https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 28 May 2026 07:28:47 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy/page/2#post-702081 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:54:40 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 702081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I much prefer navy to black, mostly because I love to wear color. Black is ok, if I'm doing a (rare for me) all neutral outfit, but I think navy works better with color than black does. Turquoise, coral, orange, yellow, bright pink, light blue - I'd put these with navy, not black. I do the red, cream/white, and navy thing too - no shame in that. As for shoes, I do grey, red, oxblood, yellow/mustard, orange, or cognac with navy (yes, I may have a bit of a shoe obsession). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy/page/2#post-702066 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:31:27 +0000 catgirl 702066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Late here! I struggle with navy too. You'd think it would be easy but for me it's matching the shoes to anything that confuses me. All I have is one blazer from the Gap. I recently cut out a page of hints from a style mag that gave suggestions for colors to wear with navy, like mint and lemon and sort of unexpected shades to take it out of stuffy territory. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy/page/2#post-702041 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:01:53 +0000 rachylou 702041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know, shabbychick! It's amazing. The thing saving my wallet is a packed schedule... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy/page/2#post-701999 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:20:39 +0000 Claudia 701999@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A classic navy blazer/suit jacket is Parisian chic. Elevates a pair of distressed boyfriend jeans, or any jeans, and a funky t-shirt or layering top into something more stylishly polished and dressier -- it doesn't have to be a corporate vibe at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy/page/2#post-701998 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:19:34 +0000 rute 701998@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love navy! It's so trendy paired with black or grey! Go for pieces with a more trendy cut! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701997 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:19:14 +0000 Anonymous 701997@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>rachylou- You didn't go back and get that skirt yet? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701991 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:17:55 +0000 rachylou 701991@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've lost navy in my wardrobe and I want it back. I'm still dreaming of that navy A-line skirt I saw. I think a piece with a sharp, modern line might make you feel better about it as well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701986 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:15:44 +0000 Anonymous 701986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Diana- About thinking it's black but it's really navy....<br /> I can't count the number of times I wore a certain black skirt with black tights and black heels before I realized the skirt was navy. It was a long time ago and surely people must have thought I'd lost my mind. LOL...of course it was during the years when I had a 3 year old, a 2 year old and a newborn....I mean who wouldn't be only half awake when getting dressed??? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701984 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:12:45 +0000 Aziraphale 701984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Have you tried wearing navy, white and mid-blue denim? Or with heather gray? Charcoal? Those are my favourite ways to wear it.</p> <p>I love navy because, to me, it's classy and timeless. But as you know I prefer a restrained colour palette. Perhaps you don't. If you really don't like it, why wear it? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701981 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:09:54 +0000 celia 701981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love navy.I like the crispness of it, the fact that it doesn't overpower me as black does, even the fact that it has classic connotations.<br /> Just try to wear your navy items in outfits that make you happy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701978 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:06:22 +0000 Anonymous 701978@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a couple of pieces of navy, but I agree with you. I think I'm so used to incorporating black in my outfits that navy just gets stuck on the sidelines with brown.</p> <p>EDT: And while I do like Angie's combo of navy with black, it's not my idea of true "navy". I do love cobalt and inky blue.....there are so many variations of navy out there, it makes it an almost impossible color to match if you wanted to. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701975 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:02:26 +0000 velvetychocolate 701975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love navy too - but I will confess to kind of banishing it for awhile there, due to fears of "too conservative" or possibly "too matronly". </p> <p>Thing is? My bridesmaids wore midnight blue dresses, my dining room chairs are upholstered with navy/dark blue, and most importantly - navy suits my colouring a lot better than black does. I'll probably avoid wearing it with khaki, and maybe I might not pair it with red and white except for little 'pops' of colour (accessories etc.). </p> <p>I was going to say I'd avoid navy blazers, but then after seeing Angie's outfit posted above, I just realized that as long as the style is new and interesting, then the "boring" potential of navy is totally ameliorated. Huh...I just realized that this is the opposite of Angie's suggestion (in the past on the blog somewhere) that very classic clothing can look extra-stylish in new colours. I wonder if the opposite is true, in that if you take an "old" or classic colour, then the styling of the item is what makes it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701914 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:44:24 +0000 Astrid 701914@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I second Zapotee, I just love all blues! Navy is one of my favourite neutrals. I love it with black, grey, cream, berry colors and with denim. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701910 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:40:03 +0000 Anonymous 701910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love navy and all blues, in general. I love the pairing of Navy and cognac! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701908 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:39:00 +0000 Jonesy 701908@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love all variations of dark blue and wear it a lot! I love it with mustard, for example, when I would never wear black with mustard. I love it with gray, with berry shades, with denim. I especially love ink blue and midnight blue, but navy is fine too. I agree about the navy blazer being associated with conservative business wear, but I love it in most other ways. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701905 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:36:10 +0000 Angie 701905@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm going to be Big Bossy Angie. Just wear navy, the darker the better, and leave the house. </p> <p>Ink blue is just dark navy. That's all. This colour combination might inspire you: </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701887 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:25:57 +0000 April 701887@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all for your thoughts. Lots of wisdom here -- about tones, textures, and color pairings. </p> <p>I hasten to add that I do not lump ink blue in with navy -- I think of it as a "brighter" blue, even though it's a dark blue, and I love it paired with black or white. It's real navy (the kind Diana describes that can be confused with black) that seems to get left behind in my closet. </p> <p>I will be watching for posts from all of you navy fans to learn from you how you're wearing this color. