embarrassed to ask....

Adelfa

What is the difference between navy and ink blue? The way I explain it to myself is that ink blue is a very dark navy that veers towards black. But I think I made that up. What is ink blue really?

Thank you!!!

10 years ago

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from deb

deb

Veteran

The only thing I can think of is just the name. Marketing, is my other answer.

10 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I also have no idea. Maybe ink blue has more purple undertones?

10 years ago

nancylee

Veteran

I'm not 100% sure, but I think ink blue is a brighter version of traditional navy blue. It's clearer with less gray undertones, IMHO.

10 years ago

FlorenceFearne

Active Member

I don't have any better an answer than anyone else did, but aren't you glad you asked? I'm guessing you feel much less embarrassed knowing that none of us have any idea either!

10 years ago

Joy

Veteran

I used to have several EF pieces that were labeled ink and they were a very dark navy, but not a greyest or teal toned navy.

10 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Here's what Angie had to say about ink blue:
http://youlookfab.com/2008/02/.....new-black/

Though in my mind, it's more like the color below. A little brighter than navy. Like navy with a splash of royal blue. I bought a bunch of clothes from White House Black Market that were called "ink blue" and they were more like that color.

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10 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I concur with Natalie - I like ink blue, it's so pretty!

10 years ago

phoebe70

Member

Yes, I agree - ink blue is a smidge more vibrant. When I think navy I think of school uniforms... but the swatch above (which matches my idea of ink blue EXACTLY!) is more lively. Less black in it?

10 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

Thanks everyone for joining me in the confusion! So Angie seems to say that it's a blackened navy? Natalie, I LOVE your swatch! I wonder if it would be possible to combine the concepts and have a blackened royalish navy?

10 years ago

marit

Active Member

To me, navy is more dull/matte and ink blue is more vibrant/purple-blue.

10 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Yes what Natalie said. I find ink blue has depth that navy sometimes doesn't have.

10 years ago

VernieJane

Active Member

Yes, this one is tricky. While the two names are certainly marketing-driven, I do think there is a shade of difference between the two. The colour above would be ink blue--the colour of the cap of a blue ball point pen. This is the colour that is so popular matched with black right now! Navy blue is darker, and can even be confused with black in dim light, so... I guess that's your answer! Good question and now we are all a bit wiser!

10 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I always think of ink blue as an extremely dark and deep blue that almost reads as black. For me, navy is a dark blue, but "lighter" than ink.

10 years ago

Krista

Veteran

I'm going to go the horribly vague route and say that I think the two are different shades but you unfortunately only know it when you see it! I'm really glad you asked though because I enjoyed reading all of the responses!

10 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

I always thought ink blue was a blue that is almost black.
Navy blue is dark blue, the classic dark blue of a uniform, a shade lighter than ink blue.
The colour Natalie shows above looks more like royal blue to me.

10 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Navy Blue is the color I can only wear if I want to look exhausted and have huge circles under my eyes, a la FDR. Ink Blue is the color close to navy, that I can wear, and my eyes look bright and my skin looks clear. But that's using Goldenpig's Ink Blue, not Angie's.

Ink blue is brighter/more royal, Navy is dustier?

10 years ago

Archer

Veteran

Great line Florence. A validation os the 'no such thing as a silly question approach that works so well here.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Most navies I run across lately are so dark, that it would be impossible for them to be any more darkened...they already are so close to black, so I was thinking that ink was definitely lighter, maybe closer to GP's swatch. FWIW I think that dark navy is really hard to pair with black. They are so close that it looks like I made a mistake dressing in the dark. I wish I could find more ink out there because I think it's much easier on my complexion, too!

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Inge. To me, "ink blue" reads almost as black; navy is a bit brighter and lighter. What Krishnidoux said.

I think Nat's swatch is veering closer to royal blue.

In my book, they are all good!!!

10 years ago

amiable

Veteran

I'm thinking that navy is a bit duller - more gray in it, maybe?

10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ink blue is a blue/black. No purple undertones. Navy is slightly lighter, and may have purple undertones.

But ink blue is also referred to as a form of navy.

10 years ago

Carole

Veteran

Thanks for clearing that up, Angie! I've wondered that myself so I must have missed your blog post about ink blue. I've enjoyed adding a few ink blue pieces to my closet and realize first hand how versatile and flattering the color is.

10 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I think we need some side by side swatches for comparison!

10 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

So Angie and Inge are saying it's a blue-black. I wonder what we should call the very pretty navy-with-royal (Natalie's swatch) that so many of us are referring to?

10 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Yes, what is that color I posted then? In my mind, royal blue is lighter, more like cobalt. And what Angie is calling ink blue is more of a midnight blue to me. I am so confused!

10 years ago

ElleH

Veteran

I would have said what Angie said but I also remember the navy uniforms being almost black.

10 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Maybe the name depends on the manufacturer and copy writer? Does Pantone have a swatch (that may or may not be ignored by others LOL)?

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Pesky blue. With my blue problems, could I even see the difference between navy and ink?

But if Angie tells me ink is blue/black and a form of navy, that would make a lot of sense to me. Although admittedly, I've been thinking of it more along the lines of what Natalie posted - esp. in the sense of it being a truer blue.

I notice Wikipedia has an entry for Navy blue but not Ink blue. InStyle also had a tear-out card on Ink a few months ago.

10 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

Great question, thanks for asking! I would have answered navy is lighter than ink blue.

10 years ago

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