Grey shirts are neutral and neutral items are generally effortless to coordinate. But that doesn’t mean that certain colors don’t look better than others when wearing one. So, here are some great jeans colors you can wear with a grey shirt:
- Black
- Grey
- Dark Blue
- Light Blue
- White
That list will serve you well, but there’s more to it than that.
After all, which one of those will be best for you and your specific circumstances?
After going through a few tips for helping you choose the right one, we’ll run through those color combinations in more detail (with pics to boot).
Let’s get to it.
How To Color Coordinate Grey Shirts With Jeans
Consider all of these factors before putting your outfit together. They’re usually the only things that actually make a difference.
1. Consider The Dress Code
The dressier the setting, the more likely it is that a pair of black, dark grey, or dark blue jeans would work best with your grey shirt.
This specifically refers to “smart casual” settings where a pair of light-colored jeans would come across as too laid-back or dressed down.
These are settings where a pair of chinos or textured dress pants would possibly be more appropriate, but a dark-colored pair of jeans would usually be OK too.
In truly casual settings, however, a pair of white, light grey, or light blue jeans would usually be absolutely fine.
These are events and occasions where you could get away with wearing pretty much anything bar a pair of sweatpants.
Light-colored pairs of jeans work with grey shirts in these very casual settings, but should generally be avoided in smart-casual settings where there’s a risk of underdressing.
2. Consider The Shade Of Grey
The shade of the grey shirt you’re wearing may influence the color of the jeans you choose. This comes down to contrast.
A high-contrast combination would be one where you’re wearing a dark grey shirt with light jeans or a light grey shirt with dark jeans.
Image From Deposit Photos
A low-contrast combination would be one where you’re wearing a dark grey shirt with dark jeans or a light grey shirt with light jeans.
Ultimately, a lot of this boils down to personal preference.
Low-contrast combinations are generally more subtle, while high-contrast combinations are more eye-catching.
Which do you prefer?
3. Consider Your Other Items
If you’re trying to figure out what jeans color to wear but the dress code is unclear, ask yourself what else you’re thinking of wearing.
For example, if you’re planning on wearing a grey button-up shirt, dark brown Derby shoes, and a grey sport coat, you’re going pretty dressy.
A pair of black, dark grey, or dark blue jeans would usually be the best option here.
If, on the other hand, you were thinking of wearing a pair of sneakers, a navy chore coat, and a grey T-shirt, you’re going casual.
You could go for a pair of dark jeans if you wanted to dress these items up a little. Alternatively, go for a pair of light-colored jeans (i.e white, light blue, or light grey) if you really want to lean into the casual aesthetic.
5 Grey Shirt And Jeans Combinations To Try
Here are those color combinations laid out in more detail to really help you choose.
Grey Shirt With Black Jeans
A grey shirt can be worn with black jeans in casual and smart-casual settings. This monochrome, grayscale aesthetic is hard to go wrong with.
The darker the shade of the grey shirt, the more monochromatic the combination will eventually look.
If you’d prefer more contrast, go for a light grey shirt.
As mentioned earlier, a pair of non-distressed black jeans can look very dressy indeed. This is especially true when they’re slim and tapered.
Baggy, skinny, and cropped fits, on the other hand, have a more laid-back and casual aesthetic to them.
If you were looking for a pair of pants that would hold their own in a smart-casual setting but didn’t want something quite as “formal” as chinos or dress pants, black jeans would do the trick.
They’re incredibly versatile.
Grey Shirt With Dark Blue Jeans
Dark blue jeans can be worn with grey shirts in a variety of different casual and smart-casual settings.
They won’t ever look quite as dressy as a pair of black jeans, but they can still look sharp and sleek when you go for a slim and tapered pair with minimal distressing.
A potential benefit you have when wearing dark blue jeans with a grey shirt, as opposed to black jeans, is that you add contrast to the outfit.
Not everyone wants a monochrome aesthetic.
Dark blue is neutral-ish, but will still add more color and vibrance to the outfit than black jeans would.
In addition, many people like the workwear aesthetic that blue jeans epitomize.
You won’t really get this with black jeans, which can look very similar to black chinos or dress pants from afar.
A pair of dark blue jeans with typical jeans-esque seam details, on the other hand, is unmistakably a pair of jeans through and through.
They’re dark and sleek, but still retain the irresistible ruggedness that jeans have become known for.
Grey Shirt With Grey Jeans
A grey shirt can easily be worn with grey jeans, with dark grey jeans generally looking dressier and light grey jeans looking more casual.
As mentioned earlier, consider the dress code, as well as the level of contrast you want when making your decision.
For a smart-casual setting, a grey shirt and a dark grey pair of jeans would usually be more appropriate.
Once again, slim, tapered, and non-distressed.
In more casual settings, you’ve got the option of going for either dark, medium, or light grey jeans when wearing a grey shirt.
Consider how much contrast you want here, as well as the other items you’re thinking of wearing.
If you’re attending a truly casual setting but still thinking of wearing relatively dressy items (eg. suede monk straps or a shawl collar cardigan) a dark or medium grey pair of jeans would usually be better than light grey alternatives.
Grey Shirt With Light Blue Jeans
A grey shirt can be worn with light blue jeans in casual settings, but the combination would usually come across as too casual to wear in smart-casual settings.
Light blue is often the first color that comes to mind when you hear the word “jeans”.
They’re so incredibly iconic around the globe that it’s hard to recommend any wardrobe without a pair.
Light blue jeans are extremely versatile, but also very casual.
As you can see from the image above, the combination of a grey shirt with light blue jeans will immediately come across as more casual than going for a darker pair of jeans.
So, reserve the light blue jeans and grey shirt combo for casual settings where there’s very little risk of underdressing.
In addition, consider the style of the grey shirt you’re thinking of wearing and ask yourself whether there’s a risk of a formality mismatch here.
For example, a light grey dress shirt might look a little strange when wearing a pair of casual-looking light blue jeans.
A casual grey button-up (eg. an OCBD) could work well, but it’s more likely that going even more casual with the grey shirt style would be a better option here.
Consider wearing your light blue jeans with a grey T-shirt, polo, or Henley instead.
Grey Shirt With White Jeans
A grey shirt can be worn with white jeans in casual settings. The combination works well, especially during the warmer months of summer and spring.
In general, white jeans do tend to look better when the sun is out. There’s just something about white and cream tones that just ooze a sense of summer-friendliness.
The combination will be casual-looking no matter what shade of grey shirt you choose, but consider how much contrast you want between the two items.
Ultimately, white jeans are about as light as you can get.
Go for a light grey shirt and you end up with a subtle, low-contrast combo. Go for a dark grey shirt and you end up with something more striking and high-contrast.
Ask yourself what aesthetic you’d prefer and go from there.
Ready Sleek founder. Obsessed with casual style and the minimalist approach to building a highly functional wardrobe. Also a fan of classic, vintage hairstyles.
