The 7 Colours Every Stylish Man Should Be Wearing For Winter 2026

Image Credit: Sirplus

The mornings are getting dark. We’d suggest it’s time for your wardrobe to follow suit. The beginning of winter marks a shift in seasons and in how we dress. It’s a time to swap light for heavy, smooth for textured, airy for insulating, and to reassess the colour palette that makes up our daily outfits.

The light, breezy hues that carried you so willingly through the summer feel out of their depth in the harsh winter weather, but what exactly should you replace them with? We’d suggest a mix of grounded neutrals, bold trend-led seasonal tones and classic autumn/winter colours, which you’ll find a handpicked selection of below.

From punchy statement shades for colour-pop accessories to sober anchor shades to ground your looks, these are the colours to know for winter 2026.

Forest Green

Velasca

Classic forest green has a deep, earthy, organic quality that feels right at home in winter wardrobes. It conjures images of evergreen trees, outdoor clothing and military garb – a colour with an unmistakable utilitarian edge, but not at the expense of elegance.

Less harsh than black but infinitely more interesting than navy.

Best for

Medium to dark skin tones. Particularly those with warm or neutral undertones. That said, it’s pretty versatile and looks good with most complexions.

What to buy

In a word: outerwear. Perhaps a heavy canvas overshirt or field jacket for everyday wear, or go smarter with a proper wool coat.

It also works well in knitwear and accessories. Think beanies, scarves, gloves and simple crew-neck sweaters.

Safety Orange

Wax London

Not one for the faint of heart, this high-vis shade is tricky to master, but it can bring an unexpected energy to winter dressing. Traditionally used in workwear and hunting gear, it has been recontextualised by streetwear and outdoor brands as a bold, irreverent accent.

Playful, unapologetic, and best served in small, carefully considered doses.

Best for

Best worn by those with medium to deep skin tones, but in truth anyone can make it work if they exercise a little restraint.

What to buy

Think accessories. A bright orange beanie, a nylon tote or a wool cap.

It also works well as a statement mid-layer. A quarter-zip fleece or gilet worn beneath a charcoal overcoat, for example.

Royal Blue

ISTO

Clean, confident and punchy. It has all the perks of a bold orange but without any of the risk. You know this colour. It’s safe, but it always stands out in a crowd. This makes it a sensible way to inject some fun into winter’s often murky palette.

Brighter than navy but more grounded than sky blue, it feels sharp against greys and dark browns, and it can lean sporty or smart depending on the fabric choice.

Best for

Lighter skin tones will benefit from the contrast. Those with cool undertones will find it particularly flattering.

What to buy

Knitwear, shirting or light outerwear would be our advice. A royal blue lambswool crew neck is ideal for layering, and a French workwear-style chore coat will always look great.

Chocolate Brown

Velasca

This rich brown feels warm, grounded and quietly luxurious. Softer than black, more wearable than tan, and bang on trend according to Pantone.

You’ll find it particularly effective when paired with textured fabrics – think shearling, suede or cord – which play to its richness.

Best for

Everyone, but it looks especially good against complexions with warm or olive undertones.

What to buy

Texture, texture, texture! We’re talking wide-wale corduroy trousers, shearling-collared jackets and thick-pile fleece.

For a more subtle take, go down the footwear route with some suede boots or a pair of chunky Derby shoes.

Burnt Orange

Wax London

Autumn’s last gasp and winter’s secret weapon. Deeper and more wearable than the aforementioned brighter shade of orange, it has a warm, vintage quality that nods to 1970s menswear.

It adds life to darker outfits without clashing and works surprisingly well in tailoring and knitwear alike.

Best for

Best suited to warm or olive complexions. But don’t let that put you off if you’re a bit pale and pasty at this time of year.

What to buy

Knitwear is the key here. Think chunky rollnecks, simple crew-neck sweaters and even a bit of mohair-cardi action.

If you want something subtler, a pair of orange-brown socks or a beanie hits the same note with less commitment.

Velasca

Navy is the great leveller: smart, reliable, and immune to trends. It’s darker and more grounded in winter, offering the same versatility as black but with a bit more depth and warmth.

It anchors bolder colours and fits in everywhere from city tailoring to country outerwear.

Best for

Everyone. There’s no skin tone that it doesn’t suit.

What to buy

A navy overcoat or pea coat is a cold-weather essential. For something more casual, go for merino knitwear, a navy fleece zip-up or wide-leg cords.

It also works well in tonal outfits – navy worn head-to-toe in varied textures feels clean and modern, and it requires little thought to pull off.

Charcoal Grey

Corneliani

The ultimate winter neutral. Softer than black, sharper than mid-grey, and it brings structure to layered outfits without hogging the focus. In tailoring, it looks timeless. In knits, it’s relaxed but put-together.

It also plays well with everything from forest green to burnt orange.

Best for

Cool or neutral skin tones, but its neutrality means almost anyone can wear it with the right contrast elsewhere.

What to buy

A charcoal flannel suit is a menswear classic that will see you right for winter weddings and the like. You can also bring it in through knitwear, wool trousers or even a textured scarf.

Paddy Maddison

Paddy Maddison is Ape's Style Editor. His work has been published in Esquire, Men’s Health, ShortList, The Independent and more. An outerwear and sneaker fanatic, his finger is firmly on the pulse for the latest trends, while always maintaining an interest in classic style.