Orange is not the easiest color to wear as the color can be quite bright and overpowering. However, if you look more carefully, there are actually a lot of fabulous ways to wear orange in all kinds of color combinations.
In this updated comprehensive guide I show you how to wear orange in a number of surprising ways.
Colors that go with orange
As I usually do when I look for inspiration on how to wear a certain color I visited colourlovers.com.
It’s a great site where you can create your own color combinations or get inspired by those of others.
Here is what I found.
The versatility of orange
Can you believe that orange looks so good with so many colors? It’s actually proving to be quite a versatile color.
I have seen orange in the shops in all kinds of shades from very bright to more demure colors, so you can just pick the color orange that suits your complexion and temperament best and mix and match with all these other fine colors.
Prefer coral? Check out how to wear coral, the color of 2019.
You don’t even have to buy a garment in this color. Just adding a scarf or a bag will already give you that orange flavor and will add some flair to your outfit.
Here are the perfect orange clothes and accessories for you
The perfect orange dress
This orange dress has flattering ruching across the tummy area as well as interest created through the asymmetrical detailing on the pencil skirt.
Homeyee tunic pencil sheath dress
The perfect orange maxi dress
This dress by Eliza J is perfect for summer events and vacations.
It makes a statement all by itself, meaning you could keep the rest of your accessories to a minimum and still make a big impact.
Anita (above) wears a beautiful orange dress and pairs it with silver accessories and a white pair of heels.
Here is an option you can check out if you want to wear a long orange dress for an upcoming special event.
The perfect orange shirt
You probably already have a classic white shirt in your closet, but how about an orange shirt in a classic shape?
This shirt from All in Favor is cut loose and has a drape detailing which is perfect for a casual look. It would style well with black or white bottoms.
The perfect orange top
The styling for this orange top from Wit & Wisdom shows how beautifully white goes with orange.
An orange top would look lovely with white jeans and metallic accessories for summer.
Wit & Wisdom crochet detail top
The perfect orange cardigan
A long, draped cardigan can be a lovely way to add interest as well as to hide any parts of your body you aren’t so confident about, and to create nice, long lean lines.
The asymmetrical hem on this cardigan would add an extra element to your outfits.
The perfect orange sweater
Orange can be the perfect color to add some flair to even the most casual of outfits.
You could wear an orange sweater with your jeans and sneakers, or with a leather or pleated skirt.
This sweater by Caslon is a woolly stretch-knit pullover that is designed with airy side vents and an easy high/low hem.
The perfect orange pants
You could opt for a pair of orange jeans, or choose a more tailored pair of orange pants. Either way, these will be the hero piece in your outfit.
This pair of jeans from Amazon is designed with comfortable stretch and could flatter you from day to night.
Lover Brand Fashion high waist jeans
The perfect orange skirt
This skirt from Amazon is stretchy and features spandex to keep its shape. It has reviews which praise its style and comfort.
The perfect orange shoes
Shoes can be a stylish way to transform an outfit.
This pair of pumps by Jaggar are easier to walk in than other heels because of the its low block heel.
The perfect orange bag
Just as the shoes you wear can make a big difference to the overall look of your outfit, the handbag you opt for can create a refreshing pop of brightness.
This crossbody bag from Tory Burch is casual enough to use everyday and would look great with jeans and a white shirt or sweater.
Here are 5 quick tips to inspire your styling with the punchy hue.
1. Pair orange with neutrals
A great way to let the bold tones of your orange piece stand out without competing with any other color, is to pair orange with neutrals. From black to nude shades, your look will be cleaner and more refined with the fun and punchy characteristics of orange.
Outfit 1: Joie floral blouse – Kate Kasin pencil skirt – Nina crystal clutch – Jeffrey Campbell pump
Outfit 2: Treasure & Bond knit wrap top – Topshop orange trousers – Cole Hann sandals – Mali + Lili clutch – Ettika drop earrings
Outfit 3: Sam Edelman tiered lace dress – Chinese Laundry slingback pump – Nina crystal clutch
2. Go with prints
Combining bold orange hues with unique prints is a very effortless approach to putting together a visually interesting look, with enough of a bright dimension to lighten up your look.
