20 Neutral Outfits Year-Round
No colors are more versatile in outfits than neutral colors, which include all the shades of cream, brown, and grey. They’re the easiest colors to style, and they work no matter which season you’re dressing for. It’s so easy and fun to mix and match different neutrals to create interest and depth in your outfits! Monochrome outfits with neutrals are some of my favorites.
Build your core year-round wardrobe with neutrals, and you’ll be set no matter the weather or occasion. Whether you prefer to wear only neutrals or you like to inject color in your outfits, neutrals are the perfect base to any outfit! Below, I rounded up 20 neutral outfits you can wear year-round, five outfits for each of the four seasons.
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Neutral Outfits Year-Round
In this post, I shared the neutral colors you’ll find in clothing (along with a few extra colors that some may consider neutrals). I sifted through my archives and found 20 neutral outfit ideas you can use as inspiration when putting together your own outfits—whether for work or for play—with neutral colors. (There are a few outfits for each season!) At the end, I listed a few top tips for wearing neutral colors all year round.
Let’s dive into the world of neutrals!
What are Neutral Colors in Clothing?
Neutral colors in clothing are any variation of these 12 colors:
White
Ivory
Cream
Beige
Tan
Camel
Ochre
Cognac Brown
Chocolate Brown
Heather Grey
Charcoal Grey
Black
Basically, any shades of white, tan/brown, grey, and black are considered neutral colors. The list is endless! Warm tones go with other warm tones, and cool tones go with other cool tones. For that reason, I’m personally not a huge fan of tan and grey together in the same outfit, but any of the other neutral colors work in combination with each other.
Simple jewelry in any of those colors or in the classic silver or gold also act as neutrals in outfits!
Depending on who you ask, these colors may or may not also be considered neutrals in clothing:
Burgundy
Olive Green
Indigo / navy
I personally wear a lot of Earth-toned colors like these, and in some outfits, they do act more like neutrals. Think blue denim jeans, for example. They can be considered a “base” color just like the more widely-known neutral colors in the first list above.
20 Neutral Outfit Ideas Year-Round
- 5 Neutral SPRING Outfits -
Neutral Spring Outfit with Snakeskin Flats
This neutral spring outfit is made a little extra special with a pair of neutral snakeskin-printed mules. Adding a neutral texture or pattern is a great way to make your neutral outfits more interesting!
Neutral Spring Outfit with Midi Skirt
I feel calm just looking at this outfit! This isn’t the most exciting neutral outfit I’ve ever worn, but you don’t need every outfit you wear to be exciting. Sometimes it’s nice to throw on comfy items that are easy to style!
Neutral Spring Outfit with Stripes
Black and white stripes are one of the quintessential neutral patterns! It’s timeless. I leaned into the “referee” look of the stripes and paired this dress with white sneakers and a white baseball cap.
Neutral Spring Outfit with Layers
You may not think of charcoal grey and black when you think of spring neutrals, but I wore this outfit in late spring so it counts! Brighten up dark neutrals by pairing them with a light-colored layer and showing some skin.
Neutral Spring Outfit with Jeans and Heels
This will always be one of my favorite spring outfits, and it’s full of all of my favorite neutrals! Pick out a neutral cardigan, pair it with a pair of jeans that fit you just right, and complete the outfit with rich browns.
- 5 Neutral SUMMER Outfits -
Neutral Summer Outfit with Shades of Cream
There’s no better time to pull out a “stick of butter” outfit than in the summer! Wear all of your creamy shades in one outfit for the perfect look to take you from farmer’s market to a happy hour on the patio.
Neutral Summer Outfit with Monochrome White
Monochrome outfits are super easy to put together with neutrals. Try making your own with a textured white blouse and white jeans or pants. I added a light grey sweater blazer and light pink sandals for the office.
Neutral Summer Outfit with Matching Set
Create a faux romper or faux jumpsuit with a coordinating top and bottom in neutral colors. Here, I’m wearing a black silk top and black silk shorts. The cognac brown boots and geometric gold necklace dress this outfit up.
Neutral Summer Outfit for Work
Play around with neutrals for the office! I love the different shades of grey in this outfit. The light grey stripes and white jeans are the perfect base and work so well with the charcoal grey blazer and black sandals.
Neutral Summer Outfit with Linen
Linen is one of the best fabrics you can wear in the summer thanks to its breathability in the heat and humidity, plus white linen reflects light and cools you down! Add a straw summer handbag to complete the look.
