Blue Denim - neutral or not? - YouLookFab Forum

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Blue Denim - neutral or not?

Sal

Veteran

Hi Forum Friends,

Pondering the deep life questions here....

Do you consider blue denim as a neutral or a colour?

I wear mid wash denim as a neutral and find it goes with pretty much all colours in my wardrobe.

I do find dark denim more tricky though - and I think I tend to treat it as a blue rather than a neutral - and like it with black, camel, toffee, light grey, rust and some patterns, but I don't love it on me with pinks, reds and many blues and greens.

So whilst I like dark denim and find it flattering and smart, I find mid wash denim easier to wear. I don't have a true light wash denim in my closet.

How do you feel about denim as a neutral?

Dressing

33 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Anonymous

I'm off denim now, but definitely a non neutral since my skintone is so warm. Blue doesn't relate to my coloring at all. I nearly always have worn denim with black or brown.
Teal OTOH, I will wear with other colors.

Liz

Veteran

I've pondered this question, too! Even "neutral" colors like black or gray are still colors, and I like them better in some color combinations than others. For example, I don't like black and red together on me (too harsh), but I love black and toffee or camel.

The same with dark denim blue. Technically, it can be worn with just about anything. But I don't like wearing it with a faded navy, or with red, or with some teals. I prefer to wear my blush tops and toppers with black rather than with blue.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's definitely a neutral for me. Dark wash as well as mid-wash. I don't really own any truly light denim now. When I do, it is more difficult for me to style. I tend to like it with black or maybe white and that's about it.

Denim is "casual navy" or "mid-blue" for me -- I will wear it with all my other neutrals (navy, grey, white) and key colours (reds, berries. fuchsia, lighter blues).

Sal

Veteran

That makes sense Suntiger. I can imagine that. I used to think denim was universally flattering and a neutral but I don't think that now

Liz - I feel very similarly to you. I don't like black and red on me either.I am dark blonde (warm rather than ashy) with green eyes - are you similar in tone?

MsMary

Veteran

Team Denim is a Neutral. All types -- but then, I consider dark blue as a neutral and I'd team it with pink, red, and green. I'd even wear a navy blazer with dark denim jeans.

The only thing that gives me pause is teaming similar-wash denim pieces together a la the dreaded "Canadian tuxedo." So I wear my blue denim jacket with white jeans and my very-light-almost-white denim jacket with all shades of blue denim.

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Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Interesting - I'd consider dark denim more of a neutral than medium-wash denim. The more variations in shade the denim has, the less of a neutral I think of it as.

I do avoid wearing certain shades with certain denims; there are some blue denims that go grayish or brownish and they don't work with some other colors. I rarely wear pinks or reds anyway, but it's true I don't wear a lot of blues with denim.

I don't like black with dark denim - I much prefer it with a slightly lighter denim. Otherwise it looks almost but not matching to my eye.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Interesting, Sal. So you find light blue more versatile than dark blue?

Like Suz and Mary, I find all blue denim 100% neutral. Any wash. I wear dark denim with navy. And wear the same washes together on the top and bottom. It all works to my eye

I am also the gal that thinks of red as a neutral....for my style anyway. My red specs work with everything. It's extreme, I know.

Greg on the other hand thinks he's wearing a colour when he's wearing navy. The only real neutrals to him are black, white and grey.....and the white and grey are pushing it....

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Laura. I tend to wear black with dark wash denim but I think that is because wear dark denim to work with black, and neither so much casually. And yes some denim does have a brownish tinge (not related to cleanliness!)

Mary - I struggle with matching denim too. I think you have to wear it with confidence and real intent otherwise it can be hard to carry off. I like dark denim with navy though.

Suz - I am not surprised you can easily wear all shades. I wonder if cool toned people find it easier than warm toned people. I haven't worn super light denim for a very long time - often icy colours are a challenge for me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sal and Suntiger, my skin is warm toned! Blue is really good with my complexion. White too. And I have green eyes - not blue!

Teal is a cool tone, Suntiger! So is the purple you like to wear. So you wear both warm and cool tones by the sounds of it? I on the other hand do not look good in teal and purple. Too cool toned.

Sal

Veteran

Cross posted Angie!

Haha re Greg - made me giggle!!

I had a small navy spree about two-three years ago and added a number of pieces. And I do like dark denim - it really is good for my sort of workplace. But light denim feels easier to incorporate. But I might choose black when you would choose navy as a neutral..

ETA - interesting re skin tones and colours. So many variations aren't there, which make it fun. Whilst I have a warm undertone I do have a reddish tinge to my skin that can show through. Sun damage and flushing!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sal, you look great in a cool pearl grey! I look revolting...

YES, I was just thinking how you would choose black when I choose dark blue. Black is also good with lighter denim, which is to your point.

Aren't Greg and I extreme in opposing directions? But opposites do attract!

Anonymous

Sorry in advance for going a bit off topic!
I'm sure my Winter mother was a big inspiration for my teals and purples

The cool colors that I like to wear are the dark and warmer undertoned versions. Pure blue and cobalt are dreadful on me, glorious on mom. We share pine green and wine purple.

Planning to write a post about it, maybe this weekend, but teal is my Zyla "dramatic" color. My veins, though faint, are teal. The wine purple seems to be my "romantic" color.
Eta- my skin undertone was diagnosed as yellow-orange, there's no visible red/pink.

