Neutrals are serene colours that go with everything. They are typically less intense and less saturated than other colours. Black, shades of grey, and shades of white are the most popular neutrals. Then there’s shades of dark blue, blue denim, dark brown, taupe, shades of caramel, and shades of beige. Shades of olive are also often considered neutral.

Most wardrobes have a neutral component, because neutrals are grounding, versatile and soothing. It can be larger or smaller depending on your sartorial preferences. Some wardrobes are completely neutral, and others extremely colour-rich. It’s all good as long as you wear colours that you like and make you happy.

If you wear a large assortment of non-neutrals like I do, you’ll find that some of them are extremely versatile and function somewhat like a neutral. Tomato red and blush pink are the non-neutral neutrals of my style, and they work well together. To my eye, tomato red is a magical colour that works with every neutral and non-neutral. Blush pink is not far behind. I also find citron versatile, but not as versatile as a very bright orange-y red and soft pastel pink.

My clients run the gamut. Some with black/grey/white wardrobes think of dark blue and shades of brown as non-neutrals, which is extreme. Others with strong neutral wardrobes think of burgundy as their non-neutral neutral. Those into jewel tones find shades of purple and teal versatile and neutral. And those into earth tones regard shades of mustard, cinnamon, and burnt orange as their non-neutral neutrals.

Over to you. Which non-neutrals function as neutrals for your style?