https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:03:06 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy/page/2#post-1499578 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 17:37:20 +0000 Helena 1499578@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, what a great thread this turned out to be - tons of information! Thanks everyone! For interest, I am going to be doing another Project 333 for June/July/Aug and ink is going to feature VERY heavily - I picked up a few key pieces today (H&amp;M) and will do a post on what I've assembled soon! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy/page/2#post-1499560 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 16:43:18 +0000 columbine(erin) 1499560@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't read the responses yet. I have found that I like mixing black with ink blue, or cobalt and white with navy or black, or navy and ink. I didn't come up with cohesive combinations I love until I added several pairs of dark blue footwear, though. I have some navy pieces I just can't wear together, it can be as hard as matching blacks. Since I'm very much enjoying the availability of ink blue and navy lately I'm happily following this post. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy/page/2#post-1499481 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 14:18:54 +0000 Janet 1499481@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting how many people comfortably mix "almost" black with black -- I'll have to keep trying it. It's fine with me when it's part of a print, but in solids, it just feels off to mix a very dark blue item with a black item. I even tend to avoid it with shoes -- I'll usually choose a metallic instead! </p> <p>I don't ever envision giving up black entirely. My coloring, which is very high contrast, generally works pretty well with black, I believe, although as I'm getting older, I do notice that softer darks may be a bit kinder on my aging skin. I really don't feel the need to abandon one neutral in favor of others, although I don't do very much in the brown-tan-taupe family, since I feel like grey and cooler neutrals usually work with my coloring (and go with my existing wardrobe) better. However, there are shades of brown that I do think work pretty well on me because they bring out the tones in my hair...well, at least the tones that are not grey! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy/page/2#post-1499437 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 12:18:07 +0000 approprio 1499437@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I started buying ink as a dark neutral a few years ago and steadily accumulated more and more pieces as they came along. For me, it was just a case of being patient and keeping an eye open for the good stuff. </p> <p>When it first appeared it was really only the premium brands who were doing it, so I began with a pair of tailored pants from Acne and a mini macintosh from Philip Lim (this was before he got really expensive, so a very happy score there). Both pieces are still with me and in regular circulation. It's filtered down since then and now it's much easier to buy. Now I have loads of it, including four coats. I love it.</p> <p>As everyone up there says, it's interchangeable and very wearable with black and it works well with all shades of white and many brights. I also wear it with cognac and/or taupe accessories to soften it up a bit. And I prefer the ink-out effect to all black, which can fall rather flat on me.</p> <p>All that said, I'm steadily working my way back to black right now. I'm using the same strategy as I used with ink - just being patient and waiting for the right things to come along. I'm enjoying it very much with bright accents and icy pastels at the moment.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499404 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 11:01:02 +0000 viva 1499404@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My love of denim has made a love for navy, ink, and everything in between sort of natural for me. I prefer dark navy over bright (I don't wear cobalt or many bright blues at all) -- and I don't really distinguish between dark navy and ink, even though I see that Angie does. (It may be that my dark navy is close to ink, I really don't know.) Whatever I have -- dark navy or ink, who knows what it really is? -- I do wear it with black. (I also mix optic white and creamy white.) I've never been matchy-matchy and am comfortable with visual "slant rhyme" and JFE, so if it "just" works, that's fine. </p> <p>To me, black is dramatic and navy/ink is warm. Both act as dominant neutrals in my closet and they play well together, but I lean more one way than the other depending on my mood. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499402 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 10:57:28 +0000 Deborah 1499402@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't transitioned from black to navy or ink, but I have incorporated navy/ink into my black heavy wardrobe. &nbsp;I love a deep dark blue but I struggled to find garments that fitted my style preference in those tones. Over the past 12 to 18 months, however I have found pieces that really work for me and integrate quite seamlessly into my black wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499396 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 10:42:13 +0000 Summer 1499396@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A few years ago I decided to simplify my wardrobe by reducing my range of neutrals. &nbsp;I decided on navy as my most flattering dark neutral to work across all seasons. &nbsp;It mixes well with my lighter neutrals - grey and white - as well as the rest of my soft, cool palette.</p> <p>I still have a few black pieces - mostly in my dance/fitness and evening capsules, but I never wear black top to toe. &nbsp;If I need a top or topper for these capsules, I &nbsp;will choose a colour or light neutral. &nbsp;I'm also comfortable about mixing navy and black, but, again, always with a lighter colour near my face.