Black feels like the safe choice, and that is exactly the problem. Black absorbs all the light, so the texture of the fabric disappears and the result often looks flat, both in photos and in a brightly lit room.
The four colors below are easier to wear every day.
Navy
The closest thing to black that still lets the fabric show its shape. It works with white, grey, olive, and almost any shirt color. If you are only going to own one sharp pair of pants, make it this one.
Grey
A neutral that never clashes. Mid grey is more flexible than dark grey because it carries you from the office to the weekend without ever looking too formal.
Khaki
It warms the whole outfit up. Khaki works especially well with white, navy, and deep green. This is the color that makes a plain shirt look like a deliberate choice.
Cream
The brightest of the four and the one that looks most expensive, but also the most demanding. If you ride a motorbike or spend a lot of your day outdoors, cream will ask for extra care. Buy it once you already own the three colors above.
One rule that helps
Do not put two nearly identical colors next to each other. Navy with dark blue, or grey with a grey that is only slightly different, usually reads as a mistake rather than a pairing. Leave clear distance between the color on top and the color below.