- 5 Neutral FALL Outfits -
Neutral Fall Outfit with Suede Skirt
The textures in this neutral outfit are so good, I could eat it! There’s just something about cognac brown suede and chocolate brown leather. I wore an outfit with a similar color scheme in the winter and included it below!
Neutral Fall Outfit with Wide Leg Jeans
Blue denim jeans act as a neutral in so many of my outfits! You can’t go wrong with a classic. I love pairing wide leg jeans with fitted cropped tops and suede heels in the perfect seasonal hue for a warm fall day.
Neutral Fall Outfit with Black, White, and Brown
One of my favorite neutral color combinations is black, white, and brown. A rich cognac brown paired with black is just chef’s kiss perfection in my opinion! Stripes and a light tan sweater blazer add more dimension.
Neutral Fall Outfit with Leather Jacket
Add edge to a neutral outfit by layering a leather jacket over it! A black leather jacket is one of the most versatile third pieces you can own. If you’re not a fan, try a blazer, bomber jacket, or other lightweight jacket.
Neutral Fall Outfit with Trousers
This is an easy-to-recreate neutral outfit you can wear to the office! Pair a grey bodysuit (or slim top) with a pair of black trousers. A little bit of bling in the same neutrals on top and on bottom dress up this outfit.
- 5 Neutral WINTER Outfits -
Neutral Winter Outfit with Cozy Layers
One of the most fun parts about getting dressed in the winter (when it’s not too cold or wet) is playing around with cozy layers. Wear a camel topcoat over your ivory cable knit sweater for the perfect neutral outfit.
Neutral Winter Outfit with Oversized Cardigan
If it’s not too chilly of a winter day, use an oversized cardigan as a coat! Start with a contrasting base (I’m wearing a black Uniqlo Heattech tee and black ponte pants) and add a matching pair of boots and bag.
Neutral Winter Outfit with Flannel Shirt
Flannel shirts come in all sorts of colors and patterns (mostly varieties of plaid), but you can also find flannel shirts in neutral colors like this. Keep the rest of your outfit light with coordinating boots and light wash jeans.
Neutral Winter Outfit with Black and White
Black and white contrast each other, and because of that, they can make a bold statement when worn in the same outfit. I had fun with this look; I alternated black and white and my boots incorporated both colors.
Neutral Winter Outfit with Wide Leg Pants
A fun and somewhat expected way to wear neutrals is to stick to a similar color scheme and wear neutral colors that get darker (or lighter) from top to bottom or vice versa. This winter outfit is the perfect example!
How to Wear Neutral Colors Year Round
Neutral colors are arguably the easiest colors to wear at any time of year. Even if you enjoy wearing lots of color in your outfits, neutrals can help ground a colorful outfit. Here are my top tips for wearing neutral colors year-round!
Own a variety of neutral basics
In order to wear neutral colors all year round, make sure you have a solid collection (or capsule wardrobe) of neutral basics that you can wear in all seasons. Think tank tops, short-sleeve tees, long-sleeve tees, jeans, trousers, ballet flats, heels, sneakers, accessories, etc. These basics will make up the core of your wardrobe and make it easy to build outfits.
Stick to one neutral color family
When in doubt, stick to one color family. Play around with shades of tan and brown in the same outfit, or wear an outfit featuring greys and black. I always talk about how much I love a monochrome moment, and there’s no better time to pull that out than in an outfit full of neutrals.
Add patterns and textures
A closet full of neutral clothes and shoes can feel a little boring. Liven up your wardrobe and outfits by adding patterns (stripes, florals, etc.) and textures (leather, knits, suede, lace, etc.). These add visual interest and contrast to your typical neutral outfits to make them feel more intentional.
Play with layers and accessories
It’s easiest to play around with layering neutrals in the cooler months, so definitely take advantage and try different jacket and top combinations when the weather allows! If it’s too warm to layer, try mixing up your accessories (hats, jewelry, bags, etc.) to add interest to neutral outfits.
Think of your own personal neutrals
Do you wear a lot of one specific color that doesn’t fall into the typical list of neutrals? Embrace your personal style and go all in on your own personal neutrals! Think navy, burgundy, emerald, blush pink…any color that YOU personally wear a lot of and that you can easily build outfits around can act as a neutral.