Yay or Nay: Red and Blue in the Same Outfit

About the Author

Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Yay or Nay: Red and Blue in the Same Outfit

— by Angie

on February 17, 2011

A red top matched with blue jeans makes sense. A red skirt matched with an ink blue blouse makes sense. A red sweater matched with navy trousers makes sense. But mixing bright red with cobalt blue gave me pause. I associate this colour pairing with the uniforms of flight attendants, the Dutch flag and super heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman.

The runways of Fall 2011 Fashion Week show lots of bright red and cobalt blue, and in quite a few instances they are worn together in the same outfit. Although the outfit combinations below are a little over the top, they provide a good visual for the colour pairing. And here comes the surprising part – it’s growing on me.

I just might give it a bash. It won’t cost a cent since I can shop my closet for the pieces. Oh, goodness! See how watching 40 trend setting runway shows at Fashion Week can change your mind about something. I never thought I’d want to wear a jumpsuit again, but as soon as I came back from Spring runway collections last September I started my hunt for the perfect jumpsuit.

What do you think? Is wearing red with blue generally a yay or nay? How do you feel about bright red and cobalt blue in particular?

Colour · Fashion Week

61 comments · Add a comment

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I immediately think of superman when I see these colours together, not necessarily a bad association but likely to draw comment. I will not be doing the pairing with my clothing simply because my colouring would be overwhelmed.

I would have no hesitation wearing a blue belt with a red bag or shoes. So never say never I suppose.

February 17, 2011 at 3:46 am

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I loved it in the Rag & Bone show but hadn’t realized this combo was featured in so many different shows! I could absolutely see wearing a cobalt blue moto jacket over a red top (as in the third photo), but probably with something black on the bottom. Julie makes a good point about making sure your coloring is not overwhelmed – it is certainly a bold pairing.

February 17, 2011 at 4:10 am

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Yay – I love the notion of a female super-hero – I think we need as many of them as we can get!

The only slight proviso for me in regard to this colour combo is that I do prefer the looks where one of the colours dominates over the other, or features a neautral added to the mix to tone it down slightly (as per the last two photos), rather than a 50/50 mix of the red and cobalt (as per the first two photos).

February 17, 2011 at 4:35 am

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

What I notice is that none of these are two solids, which is what makes them work. If one of the colors is in a print — you posted two buffalo plaids and 2 traditional plaids — then it doesn’t give off a Superman vibe at all. I like it.

February 17, 2011 at 4:44 am

Lana

Active Member

I don’t like the combination. But I’ve never been a big fan of either colors, so that, along with the superman vibe is quite enough to turn me away. I agree with Kristen, however, that if they’re in a print it works a lot better.

February 17, 2011 at 4:49 am

Lisa

Veteran

I like bold but red and cobalt blue is a bit too bold for my taste. I’d prefer the red against a darker color such as navy, black, or gray. Although as a pattern, I wouldn’t mind them mixed together either.

February 17, 2011 at 5:01 am

Irene

Veteran

Red and dark blue, yes. But such a BRIGHT blue, I think it’s overwhelming. Maybe I’m too conservative though

February 17, 2011 at 5:12 am

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

I’m not sure, I’d have to try it on myself, I think. I’m not opposed to pairing bold colors – I do fuschia and turquoise, grass green and purple, orange and purple all the time, so I think it could work.

February 17, 2011 at 5:19 am

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like the combination in a print, and I also like it when one of the colors plays the starring role and the other more as an accent. I’m particularly fond of cobalt blue, so I could see interpreting this in a mostly blue outfit with one or two hits of red.

One of my biases is that I love these kinds of color combinations, but with a neutral to “ground” them — black, gray, tan, cream — I think that helps alleviate the superhero theme.

February 17, 2011 at 5:30 am

Melodie

Yes, but not a 50/50 split such as the outfits shown. More like one color 90% and 10% for the other.

February 17, 2011 at 5:36 am

Kyle

Veteran

I like it, but you have to be careful. I don’t worry about superhero so much, but don’t want to look uniform-y or too American flag-like. I wore this recently, though, pairing casual boyfriend jeans, a cobalt blue turtleneck, vibrant red patent heels and a red scarf. The colors were solid and bold. It worked quite well and seemed to avoid the pitfalls discussed here. It’s actually a very classic pairing.

