I'm in the Navy now - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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I'm in the Navy now

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Just kidding:)

What I mean is that navy is my new black. I have been contemplating this for a while, and when I got some money for Christmas, I decided to add more navy to my wardrobe - a blazer with matching trousers and a sheath dress to start with. I'm in love with my new essentials, and hope to be wearing these year round.

To me, despite my love for dark blue, navy has always been THE representative color of preppy, prim and even stuffy, so the challenge for me now is to make modern classic outfits based on navy that are neither. (I don't mind being a little preppy in the right way.)

Have you had any shifts or developed new strategies color-wise lately?

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from E

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I've been adding bright lime green for the last six or so months. I love it. In small bits at first, but I've recently finished a long-sleeved sheath dress in that color that I'm looking forward to wearing. Can't wait to see your take on the navy.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I understand the dilemma, Ingunn. I face the same one. But since I really do love navy and ink, I'm trying to figure out how to wear it in less preppy ways.

I'm also undergoing a transition toward more monochrome outfits. Less contrast overall ... although I may still include contrasting details. Most of this evolution is still in my head so far!

Anonymous

I've been moving toward lighter colors and neutrals. It is hard for me not to want to "ground" them with something dark, but like Suz, I'm also liking low contrast.
Your navy will be very versatile. Combined with black or chocolate, it will not look preppy. You might try other unusual combinations like olive or Angie's peach and brown.

Lisa

Veteran

Yes, I've been adding/pulling from my holding zone "or boutique" my lightest colors to freshen up my outfits. The bulk of my winter clothing is dark colors (black, grey mostly) and adding in just a few lighter colors (cream jeans, tan ombre turtleneck) has really helped soften my outfits.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have noticed that a certain lighter grey is much better than a darker grey on me and am trying to bring myself to purge my closet accordingly.

Helena

Veteran

Hi there, I also love incorporating navy, and I agree with the comment about incorporating a bit of black, which keeps it a bit more modern and kills the preppy vibe, I think. Enjoy your new wardrobe pieces!!

Beth

Veteran

I love navy and definitely struggle to keep it out of the realm of preppy. I've been wearing it as a substitute for black and mixing it with gray, which feels less prep to me.

Ingunn, navy is a lovely color on you.

ATLynn

Veteran

I tried to start shifting towards more navy because it goes better with my skin tone, but keep finding myself drawn more to black items. Black is just easier for me to mix in the mornings. I hope to get some ideas from your WIWs.

Like Shevia, I'm adding more light grey to my wardrobe. It blends really well with black, navy and cream, which are my other neutrals right now, and looks great with the few colors I'm currently working.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Navy is my preferred neutral as well. Please post pics of your new essentials!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I've always loved navy, and I'm so glad it's actually somewhat available these days! I'm stocking up.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I love navy! I have been looking for more navy, tan, and shades of brown for myself. I think I am better suited to those colors than I am to black.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Go Team Dark Blue. I bat for that Team too - with black and white.

Anonymous

I like a little navy too, but I've also been embracing shades of grey lately, plus small amounts of black ( I hardly ever wear black but I have been letting a little trickle in).

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

... and don't you dare leave!

I'm definitely in the navy/ink blue crowd now - and I have also shifted to gold accessories thanks to YLF. Was just thinking about it this morning before I got up - yay, vacation!

Jules

Veteran

I know exactly what you mean about navy - I thought of it as soooo conservative. That didn't stop me from falling in love with as my new black these past couple of years and I find it easy to style. Now brown (which I had a lot of when it was in because it does suit me) seems so dated to me, and black and charcoal grey are too harsh as I get older. Funny how these things work.
Edit: I just saw Angie's latest article about brown vs. navy. Too funny! I did manage to finally find dark brown boots with just a hint of burgundy this winter. I've never warmed up to cognac, luggage etc and these can pass for dressier, I think.

Susie

Veteran

I would love to see your new pieces, Ingunn. I think you have such a knack for styling that nothing you wear could ever look prim or stuffy.

