How to Match Your Colors for Spring

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You can call them classic wardrobe colors, but they’re just one step away from wardrobe crutches. Black, white, denim — you know the lineup. No shade to these standards, mind you: There’s nothing wrong with a white tee and jean shorts, or a sleeveless black dress paired with strappy black sandals.

But if you’re ready for something fresh — and it’s spring, so you should be — here are five easy color combos that take one hue you definitely own and pair it with one you don’t to spice things up.

You own: Black

Wear with: Butterscotch

Wearing black in the spring and summer months is fine, but give it a lift by pairing it with warm butterscotch. This is a no-brainer for top and bottom pairings — picture black wide leg trousers and a butterscotch blouse for work, or a black camisole and a butterscotch leather pencil skirt for evening.

You own: White

Wear with: Silver

Classic summer whites look crazy cool next to metallic silver. It's kind of futuristic, but not too alien in the right doses. Ideas: white shirtdress with a silver belt at the waist; a tank top in a silver glitter fabric with a slick white wrap skirt.

You own: Denim

Wear with: Orange

Blue and orange are opposite each other on the color wheel, making them a dynamic pair. Punch up basic indigo jeans with a bright-orange coat; throw a denim jacket over a rust-colored tank.

You own: Camel

Wear with: Rose pink

A pretty combo that's reliably flattering on nearly all complexions, this is an especially great pairing for buttoned-up offices. Try a slim camel blazer and wide-leg trousers with a rosy silk blouse (works just as well with a pencil skirt). These two also make a banging accessories team: a pink suede day bag with camel mules for day, or rose lace-up sandals and a camel clutch for nights out.

You own: Khaki

Wear with: Bright yellow

Drab khaki gets a serious kick in the ass from vibrant sunshine yellow. Since the latter carries so much visual impact, the key here is balance; think two-thirds khaki and one-third bright yellow. Add a little yellow bag to offset a khaki shirt dress, or a yellow belt to break up the otherwise boring khaki pants and white button-up combo.