Black trousers can be a bit boring sometimes. Yes, they are flattering and versatile, but it’s nice to change things up sometimes while still wearing something that can act as a versatile staple. Similarly, although blue jeans are great, they’re pretty standard by now. Why go and buy another pair of blue jeans and look like everyone else? Plus, you may already have a few of them. That’s where grey trousers come in.

Now it’s true that grey trousers aren’t always as versatile as black ones. They don’t go with an endless amount of color combinations, and so you have to be more choosy with what you match with them, but this doesn’t mean that they’re doomed to stay in the back of your wardrobe gathering dust. Styled correctly, a pair of grey trousers can be your go to leg wear, and will help give you a subtle, youthful and fresh look.

A very light cream or blue shirt will match neatly with light and dark grey chinos, giving you a softer alternative to the traditional black and white combo. A black shirt is a good combination with dark grey trousers as well, as it’ll help give a formal uniformed look and compliment the dark colors without looking over done. If you’re the type to wear a belt it’s best to avoid anything too dark if you’re wearing a light tone, as it might cut up the colors and make it look less unified.

Wear a fresh white shirt over your grey pants and adorn a blazer over it. The color of the blazer can be either black, grey or a light shade of blue, to correlate with the rest of the attire. Tuck your shirt in, to get the foolproof office ensemble.

A print or pattern can be mixed with a solid piece that features on the colors found in the print.

Any lighter shades – blues, peach, beige, yellow will also go well on dark grey.

If you are wearing a tie, then experiment with a strong color with a white shirt over grey pants.

Wear grey jeans with cream, white or cognac for an all-neutrals look.

You may also wear grey jeans with similar shades of grey for a monochromatic look.

It’s easier to find shoes that match with grey than you might think. Grey goes really well with brown or tan, adding a more smart-casual feel to your look while keeping it light and complimentary. A pair of tan or brown loafers is a good choice if you’re hoping to smarten up your look without going too formal, especially if you choose a more relaxed design, like tassel loafers.

Also, if you’re going for a more formal look, then a grey suit brown shoe combination is a great way to make your outfit more exciting. Although you could wear a pair of black leather shoes with a grey suit, this look can get a bit stale. Instead, wearing brown shoes with grey suit can add a subtle but stylish detail to your outfit.

The Long Coat Look – Pull on your grey pants along with a crisp shirt and nice long coat. You will look smart in this look.

The Printed Jacket Look – Have a printed jacket? Dress in this along with your grey trousers or ankle pants. This will make you look good too.

Wear grey jeans with black or navy for a high contrast look.

Grey Trousers Black Shirt – One of the most classic combinations to wear with grey is undoubtedly the black shirt and grey trousers combination. Wearing grey trousers with a black shirt gives a subtle monochromatic style to your outfit, without being too overbearing. For instance, if you were to wear black trousers with a black shirt, you may overpower your look, making you appear too dark.

Wearing a black bomber jacket with a pair of white trainers finishes off a perfect casual autumn outfit. The trick with grey is to keep things low-key and simple. Don’t combine it with any overly bright or loud colors as this will just overcomplicate the outfit. Instead, stick to monochromatic colors like black and white. Although this may sound bland, it can actually create a great minimalist aesthetic that is extremely stylish.

Try a black v-neck t-shirt, straw hat, and black leather sandals with your grey chinos.

For a more informal setting, wear green sunglasses, a navy floral short sleeve shirt, beige leather watch, and grey chinos.

Check out this look – grey turtleneck, beige pea coat, grey suede desert boots, and grey chinos.

You will love the combination of black and white and a pop of color. I like lime green and it’s a great popping color against the soft grays. You can also try another shade of green if you like. Play with different shades of gray for an ensemble in this color combination. You can even go for black for more edge, but a dark gray will be a softer option.

With wool trousers and a v-neck – Green doesn’t get enough respect in men’s style, and the green merino V-neck here ties together the earthiness of the grey wool trousers and brown leather boots. You could go with a white shirt here, or a more casual look, but a blue twill or poplin dress shirt works just as well. The Lands’ End Year ‘Rounder is a dress pant, but you could wear this look casually. Sure it’s an elegant/refined kinda casual – not something to wear while hitting a dive bar with pals, but maybe something to wear when you feel like kicking it up a notch for your significant other?

Combining gray with red is another fantastic idea. Try this look for a more colorful appearance.