shirts are reliable everyday options.
Does red hair affect what color shoes and accessories work best?
Indirectly, yes. Cognac and warm brown leather shoes and belts create a rich, warm accent that works well against green or navy outfits. Dark chocolate leather is particularly strong with deep auburn hair tones. Avoid bright orange or tan leather, which can amplify the warm conflict. For more casual footwear, clean white, navy, or forest green accents in trainers all work cleanly.