Color Chart from “Correct Apparel for Gentlemen” (1931)
This chart is from an interesting little booklet printed for ‘Society Brand Clothes’ in 1931 that was evidently distributed at men’s clothing stores as a kinda style guide. Here is a slightly updated version of the chart that was featured in the book. I hope that someone finds it useful …
Color Chart:
Key: Hm = Harmonizing, Pk = Pink, Gr = Green, Lt = Light, Dk = Dark, Wht = White, Br = Brown, SS = Solid or Stripe, SSP = Solid, Stripe, or Pattern
~~ Suit — | — Shirt — | — Tie — | — Shoes & Socks — | — Hat ~~
Dk Blue | Wht, Gr, Pk, Tan, or Lt Blue | Hm SSP | Blk or Dk Br | Grey, Gr, Tan, or Straw
Blue Grey | Gr, Grey, or Wht | Hm SSP | Blk or Dk Br | Grey, Blue Grey, or Straw
Lt Grey | Pale Blue, Pk, Yellow, or Wht | Hm SS | Blk w/ Hm Socks | Grey, Gr, or Straw
Dk Tan | Gr, Off-Wht, or Wht | Hm SS | Tan w/ Hm Socks | Tan, Br, or Straw
Blue Gr | Gr, Tan, Grey, or Wht | Hm SS | Blk or Dk Br | Grey, Br, Tan, or Straw
Dk Gr | Gr, Tan, Grey, or Wht | Hm SS | Blk or Dk Br | Gr, Grey, Br, Tan, or Straw
Notes:
- Remember to only wear a straw hat during the season, which runs from roughly May to September.
- Harmonizing ties means picking one that does not blend into a suit/shirt combo but is not glaringly different. The aim is to create some contrast and some color. Check out this page on color coordination.
- For more information on how to match or harmonize a tie with a suit and shirt, see here or better here.
For those who need one, here is a color wheel:

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