What Color Shirt Goes With Khaki Pants?

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Khaki is one of the most popular types of pants for a reason. Khaki pants are neutral in color, which means they can pair well with many different colors. They’re also suitable for a variety of circumstances, from formal events to casual outings with friends. You might consider all forms of khaki pants as optional for every color of shirt, but the truth is that some shades of khaki may go better with certain colors than others. Understanding which colors pair well with your pants will help you look as stylish as possible.

The History of Khaki

Khakis are casual pants made of cotton twill and are generally a light brown color. You should also know that khakis are considered a type of chino, which is a specific style of pants. While khaki pants are relatively common today, they got their start in 1848 in what is modern-day Pakistan during British occupation. The pants were originally meant to be part of a military uniform that provided relief from high temperatures while also acting as a type of camouflage.

The Benefits of Khaki

You will find many benefits to khakis, one being that they’re easy to wear. While jeans are often heavy and hot in the warm weather, khaki pants are lightweight and soft, providing a cooler and more comfortable feeling. Additionally, khaki pants are versatile. You can wear them with t-shirts, polo shirts or even sports coats. You can tailor khaki pants to fit your body and your style more comfortably.

Essentially, you can wear khaki pants when you are lounging at home, checking the mail, going on a first date, or heading to work for the day. Of course, you first need to understand the best way to style your khakis based on color.

The Best Shirt Colors for Dark Khaki

Darker khaki, which is nearly brown but not quite, pairs best with specific colors. You’ll benefit from pairing your darker khaki pants with shirts in shades of green, green-tinted yellow and orange, if you want to pull of a bright look. You can also wear dark khaki with light gray and off-white shirts for a more neutral, subdued look.

The Best Shirt Colors for Light Khaki

Light khaki, which is close to a tan-and-white combination, looks great with many colors. If you want to pull off a bright and lively style, pair light khaki pants with yellow-green, hot pink, orange or orange-red. If your style is more subdued for the event, consider wearing a plum, magenta or brown shirt.

The Best Shirt Colors for Medium Khaki

Medium khaki lies somewhere on the spectrum between light and dark khaki, making it not quite tan and not quite brown. Medium khaki looks great with deeper colors and jewel tones. You can pair medium khaki pants with shirts of all shades of blue, deep pink, grayish-blue and olive green.

Other Factors to Consider

Keep in mind that there are many other factors to consider when you match your shirt to your khaki pants. For example, you should think about your skin tone, eye color, and hair style and color when you choose a shirt to complement your pants.