Mixing black and navy?

marianne

Do you think navy and black can be worn together successfully? My wardrobe options would increase dramatically if I figured out a way around it. I was thinking if black works with denim, maybe texture is key? For example, navy pinstripe with black? Or navy top with CM microchecks? I'd try to take pictures but I doubt the color difference will come through. This may be an odd question but I would really appreciate any thoughts. After seeing Jean's picture with navy and brown, I am also wondering about other neutrals - I am usually only comfortable pairing navy with white.

16 years ago

Dressing

7 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

shell

Active Member

I think navy and black can be mixed successfully! i like the idea of a navy top with your CM micros. I think it works best when there are other colors in the outfit (such as a colorful cami or shoes) or when they are different textures. that way it doesn't look like you unintentionally mismatched!

16 years ago

taylor

Veteran

I often wear black with dark denim, and also have a couple of cardi's that have black and blue together. I think the key is to add something like white in the mix(Like a tank or cami, and a white watch, or handbag) to tye it all up together...I don't know if that is a rule but to my eye it always looks better...less dark if that makes sense:)

16 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Marianne, Kasmira actually has an entire post dedicated to wearing black and navy that I found really helpful.

And this may not be the best example, but I've worn a navy top with my CM microchecks too.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I absolutely do, but only if the navy is iridescent, so you were spot on with the texture thing, Marianne. (Kasmira does it to perfection - but her navy is not always navy. More like cobalt at times).

I’d pair a navy top with your microchecks and add a black belt and black shoes. You need to repeat the black somewhere else in the outfit. Know what I mean, jellybean?

Also, you don’t strike me as “a brown girl”, but I love chestnut with navy and you might like that too.

16 years ago

Ele

(website)

Active Member

I love black and navy together, and wear this combo a lot. To me it's a very chic look, quite French in feel, and I've never understood why it's considered a faux pas to some. But then again one of my favourite combos is black and brown, which most people seem to loathe, so I might just be one walking faux pas;)

It's interesting that Angie says the navy should be iridescent, which is something I've never even thought of. I have worn a dull navy sweater with an iridescent black skirt, though, and loved it. Maybe it works both ways?

16 years ago

marianne

Active Member

Thank you for your thoughts, ladies! Kari, thank you for Kasmira's link in particular. I should say that her hair color provides enough contrast for all-dark outfit, while my hair is already black. Ele, that probably works with your coloring as well.

Angie, I do like navy/chestnut combo, that's what I wore to the Cafe Flora meeting

Anyway, I'll try to play around and add some white per Taylor's suggestion (I think our coloring is similar, too).

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That's right. Marianne! You wear that combo well :0).

Ele, navy top with iridescent black bottom sounds fab to me too!

16 years ago

Category