February 17, 2011 at 6:04 am

Maggiethecat

A cautious yay – I like the idea, but not enough to actively incorporate it in my wardrobe. I have a favorite pair of dark blue jeans I often pair with my beloved red/white Cons, and occasionally a bright red sweater. Cobalt blue and red… hmm, I might try a dash of it sometime.

February 17, 2011 at 6:07 am

cloud9

Veteran

For us in the United States, red & blue (sometimes white as additional) signifies the patriotic colors of our nation (the colors of our flag). So in general non-government holidays, people here typically do not wear that combination, especially strong doses like big red+blue patterns. Subtle ones like a white shirt plus denim with some red accessories probably doesn’t have that connotation. On holidays like July 4th, probably ever other person has some sort of red/white/blue or all! FWIW…

February 17, 2011 at 6:10 am

Vani

Veteran

What Kyle said.

February 17, 2011 at 6:33 am

rute

Veteran

too flashy for me.. but I do love red and navy!

February 17, 2011 at 6:34 am

Joy

Veteran

This combination would probably more likely wear me than I wear it, but I kind of like it. I really like prints that use bright red, cobalt blue and turquoise. I’d like to see turquoise in the mix along with a good dose of neutral to tone it down.

February 17, 2011 at 7:10 am

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I don’t mind it on others at all, but since neither are colors that I wear I will personally give it a pass.

February 17, 2011 at 7:31 am

Sihaya

Veteran

I think the combination works since they are both brights. However, for me it only works in a pattern or if one color is in the minority. If they are plain large chunks of both colors, it feels too much like superman and wonder woman to me.

February 17, 2011 at 7:44 am

Diana

Veteran

Nay. I adore both colors separately and I’m all for mixing bright colors but I’ve never been one for bright red and bright blue together. I don’t really know why – maybe it seems to patriotic or too crayony or something. I think in general I don’t like to pair primary colors together – I’m much more likely to pair a primary with a tertiary color, like red with teal or blue with a purpley-red.

February 17, 2011 at 7:45 am

Aziraphale

Veteran

My three year old would love it — he’s into Spiderman EVERYTHING. But it’s a nay from me, except maybe the blue and red tartan, which I kind of like. I’m more OK with navy and bright red, but it would have to be mostly navy with a bit of red, or vice versa.

February 17, 2011 at 7:58 am

Debbie

Veteran

I agree with Kyle if you tone it down a little it could work quite well.

February 17, 2011 at 8:05 am

Carole

Veteran

On the 4th of July, yes, otherwise I vote no, at least for me. Something about the combo is just a little to garrish for my liking-super hero looking for sure!

February 17, 2011 at 8:07 am

Mac

Veteran

I would wear cobalt with just hints of red – blue dress with red belt and shoes, for instance.

February 17, 2011 at 8:10 am

iamang

(website)

Active Member

Yay! I love the bright boldness of the two colors together.

http://fasionablylearning.blogspot.com/

February 17, 2011 at 8:13 am

Monique

Nay. It’s just too much. Those outfits seem garish and unsophisticated. But I’ve always disliked primaries together, unless the pairing is very subtle. Something about these colours just turn me off.

Now pair red with teal, or turquoise or robin’s egg blue? I can get on board with that. (I’ll always be crazy for Juliette Binoche’s outfits in Chocolat!)

February 17, 2011 at 8:17 am

Deb

Active Member

Ouch! My eyes hurt from the garish combination. Angie – funny that you say “superheroes” because you are so right!

NAY.

(Navy and red are great together, as long as one of the colors is for accent only. I don’t particularly care for them sharing the stage.)

February 17, 2011 at 8:30 am

Aunty

Veteran

Love both colours. I think I could go for small amounts of one against the other. A thin belt or necklace, but then keep shoes nude?? It doe’s remind me of the brights of the 80’s.

February 17, 2011 at 8:41 am

Antje

Veteran

This is an example of where I can see enjoying something as a trend, but not in the long run. Love that dress on the left (#2 in the gallery on Style.com), and would wear something like that or a top in bright red and cobalt blue a few times for fun and to mix it up. But overall, it’s not a color combo I love and I don’t think I’ll grow a lasting fondness for it.