Sarah looks fabulous in this orange printed jumpsuit. Here is a similar piece from Amazon.
More examples:
Equipment shirtdress – All in Favor floral wrap dress – Haryln two-tone sheath dress – Rachel Parcell button down midi dress
Hugo top – Wit & Wisdom plaid shirt – Stella McCartney floral silk jogger – Hugo colorblock midi skirt
3. Embrace the purple-orange clash
Orange and purple are a style favorite when it comes to contrasting combinations. Visually appealing, the two dynamic shades create a bold and chic look when paired together. The key here is to ensure you add a neutral piece, such as a pair of white shoes or a dash of gold jewelry, to the look to keep it from being an overwhelming display of colors.
Outfit 1: Lilly Pultizer off shoulder dress – Sudini Rodrigo slingback pumps – Kelly Wynne bag – Nadri Flexi cuff
Outfit 2: La Ligne wool & cashmere sweater – Prosperity denim high skinny jeans – Geox bootie – Nordstrom scarf – Lafonn stud earrings
Outfit 3: A.L.C. pleated sleeveless top – Boss trousers – Mali + Lili crossbody bag – Alias Mae mule
4. Orange with cobalt blue
Pairing orange with cobalt blue can bring out the best in both colors. By sticking to classic styles and shapes, or including a neutral piece like a pair of white pants, the look is vibrant yet clean.
Outfit 1: Vince silk tank – Tailored by Rebecca Taylor trousers – Vince Camuto sandals – BaubleBar beaded necklace
Outfit 2: Vince Camuto rumple blouse – Kut from the Kloth skinny jeans – Calvin Klein pumps – Dolce Vita slide sandal
Outfit 3: Eliza J jumpsuit – Botkier strappy sandal – Bourbon & Bowties bangles
5. Accessorize with orange
Not ready for a full bold display of orange? You can add the punchy color as a highlight to your look by incorporating as an accessory or go-to beauty tool. We particularly love the orange nail polish, which is flattering on a number of skin tones.
Camper platform wedge sandal – Pared sunglasses – Stella + Ruby geo hoop earrings – Rebecca Minkoff silk bandana – Kate Spade bag – Bourbon & Bowties bangles – Jonas Studio necklace – Skagen watch – Base coat nail polish
Let’s take one color combination to the test
Although I love them all, I picked Storming Psychedelia as the inspiration for some outfits that I created at Polyvore. In this set orange is only visible in a subtle way and is mainly added as a pop color. Have a look at what you can achieve with these colors! Very stylish and certainly not boring! You can mix and match and add more orange if you like to all these outfits.
Here are a few more ideas from Liz on how to wear orange
“It was only while thinking about how to wear orange, that I realized I have much more orange in my closet than I thought. Plus, it got me out of my comfort zone and thinking about how to wear favorite items in a new way.
The orange top is actually a dress tucked into a suede skirt, which is from Miss Selfridge, or white jeans from H&M. Sylvia inspired me to experiment with using my dress as a top in her piece on how Diane von Furstenberg is her latest style crush!
I’d never actually worn the khaki dress. It was one of those items I bought in the sale and popped into the back of my wardrobe, but pairing with orange shoes is a new idea for me. The orange paisley skirt is a Topshop purchase from my student days!”
More outfit ideas
Want to add some orange to your life? Here are some fabulous orange items you can buy right now!
Want to know how to wear other colors too?
I have created several color guides for popular colors right now:
- How to wear coral
- How to wear red
- How to wear pink
- How to wear gray
- How to wear white
- How to wear (emerald) green
- How to wear yellow
- How to wear florals
Do you plan to wear orange this coming season and which color combination is your favorite?
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Feature image by Anita
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I have an orange satin pleated mid calf skirt and I am going to pair it with a hot pink halter
White pointy boots and bag to go
I love orange, and it suits me. Actually, on the contrary to what you say, orange is a very easy colour to combine. I have an orange blazer from Boden, which I wear with many outfits, and it brightens things up. I am about to buy an orange silk shirt from And other Stories that I’ve had my eye on for some time. I saw Victoria Beckham wearing something similiar only the other day.. so can’t be a bad idea! I plan to wear it with white jeans, or black cigarette pants, and black or beige blazer. I know I’ll get a lot of wear out of it most of the year where I live (bright and sunny Spain). I’m not much into the Scandinavian grey, beige and black limitations unless they are for basics only, I think they need a pop of colour, otherwise so boring and too serious. Thanks for the ideas.
