24 Formal Colors

John Spacey, December 24, 2022

Formal colors are colors that are considered appropriate for significant and meaningful events, occasions and designs. These align to culture, convention and etiquette that sanction or recognize colors as being serious and symbolic of authority or respect. Formal colors also feel formal, perhaps due to immersion in a culture where colors are often depicted as such. The primary formal colors are black and white. This is followed by somewhat formal colors such as dark grey and navy blue. The following palette includes other colors that may feel formal depending on the context and situation.

Black
#000000

Royal Blue
#000d50

Navy Blue
#01153e

Off Black
#030303

Presidential Blue
#0f1633

Imperial Blue
#11193c

Dark Ultramarine
#130e43

Black Pearl
#161b1c

Charleston Green
#232b2b

Navy Gray
#242f37

Peacoat
#2b2e43

Dark Brown
#331800

Dark Slate Grey
#353e3b

Old Burgundy
#43302e

Marengo
#4C5866

Davy's Gray
#555555

Maroon
#800000

Burgundy
#800020

Gray
#808080

Khaki
#c3b091

Pearl
#eae0c8

Alabaster
#edeae0

Old Lace
#fdf5e6

White
#ffffff

Formal colors are commonly used in formalwear, fashion and uniforms where they tend to be standardized to black, white and other dark colors such as navy. They are also used in design where formal colors vary quite a bit more by situation. For example, very dark green can feel formal for interior design elements such as trim.

White is often considered more formal than black. For example, white tie formal wear is more formal than black tie. However, the formal use of white is quite situational while black tends to feel formal in a great variety of situations.