February 17, 2011 at 8:59 am

Marlene

This one needs to grow on me. I tend to not mix bold colors in general so I doubt I would go for this particular pairing. However, I do like the idea of using the pairing in a print…like that plaid. And ground the rest of the outfit in a neutral. Otherwise there will be too much of an american flag vibe going on. Great on a national holiday or political rally…not so great otherwise.

February 17, 2011 at 9:01 am

Lisa

I’m not a fan of the red and cobalt combo. However, I do like a light pastel blue with red.

February 17, 2011 at 9:02 am

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Since I’m utterly unable to form a mental picture of how these shades will work together, I’ll probably give it a pass. I’ll allow my two signature shades to shine in separate outfits.

February 17, 2011 at 9:22 am

Julie Bird

(website)

I love it! It really pops and it brings two heavy colors out for spring.

February 17, 2011 at 9:25 am

san

Veteran

This combo is too bright for me. It seems like I’ve seen this color combo in ditzy floral prints of my childhood.

February 17, 2011 at 9:31 am

Jay@www.the2seasons.com

(website)

Definitely a thumbs up for this color combination.

February 17, 2011 at 9:37 am

Steph

Veteran

I objectively like both colors together, but I don’t like looking like the American flag. If the colors are part of a pattern or if they are combined with another color (not white) then it works. If they have stars, stripes, are with white, or otherwise look too patriotic, I won’t wear it. It really depends on the individual pieces, however.

February 17, 2011 at 9:41 am

Lori

Veteran

It looks absolutely stunning in the photos you posted, but I do not have the pieces to put this combo together, and don’t think it is something I’d run out and purchase just to sport the look.

February 17, 2011 at 9:51 am

Jessica

(website)

Yay for me! I already combine navy with red all the time, so I might try kicking the blue up to cobalt. But I do love bright colors, and combining bight colors with one another. I’m just so happy to see color as a trend – I was worried we were headed for a world where everything was neutral for awhile!

February 17, 2011 at 9:53 am

Ljubica

Active Member

Not on me. Both colots are too strong with my coloring, so I’d pass.

February 17, 2011 at 9:56 am

mamark

I remember one of my first work suits in the late 1980s. It was a long jacket with a shortish skirt made of cobalt blue, heavy linen (big mistake) and I sewed it myself. I loved to wear it with a neckace of red beads. I was 22 years old and I thought I was the bom-diggity-om.

But now I’m all grown up. I think I’ll leave the bright blue with red to the 22 year olds.

February 17, 2011 at 10:37 am

Bianca

Veteran

I will pass other than the main stream ways you described.

February 17, 2011 at 11:36 am

rae

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I love the red/cobalt tartan, but colorblocking with those colors feels wrong to me. A little too Who Framed Roger Rabbit, or something.

February 17, 2011 at 11:53 am

Lena

Yay.

I don’t have super hero associations or flag associations (even though my country’s flag also has these colors). I may not go for this specific shade of orangey-red, but I’d try it if the red were more tomato-like.

Angie, I remember this outfit http://youlookfab.com/2010/10/.....-me-happy/
The blue dress was not as bright, but the MJ handbag was bright red, and the scarf had red as well. I was really impressed with this color combo.

I hope this means we see more bright blues and reds in general.

February 17, 2011 at 12:32 pm

MsMary

Veteran

LOL, you all say “superhero” like it’s a BAD thing!

Since I just got a lovely cobalt blue pencil skirt from Nordie’s, I’m gonna have to give this a try. Like, maybe tomorrow…

February 17, 2011 at 12:32 pm

Mimi

I guess it strongly depends on your type. My colouring wouldn’t stand up to such strong colors but they look fantastic in the first picture against dark skin. Also on someone with pale skin and black hair they would look good.

February 17, 2011 at 12:37 pm

Tiffany

Nay from me …

February 17, 2011 at 12:39 pm

Heather

Veteran

Red and blue combo is my summer go-to! Love it! =)

February 17, 2011 at 12:53 pm

Queen Mum

Veteran

I’m on the fence with this one. I don’t hate it, but I’m not loving the examples.. especially the large scale plaid. I like the last example picture best because the red/blue combo has been grounded by the black jacket.
However, I LOVE it in your shopping outfit that Lena linked to. I think because you have the solid blue dress, and the print scarf that picks up the blue as well as adding the red along with it.