Hi ladies,
Well, it seems I am not alone. When we lived in our luxury home, and life was, shall I say, much richer (financially), I dressed in white/beige/black, and would never entertain wearing color. I thought it was less sophisticated to enjoy color. I was boring. Fast forward, we’re living a modest life (husband’s ocular issues), and now I use color to cheer myself up, and celebrate the spring and summer seasons. Orange is loud and obnoxious, but I am frequently told I look good in some hues. I pair it with white a lot. Today, I bought a bright orange leather tote, and I really like it. I have a new apricot wrap dress (soft orange) and I will pair it with beige sandal heels and a beige handbag. Orange is full of energy, and I like it. The color combo ideas you shared are great. Thank you.
Brilliant post! I saved it.
I loved this Orange workshop! Orange and grays looked great, as well as the blue and purple combination.
I have a darkish red hair and blue eyes, regularly getting compliments on my hair from strangers, I find. ( KUDOS to my long-time hairdresser!!)
Anyway, certain shades of orange are tops on my list, for sure. I absolutely ‘relish’ using color in my dressing and I have about 20 colors of shells or camis for starters, then accessorizing with jewelry and scarves, as this can really stretch my wardrobe. I will look forward to finding time in my busy life to read all the ‘color’ articles. Thanks!
Great to read you enjoyed this Barbara. Thanks for your feedback!
I have a very light color peach blouse can I wear a light blue sweater with it
Yes that should be ok.
I have orange arm sleeves cool dri sun protectors spf 50, I have short sleeve polos in dill green, slate blue, french blue (bright), deep eggplant, purple, brick red, butter yellow, true navy, fall brown. Will the orange go with all of them?
The sleeves you get on Amazon.com, they are better than wearing the whole shirt.
I also have white and black arm sleeves.
I live in the Key West Florida (100 miles from the mainland & 90 miles north of Havana, Cuba) where the sun burns you at 8am till sunset around 6:30- sevenish. Florida is brutal with the humidity and merciless sun, not all plants can grow here.
I absolutely love this post. It gave me so much inspiration. I have noted it all down and I am going to experiment (about the first time in my life haha).
Thank you very much for all this work.
Very very useful
Great to hear Greetje!
fabulouse post!!!
i used to hate orange until a few years ago….. but the new shades – coral, peachy or burned tones – changed my mind 🙂
and i look forward to summer to test some of your exiting suggestions!
xxxxx
Wonderful. The orange dress in your post of today looks beautiful!
Orange is one of my favourite colours!
Thank you for more colour mixing inspiration.
I am a fan of mixing it with other reds/oranges/yellows as well as blues and neutrals BUT I have never mixed it with a teal/green combo.
That needs to be remedied!
XXX
Samantha
Wonderful Samantha. I look forward to seeing it!
i like orange. Can i combine orange, green and red as my wedding colors?
Sure. It would be unconventional but a lot of fun!
Hey.. Wearing a subtle grey shirt with a blue jeans and carrying a neon orange hand bag.. Paired with a light orange scarf… Isn’t a fashion disaster right?
No that should be ok!
Glad I tumbled along this site. Lol, I have an orange summer dress and was kind of confused on what color shoes I should wear. So far I have navy blue and darkish grey.
I’ll try orange with army green n probably with one other color I don’t yet.I love combining colors
Nice! I especially LOVE that orange sweater you picked out. The construction on it is awesome. I too am looking forward to getting some orange pieces. I’m trying to branch out of my blacks and grays. LOL I came in via the IFB Links a la Mode.
Hi Carol. Thanks for commenting! Yes that IS a great sweater, isn’t it? I’m just going to settle for t-shirts as it’s too hot for jumpers here. Still need to wear my new orange T…
I love orange too. I have a very bubbly perosnality and it suits me perfectly plus with all the different shades available surely there is one to suit all.