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Sal

Veteran

Off topic is great Suntiger!! I think this is where emotion comes into play - my Mum loved purple a lot too. Lovely influence.

In thinking Angie I think it could be that your style is crisper, brighter and less earthy than mine, and dark denim has a crisp, new integrity whereas mid wash has a softer, worn in look.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yes, Sal. That makes sense. It's why WHITE jeans are my thing. You also have earth tones running through your hair - which is why you wear tan and toffee soooo well! I think my bright white, is your pearl grey or duck egg blue.

Suntiger, your Winter Mama's influence cracks me up. YES. I get it! I had a very earthy Mama who wore mustard, copper and cinnamon to my wedding! Cobalt is my worst blue actually. Too cool. High five

Brooklyn

Veteran

I think of teal as a colour that can go both ways - cooler when it leans blue, warmer when it leans green (because of the yellow). Much like olive green which can lean either grey (cool) or brown (warm).

I think of denim as mostly a neutral but I don’t particularly like dark denim with purple. Not plum/aubergine, which is fine. A true purple. The blues kind of clash to my eye. The lighter the denim the easier it is to colour mix but I still prefer dark denim for flattery reasons.

The Cat

Veteran

I treat most blues--including light and medium blue denim--as non-neutrals. The only blues I treat as neutrals are the deep blues, including deep blue denim.

Joy

Veteran

I treat denim blues as neutrals and rarely find something that could not be worn with it. The light denim looks best on me but I like them all. The only one I avoid is a denim that borders on deep teal. Warm colors look best on me but not teal, although aqua blue is one of my best. For some reason a deep teal makes me look sickly yellow.

Sal

Veteran

Yes I think you are right Brooklyn with the teal. I definitely suit the warmer olives but hadn't thought about it with teal.

Interesting The Cat - opposite to me.

Joy - I always thought teal was universally flattering (like coral) but now you and Angie are saying it doesn't work. And I do know that teal denim colour, I quite like it but it is relatively vivid.

Yes Angie - light pearl grey/warm white or vanilla/blush/warm camel are my best light neutrals. Much better than bright white or oatmeal. I will take my oatmeal in a bowl please with brown sugar on top!!

nemosmom

Veteran

Oooh interesting question! I’d like to say that denim is a neutral in that I wear it with everything. BUT, my tops are mostly quite dark (deep greens, browns) and I find them SO much easier to wear with lighter denim. Dark blue denim feels dressier on me, and I struggle with it - especially with bright emerald or rich jewel tones.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Great discussion about whether undertone affects denim attitude. I consider denim a neutral, but I don't actually think about neutrals vs. non-neutrals that much. It goes or it doesn't to my eye. I am definitely a cool tone olive (determined after much investigation) - blues and purples are among my best, along with optic white. Not sure how that plays into my jeans attitude.

Runcarla

Veteran

Yup! Denim as a neutral - especially the extremes of dark denim and white denim (IMHO!)

The Cat

Veteran

Sal, I would like to add that when in lack of a "real" neutral (which for me will be white, grey, light chocolate brown, deep blue or black), I will occasionally treat medium denim blue as a neutral. Items in this colour actually "bookend" my eyes.

Medium denim blue belongs to my group of "coloured neutrals," which also includes wine, lilac, deep purple and teal. These are colours that CAN successfully be worn as neutrals in my wardrobe. However, in general I prefer to treat them as non-neutrals.

kkards

Veteran

100% blue denim is a neutral...(black denim on the other hand is a color which only pairs well with more black or white.)

RobinF

Veteran

I wear jeans as a neutral I have some with blue patches on them that I feel need to be with other blues. My light denim are harder for some reason, I feel like they look best with darker tones so they don't look so baby-blue.

unfrumped

Veteran

Interesting post!

I prefer medium to dark wash, probably mainly due to my coloring.

But if I ever found the true Holy Grail of jeans fit, in whatever wash that was, I’d work around it!

Medium- wash , that looks denim-y but not too faded, seems to work best for casual wear.

I have always liked solid dark wash but am re- thinking that in my new direction. Meaning, I think would stop thinking of it as “ must have” as on lists, so I don’t waste energy or $ trying to track it down. That’s because jeans may not be as much my style for “ smart casual “ as other pants which might actually fit me better.

Helena

Veteran

Angie, I'm on team Greg from a colour perspective haha!!

Sal, I'm just the opposite of you - the darker the wash, the more neutral it is to my eye ... and I would say anything lighter than a medium-dark wash would register as a colour to me for sure - especially a light wash! But my eye may change as the times do ...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Short answer: Yes. Blue denim is a neutral for me. I wear it with pretty much anything. I’m not wild about wearing a full on solid dark navy top with similarly toned dark wash jeans, but otherwise it’s all good.

nuancedream

Veteran

Blue denim is a neutral for me and I wear it with any color. I tend to wear darker denim and white denim but I have dipped my toe into lighter washes more recently.

Style Fan

Veteran

Blue denim is a neutral is my world. I prefer denim with copper stitching to go with the rest of my wardrobe but I don't make a big deal about it.

The only blue I wear is denim. I do prefer mid-wash denim.

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