But now that you say that, I think it explains my hesitation to wear navy for so many years. Because preppy and prim have never been style goals for me! But these days I am definitely liking navy more and have added several pieces to my wardrobe.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I loved lime green too a few years ago, Alexandra:) So much so that my daughters call it my "green sweater phase". It is a very energetic color, and I'm sure it's great on you. Can't wait to see that shift! I'm impressed.

Suz, I agree that navy and ink are great for monochrome outfits. I'm in fact not quite certain of what the difference between the two is. Is the ink blue deeper than navy, or more purple-blue? I don't mind some kinds of preppy, but there must be an element of modern to it. I'm drawn towards less contrast these days, too, probably under influence by YLF!

Joy, you are beautiful in lighter colors with your light and delicate hair and complexion. I think avoiding contrasts makes it more fresh and elegant many times. I'll follow your advice and look at black, olive, burgundy for example as partners for my navy pieces.

Lisa, I love your wardrobe project! It is so fun to read about it. Adding something light feels necessary now that we're on the right side of midwinter and the days slowly are getting longer again. I long for light colors, too.

Shevia, I'm the same way about grey, it must be the right shade. I think I look better in cool, light grey than in dark grey. I can imagine that you look fab in light grey with your salt and pepper hair!

Hi torontogirl:) I agree, black and navy together is a great combination. My new pieces are very dark, though, so the black must be very saturated for this to work with them.

Beth, grey and navy together is great. I have a few grey pieces to try this with. Thank you for the compliment - I think navy must be beautiful on you, too! It works so well with brown hair.

ATLynn, I hope to be able to provide some inspiration for you:) Your mix of neutrals is the best starting point for any outfit, I think. I have cream, black, grey and navy as my base, too, with some mustard, burgundy and red as accent colors.

Will do, Museumgal! Probably already tomorrow.

Do that, Elisabeth! I'm stocking up, too, but it's a quite new favorite for me. I'm thinking this will be a long lasting affair, though:)

Karie, these colors are great for you. I think black can be too attention demanding sometimes.

Yay for Team Dark Blue, Angie! Black, white and blue is always a good idea.

Diane, you must look smashing in navy with your colors. A little black is great, but I agree that it can easily become overwhelming.

Wow, vacation, Lyn! Lucky you. A little gold with navy is great, but personally I think silver is just as fab.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Jules and Susie, we double posted!

Jules, I agree that dark navy is a lot kinder to many skin tones than black. I bought a dark navy blazer that probably reads as almost black, but still a bit softer.

Thank you, Susie, that is very kind! Prim is probably nobody's goal, I'd think, and preppy is quite difficult to get right. I'm glad navy is gaining popularity and is more available these days.

E

Veteran

That's so interesting you said that, because I was just thinking the other day that my primmest blouse & dress are both navy! Anyway, I love navy/dark blue (it's one of my major neutrals) and very rarely tend towards preppy: I tend to mix it with either other blues/blue-greens or pale pinks/blush tones or greys or taupes. I don't know if that helps at all. I've never tried combining it with dark brown, but Angie's mentioned that mix twice now, so I'll have to give it a go. And unlike you and Susie and probably most of YLF, I don't mind looking a little bit prim, as I think it fits well with my Victorian influences. heehee

In the last year I've begun adding a dark, cool chocolate to my wardrobe, which has been interesting. And I've noticed lately I'm gravitating towards slightly higher contrast looks than before: I'd never give up my mid and low contrast combinations, but a higher contrast every so often feels fresh for me.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Your color suggestions are very appealing to me. Mixing various shades of blue is very pretty. I think dark navy and cognac brown is great, but a darker brown is not on my radar right now. A blush color, on the other hand, would be a great addition to my whites and creams.

E

Veteran

Blush is definitely a wonderful light neutral! It might actually be my favourite, although I like my soft whites a lot too. There's a kind of extra delicacy and femininity to blush that I really love, and it seems to mix easily with all kinds of neutrals.

I'm still not sure I'll like the end result of dark brown & navy, but I'm going to play in my closet some day soon and see what happens. I agree: cognac accessories and navy are a match made in heaven!