Yes, it’s a great color for extraverts. I’m a bit more introverted, so more challenging for me…
I LOVE orange! Such a fun, mood-boosting color!
http://woodstockwardrobe.com/
I agree. It’s hard to wear orange and be very sulky!
Hi, I found you on IFB’s Links a la Mode. I’ve always loved orange. I love all the ways to combine it into my outfit without looking over the top. Great post:)
Thanks Audrey
to be honest, I’m not a big fan of orange. But as you said, there are many hues, one can choose from. I always prefer more peach-y and coral-y hues for summer, as in the winter I don’t own anything in orange! Currently I own a couple of summer orange tops (one of them has a super flattering cut), which I usually pair with light grey or white shorts and with jeans (the easiest combination!!!)
Orange is a lot more challenging than other color eg. red, but you’re right, it would look great with blue jeans!
Loving these gorgeous color combos! Congrats on making links a la mode 🙂
Thanks Aqui!
Love orange! But,only have an orange blouse that i enjoy wearing with a brown skirt. I’ve alway’s found it difficult pairing orange with other colors..
It is difficult. I’m going to try my luck with it today…
I have just got orange trousers for my holiday l am a a 68 year old lady and my friends are daring me to wear them l have a yellow top which is plain or a white top with assorted panel of flowers down the side of the top or a patterned teal blouse black marking
Great post! I’ve only worn orange to ball games (college color). I always complained to hubs how difficult it was to come up with outfits with orange! Now it’s fashionable, and who knew it could be worn with so many colors! Thanks!! I’ll be styling in ORANGE at the next ball game!
It’s certainly not the easiest color to style if you want to look chic. I’m going to give it a go as well in the next few days!
Orange and white! Texas fight!
Orange is one of my go to colors. It looks very good on me, so I have several shirts, and neck ties, and even a bow tie, where orange is prominently displayed. I also have two sets of bright orange socks.
Great! You will love all the new choices in the shops then!
I plan to wear orange in one of my next posts so thanks for the inspiration.
Excellent! I look forward to seeing it.
I like orange, but so far I’ve just worn it during spring and summer. I’m a bit particular about not wearing too many colors at once and I don’t feel comfortable mixing brights (although I absolutely appreciate the look on others), but I think orange looks great with white or offwhite, beige/stone and navy.
Yes, you’re right that you do need to careful and not look like a clown. I’m sure I’ll wear it with white mostly but am still going to try and mix it with other colors as well!
I love orange! It is such a happy color. I like it with navy blue and with a bright cobalt blue. I like it with hot pink and with yellow. I would wear it with the right shade of purple. It is great with gray. This Summer I will wear it with white.
I have an orange Kate Spade purse, an orange dress, orange sandals, a tangerine tunic, a RL orange print blouse, and I just got tangerine and leopard RayBans and a tangerine belt. I also like it with dark or light denim. I wish I could find a pair of orange pants – can’t wait to see yours. 🙂
Will have to see what I can pair it with. Possibly white, maybe purple or maybe even bright red if I’m in all a really daring mood… We’ll see. Will have to shop my closet!
I love mixing orange with teal. Or as an accent with black and white. Have to have the white or it looks Halloweenish – like someone Heather already noted. See here for summer version of teal and orange with denim. http://fashionforward40.com/2011/traverse-trip-we-arrived/
Oh you look absolutely fab in that outfit!
I’ve had a “thing” for orange for a while. Currently there’s a purse, sandals, a leather skirt and a black and orange print scarf in my closet. I don’t like wearing orange with black as in the US it says “halloween”, but I do like pairing it with brown in the fall. I’m not sure how to mix it in with spring colors, but I’m pondering the problem at the moment. For years and years I’ve loved orange mixed with pink, but that is quite a statement!
Orange is the national color of my home country holland, so I should really own more of it but I don’t. I should really post a picture of a really funny picture of my whole family in orange, with an orange bike, during the soccer championships (when basically the whole of holland was orange….)
oh my god! that seem adorable! orange is one of my favourite colors and family is always a top priority for me, just imagine how thrilled i was as i read your comment! 😉