February 17, 2011 at 1:09 pm

April

Veteran

This combination would look absolutely horrible on me. On someone else, I can picture it in very small doses (e.g., cobalt with a red accessory or two).

When you combine two screaming colors in big blocks, it probably works better on the runway than in real life — much like stage makeup.

February 17, 2011 at 1:26 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for the interesting responses. I thought most people would vote nay to this particular combination or red and blue.

RoseandJoan and Kyle, I like the outfits you described.

Antje, I hear your reasoning and that makes oodles of sense to me.

Lena, I enjoy wearing bright turquoise with bright red. The dress I’m wearing is more of a muted turquoise I guess – thanks for posting it as an example

I would not introduce white or cream into this colour mix as the neutral. I would really feel like the Dutch flag then. But I like it with cognac and dark brown best.

February 17, 2011 at 3:19 pm

Meredith

Active Member

I vote “nay” because these colors feel like a uniform to me. Either a pro basketball team, or perhaps a vendor at an amusement park–nothing one would choose for oneself.

However, I will keep an open mind, because if anyone can pull it off Angie, it is you! Can’t wait to see your attempts in person!

hugs,
m!

February 17, 2011 at 3:44 pm

sparkle

Active Member

Like Autny says , I think I could go for just small amounts of one against the other.

February 17, 2011 at 4:21 pm

Jonesy

Veteran

Yay for this color combo! I really love bold colors in combination. Since I don’t generally wear bright red or this shade of blue, I wouldn’t sport it, but I would admire it on others for sure :).

February 17, 2011 at 5:51 pm

Maya

Veteran

Not a fan of straight primaries being worn together. It looks too juvenile.

February 17, 2011 at 6:35 pm

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Well I am DEFINITELY in the minority here… I adore both colours and have worn them together several times…. I have both a red and a blue s/s cardi that I have no problems wearing with a top of the other colour

My striped dress that I made myself that so many of you love – red white and blue!!! Obviously its a different combo though, and not the straight mix of the solid colours.

For me personally though, I do prefer if one piece is patterned – its not a deal breaker though.

And funnily enough, despite the Aussie flag being Red White and Blue too, it doesn’t seem to have the same feel to me – probably because I suspect we Aussies seem to favour Green and Gold as our more patriotic colours…

February 17, 2011 at 7:15 pm

Amrita

If I could have a genuine superhero cape, I might try this combo. Otherwise, will pass on this one. Love red in all it’s forms but this blue is just too harsh for me.

February 17, 2011 at 7:57 pm

Marley

Veteran

Not crazy about the combination, but I certainly wouldn’t rule it out. It isn’t the connotation of “superhero” that bothers me – its more that the color combination is unsettling to my eyes. I think I would like it much better if one color was simply used as a “pop” with the outfit – but I’m open-minded to seeing how real life people would put this together – and if I had (which I don’t) these colors in my closet, I would definitely give it a go!

February 17, 2011 at 10:15 pm

Nadine

I love red and blue together, and I always have.

February 17, 2011 at 10:45 pm

Beth

Veteran

I’m giving it a pass. Just too much going on.

February 19, 2011 at 6:44 pm

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I wore red tights and blue shoes. I wore a black dress and a denim jacket with it:

http://outfitdiary.blogspot.co.....ntime.html

It’s a bright combination. I think it’s a cheerful and optimistic combination.

February 19, 2011 at 10:33 pm

nafisa

I didn;t grow up here, so the US flag and superman references dont reasonate with me but I do see your point. Its like when I wear black, white and yellow together and people comment on it. I dress monochromatic with one bring color most of the time but I would definitley wear this combination. It also works in accessories like a blu/red abstract scarf, shoes or bag. Btw, I loved the Thakoon clothes in this combination.

February 22, 2011 at 4:01 pm

Zoe B.

Active Member

It is a punchy and fresh combination but I will not be wearing it because this is not a good shade of blue for me. But I can appreciate it on others. On second thought, maybe I can sneak in patent red shoes with a bright blue clutch…

February 22, 2011 at 9:38 pm

About the Author

Yay or Nay: Red and Blue in the Same Outfit

Recent Ensembles

Recent Trends

About the Author

Share this Post

Recent Ensembles

Recent Trends