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701880 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:20:15 +0000 qpswan 701880@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As a "Modern Classic" I have recently renewed my love of navy but I appreciate that navy can be frustrating...</p> <p>In summer, I love navy with white and pops of colour as well as tan and olive. In the fall/winter, I wear it with cognac and brown. (To be honest, I do have to be careful that I don't come off as a flight attendant, sailor or uber patriotic...)</p> <p>Look for navy pieces that work for your style. Navy tends to be used for classic clothing so if this isn't your fashion persona, wearing navy can be a challenge.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701868 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:09:30 +0000 Anonymous 701868@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmmmm. I love navy, thought I banished it from my closet for a decade after leaving the airlines.</p> <p>I'm wondering what kind of navy items you have? Are they tops, blazers, chino pants? Sometimes navy in a cotton twill can look like a school uniform. Suiting separates can look too airline. But a bright navy handbag is a different story. That looks very fresh to me. Navy in a silk blouse would be very unexpected. Also navy in a trendy piece might look more current and less fuddy-duddy. Does the color just not suit you or do you have negative connotations with the associations with navy? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701863 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:04:55 +0000 texstyle 701863@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also love navy and wear it a lot. Next to olive green and deep chestnut brown it's one of my favorite colors. In fact, I love wearing those all together! But every color is not for every person. I'm with Suz, feel free to send me your navy orphans. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701838 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:43:20 +0000 Ana 701838@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love navy. It takes the place of black in my wardrobe (although I do have a few black things--but only because navy wasn't available). I love crisp, nautical and preppy looks, so I primarily wear it with red and white and yellow. </p> <p>If you don't like it, there's no reason to force yourself to wear it. Find some other neutral that you enjoy wearing more. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701824 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:30:16 +0000 Mo 701824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hear you. I think I was of a like mind as you and Janet - conservative, etc. But once I got my ink blue (is that just a light navy?) cold shoulder dress, my mind changed. Then came the blue ankle boots. Neither item is at all conservative, preppy, corporate. I'd just as soon wear a sack as a navy skirt suit, but my navy items I'm loving this year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701822 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:25:53 +0000 Claudia 701822@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love navy. It is probably my favorite neutral. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701809 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:54:00 +0000 Suz 701809@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>LOL, Jeanne!! </p> <p>I ADORE navy and ink blue and I wish I could replace all my black with those. Navy suits me so much more and is a better neutral for me. </p> <p>Why does navy get orphaned? Maybe you just don't think it flatters you? If so, don't worry about wearing it. Or even if it DOES flatter and you simply don't like it, why wear it? Send it to me, instead! </p> <p>I wear navy and ink blue with just about everything. Black, brown, fuchsia, green, gold, white, cream, denim, reds of all hues...and on and on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701808 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:48:48 +0000 Diana 701808@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like navy paired with black or with greens/teals. I don't like it with the traditional red or white, it's too nautical/preppy for me. Similarly, a navy blazer always reads as too corporate for me.</p> <p>I don't have a ton of navy, but my favorite summer dress is a navy sack dress. I really like it with my neon pink belt or my silver belt. By itself, or with a turquoise jacket or my light denim jacket. I think the bright colors really pop on the dark background and help make the navy more fun/less consevative.</p> <p>As an aside, has anyone else had the experience of buying something they thought was black and then getting home to discover that it's actually navy? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701795 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:27:37 +0000 Traci 701795@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It definitely has to do with the color of the navy for me. I prefer a warm undertoned navy to a cool undertone. I only started buying navy in the last year and I was surprised how much it appealed to me because I hadn't cared for it in the past. Then I bought a navy skirt and realized quickly that it doesn't fit in with my wardrobe because it's the older, colder toned navy. I think of the navy I prefer as a middle ground between navy and ink blue. I love it with black, grey, camel, cream and pinks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701793 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:24:16 +0000 Jjsloane 701793@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No need to embrace navy if you're not inclined. I have enough for everyone in my closet. It's classic, it's preppy and oh so me. It has also been my black replacement recently as it's a bit less harsh on me. I love it in summer with whites, reds (yes sometimes altogether like a flag) or with royal and white (kind of greek to me) or with yellow and white (South of France), or with the newly revived kelly green (super preppy). In fall/winter I love it with grey and black and rust and this year burgundy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701785 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:13:01 +0000 Anonymous 701785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't wear navy. Everything in my wardrobe that was navy was an orphan. I found it mundane and boring. I gave all the navy to the Goodwill. Now I have a rule, if it is navy it stays in the store. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701783 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:06:02 +0000 Janet 701783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I avoided navy for years, so I understand. I think for a long while, navy seemed like a color used in conservative, traditional style, and I associated it with nautical looks and very preppy or corporate looks, which are pretty much at the opposite end of the style spectrum from me. </p> <p>I appreciate navy more now, but I still can count my solid navy items on one hand -- a Theory moto jacket (which is actually so dark it might be more of an ink blue), a pair of casual linen pants, and a sleeveless blouse... I am starting to appreciate more items with navy as a base for prints, and have a couple of blouses and a skirt that have a navy base rather than black, and I enjoy them. They seem to look particularly good with white bottoms and jeans. </p> <p>Maybe if you find a print with navy that really appeals to you, that might be a way to ease it into your wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-do-we-think-of-navy#post-701782 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:01:22 +0000 Anonymous 701782@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The only navy I've been able to "make friends with" is a dusty navy (think denim). The dark, inky navies are definitely not for me. They wash me out just as much as black does. It's hard to explain, but a lot depends on the fabric. If it's a matte finish that comes across as soft, I can usually make it work. It has to look a bit grayed, if that makes any sense. I also don't wear black or navy near my face unless the top has a low neck and there's enough skin showing to counteract the strong color. In addition, I usually wear a colorful necklace to offset the strong color. </p>