Blacklisted Colors

There are colors that should almost always be avoided in a classic New England wardrobe. They include:

• Rust
• Magenta
• Mint
• Royal (although its neighbor French Blue works)
• Graphite (although its neighbor Charcoal works)
• Beige / Taupe (although Khakis, natural canvas (see below) and Irish Fisherman's Sweaters are exceptions)
• Mulberry / Plum (although its neighbor Maroon / Burgundy works)
• Teal Blue/ Teal Green/ Teal Anything
• Aqua
• Coral
• Tarragon
  
• Rose/ Rose Bud/ Dusty Rose / Dusty Anything (Although faded Nantucket Red works)
  
• Violet
• Apricot
• Sea Foam Green / Sea Foam Blue
• Gold (But stripes on a Repp tie, and L.L. Bean's Field Coat in Saddle work)
  

Natural canvas works, but beige does not

There are a few colors that are mostly misused. But they can work, albeit only in highly specific situations.

• Black can work, but only in formal wear worn after 6 in a major metropolis.
  
• Red never works when paired with black except a Maine Guide Shirt or Filson Mackinaw. And obviously, even a stripe or trim of red precludes wearing pink.
  
• Orange can work if the garment is authentic working gear, such as survival or sporting.
  
• Mossy green and brown should be used by experts only. Olive should be left to Barbour.
  

A Rare Successful Use of Orange