How to Wear Lavender: The Guy's Guide to Wearing More Color
We’ve fallen hard for this light purple hue
Prime your closet for more color with this series of clothing guides for bold shades. The team at SG HQ is breaking down how to wear stylish hues (like how to wear lavender!) with easy color combinations and outfit ideas.
For too long, lavender has been denied a rightful spot in men’s closets. We’ve got it on good authority, though, that this light purple shade is about to dethrone millennial pink as the new hot hue for men and women alike, so get ready to start seeing it everywhere. Yes, including your own wardrobe.
Lavender: it’s not just for Easter baskets or “just because” bouquets you give your girlfriend anymore.
Below, learn how to wear lavender in your wardrobe this spring:
What colors go with lavender
Here’s the deal: Lavender is the palest version of violet (which is to say, deep purple).
tl;dr? Lavender is a light purple.
It tends to have more pink undertones than blue, but like the flower fields where it got its name, lavender-the-color has many different variations. Sometimes it’s light enough to look nearly white, while other times it looks more lilac-y.
For these reasons, and depending on the mix of hues, lavender can fall into the blue, purple, and sometimes even grey corners of the color wheel. As for which shade fits your style, that’s up to you.
Lavender plays nicely with lots of colors including neutrals like grey and navy, reds, oranges, and pinks (yes, really), brighter blues, and other pastels.
How to wear lavender
Lavender was practically made to be worn in warm weather, making spring the perfect time to start strategizing which pieces to add to your wardrobe. Solids and prints are both fair game, and gingham is always a good thing, whether we’re talking about shirts, ties, or even shorts.
// How to wear lavender at the office //
SG Says: If you’re looking for more subtle ways to mix lavender into your look, keep an eye out for printed pocket squares, summer-weight suiting details like pale purple pick stitching, “fun” socks, and even friendship bracelets (yep, they’re back).
We love guys in lavender at the office. There’s just something masculine about a guy sporting pastels to work. You can wear a lavender dress shirt with a classic grey wool suit or a khaki chino suit int he summer, but perfect pairings aren’t limited to neutrals. Lavender looks great against a buttery yellow or as a backdrop for a deeper purple or blue. If you’re looking to really mix things up, try lavender with orange. It’s bright, but so stylish!
> 5 Ways to Make a Suit Feel More Like YOU
// How to wear lavender on the weekend //
SG Says: Chance the Rapper shows that you can dress lavender down and look super-stylish doing it. Consider a pocket tee or polo shirt in the color this spring and summer.
Outfit idea: lavender polo shirt with shorts
SG Says: What to wear with a lavender shirt? A bright orange sweater and sneakers, of course!
If that seems crazy, you can always scale back, subbing the sweater out for a more neutral denim jacket.
> 5 ways to wear a white dress shirt.
When to wear lavender
A good rule of thumb for guys wanting to wear lavender but not sure how to work it into an outfit? If you were planning on wearing white, consider subbing in lavender instead this spring.
Translation? The white dress shirt you were going to wear with a khaki-colored suit could easily be swapped for a lavender one. Or maybe you were going to top of those navy chinos with a white pocket tee? How about a faded lavender number instead? The world is your (lavender-loving) oyster.
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Ready to add some lavender to your wardrobe?
If we’ve convinced you it’s time to level up your color game, but you dread the thought of shopping for new clothes…why not let Team SG shop for you?
Let us rescue you from shopping fatigue and sartorial apathy. With our online personal shopping service, we can promise the kind of dedicated attention that will make you feel like the best, most stylish version of the awesome guy you already are! We’ll also help you figure out how to wear your new clothes with the things you already own.
If you’re ready for a shopping plan that’ll save you time, energy, and your sanity, give us a shout.
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This style guide was originally presented in partnership with Uniqlo. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Style Girlfriend possible!
Damn. That weekend look is all me.
The J. Crew Factory is incredible. I haven’t gotten shorts there yet, but if they’re anything like the pants and shirts I’ve gotten they’re normal J. Crew for a substantially lower price.
might be time to try ’em!
Oh it is. Might stop by the nearby factory store after work.
I have far too many tabs open with pieces from the weekend look. I do need to refresh my New Balance classics I have currently as well….
I’m practically obsessed with J.Crew Factory, the prices are incredible and it’s essentially the same clothing. Definitely reccomend it.
Seriously, it really is! I get most of my stuff from there at this point. The regular prices aren’t bad, but then they’ll have insane sales almost daily that make it a no brainer.
Seriously, it really is! I get most of my stuff from there at this point. The regular prices aren’t bad, but then they’ll have insane sales almost daily that make it a no brainer.
Gotta love lavender! And I agree with it being a good substitute for a white dress shirt, especially since with stark white, I look rather dark wherein with something like lavender, I look “balanced out.”
That’s a good way of putting it! Balancing out a look vis a vis your skin tone and coloring is important
That’s a good way of putting it! Balancing out a look vis a vis your skin tone and coloring is important
Lavender OCBDs look Really good on anyone with tanned or darker skin! In the spring and summer time my skin will naturally get darker. That’s when I’ll throw on a lavender shirt, whoop there it is!
heyo!
It’s also a great versatile look – depending on where you work, it’s nice enough to wear during the day with dress pants, which you can swap for shorts later on!
Funny that HN mentioned lavender as a good color for darker-skinned guys, because I like it as a light-skinned guy over pink because pink tends to wash me out. It works for everyone! I like pastel in one piece per outfit, whether shirt or shorts/chino. I like contrast.
I’m definitely Team Contrast too, always looks so sleek
Funny that HN mentioned lavender as a good color for darker-skinned guys, because I like it as a light-skinned guy over pink because pink tends to wash me out. It works for everyone! I like pastel in one piece per outfit, whether shirt or shorts/chino. I like contrast.
I’m still in search of the perfect lavender smoking jacket…
It’s not lavender but… http://shop.sleepyjones.com/products/ricard-smoking-jacket
It’s not lavender but… http://shop.sleepyjones.com/products/ricard-smoking-jacket
I’m still in search of the perfect lavender smoking jacket…
yeah J Crew is about that life – Banana Republic is super pricey gonna go with the JC
yeah J Crew is about that life – Banana Republic is super pricey gonna go with the JC
#itoolovethatweekendoutfit.
I almost bought those shorts a couple of weeks ago at J.Crew and now I’m glad I didn’t! There’s just something about pastel summer shorts that get me every time. I want every color. Haha. Nice work pairing that Saturdays tee with that outfit too. Pure Genius. Not to mention, some of my fav brands too. Thanks!
hahaha love it!
I wear other pastels but I don’t wear lavender a lot. I really should wear it more. I like the idea of those shorts but I’d probably go for the slightly shorter Reade shorts. For me 7″ is the perfect short length.
All about the 7″ short – good call!
Thanks! It took me a while to be comfortable with them but now they’re more comfortable than any other length.
Lavender is a great addition to the spring wardrobe. A lavender dress shirt is always sharp or featuring it in a tie is a good way to bring it to work. The shorts are a nice touch, last year I think Bonobos had lavender chinos, I wish I would have picked up a pair.
Just passed by as I’m pretty busy today with work then stumbled on this article.
After seeing the first “How to wear” to the office, I then looked at myself and by rare chance, I’m wearing a tan sportscoat with lavender gingham shirt and matching lavender socks with brown derbies!
Talk about walking the walk *high five*
I love how your comment makes it sound like Style Girlfriend is a store in the mall you weren’t sure you wanted to go into :()
Glad you decided to chance it!