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />I tend to wear black or pewter shoes with navy, though, to avoid the school uniform look - but that's just my association, of course.</p> <p>Good luck with your transition. &nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499384 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 09:11:18 +0000 UK Sue 1499384@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Janet. As I loook like a walking corpse in black, I decided to go for navy only as my dark neutral about 25 years ago and have not had a black item of any description in my wardrobe since! It was a major challenge then as navy was seen as very 'old lady' at that point in time and other than dark wash jeans all the styles were ancient. I am very glad to see the renaissance of navy through its re-branding into 'ink' and 'midnight' etc, and the consequent spread of a wide range of available pieces in modern styles!<br />I agree that which navy you choose depends on your colouring. If you are happy with black the very dark ink is a close softer substitute that can be mixed easily. If like me you have very light, soft colouring it is still overpowering and the lighter shades that are slightly warmer (to match dark denim wash) are more flattering. However my experienceis that they then require more co-ordinating pieces such as shoes etc otherwise they act as a 'colour' rather than a neutral. If you only want to add a few items, navy mixes well with camel and gold accents (if you have strong colouring) and taupe and silver/pweter if you are softer; both of these also mix well with black and other neutrals so can be multi-purpose pieces.<br />I hope that helps! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499374 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 08:38:07 +0000 Brooklyn 1499374@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey Janet, I am with you! I don't like to&nbsp;mix&nbsp;ink with black and also don't like optic white with cream (ivory and cream&nbsp;could be OK) or different blacks together.&nbsp;I have matchy-matchy fever!</p> <p>I definitely&nbsp;prefer dark grey or olive green as an alternative neutral to black.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499364 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 05:41:15 +0000 catgirl 1499364@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I started by wearing black with ink, then I let the ink pieces dominate and added black.&nbsp; I don't really differentiate much between them, to be honest! </p> <p>ETA:&nbsp; Just went back and read comments.&nbsp; Angie and I are on the same page.&nbsp; Phew!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499336 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 02:22:12 +0000 Jaime 1499336@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ink blue is so much more flattering on me that I can tell if something is ink or black just by seeing how I look in it. I don't really care about bottoms or shoes being blue but am trying to avoid all black on top. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499299 Sun, 31 May 2015 23:56:44 +0000 Mare 1499299@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've transitioned to grey and olive being my dark neutrals primarily by wearing them with existing black pieces that aren't replaced with further black pieces but with my dark neutrals as needed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499291 Sun, 31 May 2015 23:28:01 +0000 Anonymous 1499291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Years ago when I wanted to transition from black to navy ( ink in this case), I found that Eileen Fisher was carrying many pieces that I liked in ink and slowly collected all the basics I wanted in that brand and color so that they would go together. By basics, I mean a jacket, skirt, pants, sleeveless shell, sheath dress and pullover sweater. I think I also had a cardigan.. With these pieces I could make a column of ink, both the inside and outside version, adding other colors or prints. This worked very well for me until I lost too much weight for anything to fit. I advise getting the same color and same brand as much as you can. Ink is easier to work together than navy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499288 Sun, 31 May 2015 23:18:14 +0000 Caro in Oz 1499288@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm another who prefers ink (even though it's a little dark for me) it's much kinder than black on my skin &amp; works well with all my other lighter blues. &nbsp;My navies are a lighter, softer version of navy that I like with ink.&nbsp;</p> <p>I still have a few charcoal to black pieces, because I love the cut &amp; fabric, but I find I'm not excited to wear them.</p> <p>This winter is a big one for dark blues here in Oz so I've been stocking up I've been lucky with footwear too. I've found suede booties, loafers &amp; a zipper flat in various shades of dark blue. Before buying them I just wore my black footwear, but hte blues work so much better imo. They give a lighter feel, in the same way the ink clothes do </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499286 Sun, 31 May 2015 23:11:20 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1499286@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>All blues, and black look fine on me, with blue being less stark. Even so, I think I only recently started to mix dark blues and black, and I like it better than what I previously would have defaulted to, which is dark blues and blue denim (too much of a good thing.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499284 Sun, 31 May 2015 22:48:59 +0000 Gigi 1499284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>TG, navy is much more flattering on me also, and at one time I wanted to do as you are doing, eventually switch out the navy to black. But as I tried to pair things with my already-existing wardrobe pieces, it just didn't work. The navies always seemed to function like "real colors"' and not neutrals; for example, outfits that looked good with a black top didn't look so good with a navy top. I eventually decided that I preferred a wardrobe that had more mix-and-match capabilities, so I abandoned my navy quest in favor of black. I still buy navy items, but it is with the idea in mind that I will use the navy as more of an accent color than a neutral. I hope you have better luck than I did! