How to Wear Green Pants

Co-authored by Lauren Schugar and Amber Crain

Last Updated: April 18, 2021 References

Green can be a difficult color to style, but green pants can be more versatile than you think! When it comes to building a successful outfit around green pants, the style and shade of green are key components. Slim fitting olive green chinos are office-ready, whereas grass green denim looks best as casual streetwear. Choose accompanying pieces in neutral colors, like navy, dark gray and black, to keep your ensemble balanced. Simple accessories with an occasional pop of color will complete your look.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Accessories

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Choose black or brown shoes in sleek styles for dressy ensembles. Green works well with dark neutrals like black and brown. Go for sleek, understated styles like loafers, Oxfords, leather booties or flats to keep your outfit looking polished and pulled together. For example, olive green chinos with a deep blue blazer and brown leather dress shoes is an office-ready look.^{[1]
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- A pair of black peep toe booties can instantly jazz up a casual outfit built around green pants.^{[2]
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2
Create an interesting contrast by pairing heels with green cargos. Balance a pair of loose-fitting cargos with a pair of heels in a dark neutral like black. Heeled ankle boots in a rugged color like brown can look great with casual green cargos.^{[3]
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Research source} For an even more interesting juxtaposition, choose heels with intricate details, like strappy pumps.
- If heels aren't your thing, try lace-up ballet flats.
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3
Inject a pop of color with a bright scarf or bag. An outfit built around a muted color like olive green can look great with a well-placed pop of color. Go for jewel tones, which pair well with green. For instance, you could toss on a wine-colored scarf or carry a royal blue handbag to spice up an understated outfit. For something more eye-catching, mix in an unexpected color, like a light pink handbag.^{[4]
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Offset olive green pants with simple gold jewelry. When wearing green pants, its best to keep your other pieces simple, including jewelry. However, a sophisticated piece, like a gold watch or hammered bracelet, can be an excellent finishing touch on an outfit featuring olive green pants. The gold works well with that shade, and can provide a little polish to a casual outfit.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Selecting a Style

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Go with chinos for versatility. Chinos can be easily dressed up or down, making a statement color like green much easier to introduce into your wardrobe. Pair olive green chinos with a neutral-colored button-down shirt to create an office-ready look. Try a deep forest green pair with rugged boots and a plaid flannel button-down for a more casual style.^{[6]
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EXPERT TIP

Lauren Schugar
Professional Stylist
Lauren Schugar is a professional fashion and wardrobe stylist. She has worked in the fashion industry for 20 years, and currently specializes in production wardrobes for print and video shoots.

Lauren Schugar
Professional Stylist

For an interesting look, go for a denim shirt paired with your green chinos. Lauren Schugar, professional stylist, is all about the look: "Chino’s work great with denim."
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Wear a cargo style for a casual look. Army green cargo pants are versatile when you’re going specifically for a casual look. Create a laid-back vibe by pairing green cargo pants in a relaxed fit with a loosely tucked in button-down. Sport loose-fitting faded cargos and a white v-neck t-shirt when running errands or hanging out casually with friends.^{[7]
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- Avoid cargo styles if you’re headed to the office or an upscale event.
- To keep green cargo pants from looking sloppy, pair them with simple silhouettes and neutral colors.
3
Choose olive green for an accessible look. Olive is the easiest shade of green to wear, since the color is neutral and muted. You’ll probably get the most mileage out of an olive green pair, as well, since they tend to match with more items in your wardrobe. Olive green can look quite dressy and also very casual, so you can get a lot of different looks if you go with this shade of green.^{[8]
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- If you like to tailor your clothes to the seasons, create a great Fall look by pairing olive green pants with other jewel tones, such as burgundy, royal blue and pumpkin.
4
Opt for a slim fit to look work-ready. Green pants can definitely work in an office setting, but the right fit is key. Avoid loose fitting green pants and opt for a streamlined pair with a slim fit. Try deep green skinny jeans or slim fitting khakis to create polished looks that are office-ready.^{[9]
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- When wearing green pants in a work atmosphere, the other pieces should also be slim fitting or, at the very least, not baggy. Go with fitted blazers and dress shirts.
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Make a statement with a bright green pair. Dark and olive green pants are typically understated, but if you want to make a splash, try a bright grass or emerald green hue. To keep from looking too kitschy, pair bright green pants with a neutral colored t-shirt or simple button-down. It’s difficult to pull off bright green in an office setting, so save these for casual days.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Wearing Complementary Clothing

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Stick to neutral colored pieces. Even an understated hue like olive green can look a bit loud if paired with bright colors. When choosing a shirt and/or jacket, opt for neutral colors like navy blue, bright white, black and various shades of gray. These colors tend to work well with green pants, regardless of where they fall on the color spectrum.^{[11]
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- Avoid bright graphic t-shirts and busy patterns when wearing green pants.
- For instance, try a pair of olive green skinny jeans with a black v-neck t-shirt and simple black sneakers.
2
Wear feminine pieces with green cargo pants for a military twist. Cargo pants typically create a casual, no-frills vibe, but pairing them with pieces that are dressy and feminine can make for an eye-catching contrast. Wear army green pants with a light pink top for a trendy street-ready look. Choose pieces with delicate details, like lace or fringe, to emphasize the juxtaposition even more.^{[12]
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- For example, forest green skinny jeans would work well with a scalloped black top with lace embellishments.
3
Pair olive green pants with jewel-toned clothing. A muted shade of olive green works well with jewel tones like burgundy, deep blue and ginger, especially when you’re going for a Fall-inspired color palette. Wear olive green chinos with a deep blue blazer and burgundy scarf for an office-ready look.^{[13]
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Research source} For a more casual outfit, try a deep blue v-neck sweater with a jewel-toned plaid button down underneath it. The visible plaid collar will provide a pop of understated color.
4
Keep things simple when you’re wearing bright green pants. If you’re wearing pants in a lighter or brighter shade of green, those should be the focal point of your entire outfit. Choose simple pieces with clean lines, such as button-downs and t-shirts, to go along with your pants. Something dark, like a black shirt, can temper the brightness of the green and make the overall look more accessible.
- Avoid creating multiple layers and mixing different textures in the same outfit, since those extra details will clash with the bright green.

Community Q&A

Question

Does this work for other colors too?

Community Answer

For some parts of the article yes, for others no. But most of it goes for any odd coloured pants. The parts that wouldn't work are the parts explaining military style cargo pants.
Question

I have green dress pants and a dark blue jean jacket, what could I wear for a shirt or a jacket underneath?

Ainsley

Community Answer

A crisp white shirt would give you a great classic look with a bit of a twist. A rich maroon color could also look quite cool, though.
Question

Why would I need to know how to wear green pants?

Community Answer

This about how to make your green pants look better. You can obviously wear them however you want, but this is advice on finding things that complement them.