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499273 Sun, 31 May 2015 22:22:12 +0000 Suz 1499273@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>TG, I didn't really answer all your questions, so am popping back.&nbsp;</p> <p>1. Availability: As Angie and others have said, the past few seasons have been good ones for ink and navy; it's more and more common to see items in those colours. Of course, black is still more ubiquitous, but it's surprising what you can find in navy or ink if you are looking and refuse to look at black. (Carla is right on about that.)&nbsp;</p> <p>2. Dealing with different shades: in addition to breaking things up with pattern, texture is another way to solve this, as with all black. Ink out works best with texture and/ or shine. Problem solved.&nbsp;</p> <p>3. Navy bottoms? They're everywhere.&nbsp;</p> <p>4. I don't really worry about "coordinating" footwear, belts, etc. Black works. Navy or ink are great if they pop up. Other colours or grey also work. I am not trying for a super formal office look, of course; this would presumably be trickier if one needed a true suit. But even then it wouldn't be impossible.&nbsp;</p> <p>5. I do have navy or ink items that I don't like to wear with other navy/ ink items in my closet. But so what? I don't expect every item to work with every other anyway; nor do I want a set of "suits." Blacks can be just as incompatible, IMO. If not more so.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499203 Sun, 31 May 2015 19:49:58 +0000 Carla 1499203@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The transition to dark blue (navy?) started when I could not find a suitable replacement for my black pencil skirt this fall, but found a navy one (at Melanie Lynn) that I liked and bought it instead! Then I found a fab pair of kitten heeled navy pumps (Peter Kaiser). Since I was thinking about putting a spring capsule together, I decided to use navy as the focus colour. I found navy linen full legged trousers (Loft) and a navy and white windowpane check tank (Jones of New York), plus a floral tube skirt with a dark blue ground. I already had two mariner-T's (LLBean) navy with a cream stripe, and cream with a navy stripe.</p> <p>Older black items were edited out as they became worn out (black seems to fade to a purplish colour when it gets old) and then not replaced. Like Suz, I already had my fair share of Jean items, and I have always favoured a dark wash, so transitioning to navy wasn't a leap. Suddenly my navy clutch was seeing more use! Also, my white Jean items looked just smashing when combined with navy in outfits. </p> <p>Though I still have black items (LBD, black-T, And black tank top) and some black and white items (snow leopard skirt, checked skirt, striped skirt) I find that I'm not even really looking at black items in stores anymore. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499181 Sun, 31 May 2015 17:54:22 +0000 Anonymous 1499181@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wonder if a person's preference for black versus navy has to do with their coloring. &nbsp;I am a deep winter and feel best in black. &nbsp;I know summers that look amazing in navy. &nbsp;In fact, I couldn't imagine them in anything other than navy as their dark neutral. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499180 Sun, 31 May 2015 17:51:13 +0000 Suz 1499180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My main dark neutrals are ink, navy, and denim blue. Because I do wear a lot of denim, I can pretty much use ink and navy interchangeably. In other words, I rarely try to "match" my navies/ inks. I am usually wearing my ink jacket with denim. Or my navy blouse with denim. Or my dark navy tube skirt with a patterned top and an ink sweater -- where the top breaks up the expanse of darks. Or my navy track pants with some other colour of top.&nbsp;</p> <p>I also wear black with ink and with <b>some</b> navies -- quite happily. FWIW, I do mix optic white with winter white and cream quite happily as well, but I find patterns make it possible -- where all pieces are solids, it becomes more difficult.&nbsp;</p> <p>Black is still in my wardrobe. But I treat it like one of my "colours" vs. one of my neutrals. In other words, I do not rule it out. I just <b>aim</b> for more navy or ink in my key pieces. And I tend to use black for accents more than for core pieces -- where that is possible.&nbsp;</p> <p>Brighter navies I treat as a colour. In other words, blue is both one of my key neutrals <b>and</b> one of my key wardrobe colours -- depending on the tone and shade. In summer, I wear cobalt and royal blue (which I don't wear in winter -- too strong for me). In spring, I wear soft powder blue (which I rarely wear any other time of year). In winter, more dark navy and ink. And so on.&nbsp;</p> <p>A lighter, bright navy is probably one of the most flattering colours I can wear in any season. So when I find a classic for me item in that shade, I snap it up. I also love ink if it shows some skin, as in Angie's dress.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499178 Sun, 31 May 2015 17:43:40 +0000 kkards 1499178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Navy &amp; ink are my preferred neutrals. As Angie said, I tend to treat them as I would black. So just as not all blacks( or whites)are the same, I treat navy/ ink the same way, and look for tonal similarities. I'll be honest with you, I don't like black shoes with navy or ink pants.....so I'm always on the hunt for navy/ink shoes. In the past 2 years I found great booties and pumps, and I'm hunting for flats. But my collection of navy/ ink pants has also pushed me out of black shoes and into neutral, mushroom, grey and print shoes. . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499173 Sun, 31 May 2015 17:31:20 +0000 Anonymous 1499173@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I look best in navy, but it was hard to come by until recently. My switch from black to navy was based on availability. I'm not fond of ink, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499166 Sun, 31 May 2015 17:00:53 +0000 Greyscale 1499166@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet, my eyes have adjusted to navy + black over the past few years, since it's a common combination around me. I used to have your reaction also. I'd still avoid mixing black with those dark blues that I have to hold next to something in bright sunlight to see if it's actually black or not, but that's just me. Of course, I haven't taken the plunge to actually wearing any navy / ink yet.</p> <p>Torontogirl, as someone who only wears black, I've noticed a lot of stores carrying navy as their darkest neutral, recently. J Crew especially - if a sweater comes in five colors, the darkest is usually navy. I always think it's black in the online photo then get disappointed! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499163 Sun, 31 May 2015 16:52:03 +0000 Anonymous 1499163@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I bought my very first navy item this past week. &nbsp;My entire wardrobe is built around black/white capsules. &nbsp;I have lots of trepidation about a potentially very expensive closet orphan. &nbsp;I have no plans to add more navy. &nbsp;My goal is NOT to buy items to make the one and only navy pants work. &nbsp;That would be a double failure in my book. &nbsp;</p> <p>Here is one reason I loathe navy. &nbsp;There are just so many different shades of navy. &nbsp;I found it impossible to coordinate them and always felt like I was "making due." &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499159 Sun, 31 May 2015 16:45:15 +0000 Janet 1499159@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have grown to appreciate navy and ink more in the last couple of years, but am I the only one who struggles to mix ink blue and black in an outfit? I always feel like they can be "so close they clash." Or do I need to train my eye to be less sensitive and less matchy-matchy? </p> <p>Come to think of it, I also balk at mixing tones of white (if I wear a cream top, I avoid optic white in other pieces), and black too sometimes -- when one black in an outfit is a softer tone than the other. Am I oversensitive to this, or does anyone else feel this way? (Sorry for the tangent, but this discussion brought up my question.)</p> <p>I still find it more easy to find black pieces that I like than navy or ink ones, but there are definitely more interesting pieces in navy/ink now than there were even five years ago. However, I've noticed that when I duplicate an item in black and navy, I wear the black version more often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499137 Sun, 31 May 2015 15:16:41 +0000 Angie 1499137@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One last thing.</p> <p>TG, I was SOOOOO happy that this formal dress came in ink blue. I would not have bought it in black. It's sooo almost black, but look at how blue it looks with the blue bus in the background. I just love the shade of blue so very much. And the style of the dress will stand the test of time.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499134 Sun, 31 May 2015 15:12:40 +0000 Angie 1499134@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*chuckle*</p> <p>TG, if you think of ink blue as an alternative to black - it should help. The two are SO similar, yet different - or perhaps "just different enough". Ink blue is truly like wearing a soft black. Wear it like black. Technically then, you will have two dark neutrals, but visually it's more like one.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499132 Sun, 31 May 2015 15:12:35 +0000 Anonymous 1499132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love it with light grey.<br /> I love ink and navy and am so happy these colors are available.<br /> I have summer coloring. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499128 Sun, 31 May 2015 15:08:29 +0000 Helena 1499128@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie and Ceit, thanks for responding!</p> <p>Angie - I suppose I need to just get over my need to have ONE dark neutral. I agree with everything you said about ink - it's much nicer on me and has almost ruined black in a way, because my eye is now trained enough to see the impact on my skin, eyes and hair. So as much as I want the simplicity of black, I am starting to want to flattery of ink even more. It might need to be "Ink when possible, black when necessary" for me - and navy as a color rather than a neutral. Too bad it takes me so long to absorb your wisdom through my thick skull *sigh* ... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/share-your-wisdom---how-did-you-transition-from-black-to-inknavy#post-1499125 Sun, 31 May 2015 15:03:48 +0000 Helena 1499125@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Joyce, I'm glad - I hope this topic will be helpful to others as well as myself! I think gray is such a natural substitute to black - first, it mixes seamlessly with black and second, it is truly neutral (i.e. it is on the black to white spectrum). I am sure your gray pieces look fantastic and your black pants probably blend in perfectly!</p> <p>Navy (and I imagine brown) I find slightly trickier because it can be a neutral or a color (in my opinion) depending how dark or light it is. I like lighter navy with black but not always on it's own; I like ink on it's own, but not as much with black! I find it's a great idea but tricky to implement as a black substitute. Of course, I suppose there are grays with shades of color in them too - ah, this is why people revert to black haha! ;)</p> <p>Anways, I am so glad this topic is of interest - I'll have to check in on some of your posts and check out your grays. </p>