Making Navy and Black look intentional -tweaks based on feedback (at end) - YouLookFab Forum

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Making Navy and Black look intentional -tweaks based on feedback (at end)

Sal

Veteran

Hi All

I have purchased a new black jacket (thrifted and I adore it already). It is quite fitted and needs sleek tops underneath. I have a black knitwear tank that works, and maybe a navy silky tee. I love navy and black together but was just working out how to make it look intentional, rather than a mismatch.

I was thinking of the black jacket, navy top, black pants, black shoes...Would you add blue in elsewhere as well (earrings, necklace, hosiery) or does this start to look too much..

And would you wear a black jacket, navy tee with mid wash denim or does it lose the effect?

I was also thinking that adding cream to the mix might spoil the effect too?

I know the answer might be photos and I can come back to this another day with some pics but I wondered how others have experimented with this look.

I am not a matchy matchy person in general but I like for my style to be put together. For example I don't wear black shoes unless I have black somewhere in my outfit...However I will wear green heels with a black dress and orange handbag.

Thanks in advance to any navy and black experts !!

(Today's outfit added now, wore blue necklace)

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Dressing

42 replies

Latest reply was from JuniperGreen

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I'm a visual person so photos would work for me. I might do mid wash jeans, black top and black jacket. The navy top might also work and make the black jacket "pop." I think the black jacket and pants with a navy top would also look good - much better than all black - and it would look intentional.

Anonymous

I love black and navy together!!!! BUT yes I understand the need to make it look intentional and not mismatched. I will be following this thread with great interest.

Style Fan

Veteran

Well I am not a black and navy expert. I do not own one navy item except denim and very little black. So as a non expert I would say why not? Is this like the brown and black thing? It probably depends on what it looks like. Pictures are needed.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

How dark is the navy? I often do cobalt and black together and that definitely looks intentional. I pick up the cobalt in the one piece of clothing in earrings, handbag or shoes. But then I AM a matchy-matchy person. If there were only the one navy thing though, that would look to me like you did it by mistake.

Tanya

Veteran

I think that black and navy look good together both with or without the addition of touch of cream. I generally like to keep most of the pieces in one of the colors and add just one piece in the different color, though sometimes I'll have a small accessory in that second color, too.

Joy

Veteran

I would add navy to help make the mix look intentional, maybe navy shoes or a navy bag. I also have a small scarf with both black and navy that seems to help pull everything together.

Anonymous

Yes, I would add in blue scarf or necklace, in a brighter blue (more saturated).
I'm not sure the navy would look unintentional, but the outfit would look heavy with just navy and black.
I'm excited to see this thrifted jacket!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Joy that sometimes a pattern that includes both tones does the trick.

I wear black and navy together (or black and ink) quite often -- let me think of a few ways I have done so....

black jacket
navy/cream silk top
mid-denim jeans
black footwear

ink blazer
black trousers
dark patterned blouse (ink/ black present in it)
navy footwear

navy skirt
navy and white top
black footwear
off white and black bag

Sara L.

Veteran

I think another piece would help it look intentional. Depending on how dark your navy is, it's easy to look like you picked the wrong top in the dark. When there's more contrast between the blue and black (like with cobalt), I think it's easier to get away without another matching piece.

Archer

Veteran

Absolutely. Not just do they work - in what ways do they not work? Navy and black are in my neutrals in all wardrobe sections and I wear them interchangeably. Dark Navy = Black to me.

Carole

Veteran

It would be fun to see some picture examples! I have a few ink pieces I wear with black and I love that combo. I like the idea of a print that includes both colors, too, as a way of grounding the colors...a great scarf or blouse!

Anonymous

As Joy mentioned, if you can find an accessory that mixes both black and navy, you are done.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sal, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Navy, Ink and Black always work well together.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Sounds great - so fun to find something you love! I think you could easily wear your black jacket with navy, charcoal, grey, white/cream, etc. and wouldn't restrict shoes to black but would also try taupe or nude shoes.

tulle

Veteran

Sal, you raise a question that concerns me, too. I do think that navy and black together sometimes look like a mistake, especially when the navy is on the dull side, or if the black is somewhat faded ( many black fabrics are so badly dyed, it's hard to tell whether they are black or navy.) So starting with a good, rich black and a fairly intense, inky navy helps. Or use Smittie's clever trick of adding a scarf or other accessory in a more interesting, saturated blue to call attention to the navy. I think your eye will tell you when you've got the right mix. Suz's wardrobe list includes jeans, which to me seems like a problem-solver. Dark-wash denim is a beautiful color, and everyone knows it's blue. If you wear dark jeans with a navy top and your new black jacket (hooray for thrifting!) you'll have a column of navy which will make the black jacket look absolutely intentional.

Anonymous

I'd like it a lot with denim (black jacket, navy top and jeans) . Also black jacket, and navy/ink pants and top.

LaPed

Veteran

This is exactly why I now have, like, 4 pairs of navy/ink shoes in varying styles -- I love black and navy, love them together, but sometimes if I'm not careful they can look a bit unmoored together. A shoe or a bag can help tie top and bottom together. Navy bag is on my list, probably next year.

Another thought: adding a third neutral -- usually white or silver/pewter, in my case, can also help establish that your wearing a "neutral ensemble" not just mismatched clothes.

Sal

Veteran

Thank you all - a range of responses which is what I expected. We are all different in how we wear our clothes of course.

I have mostly worn navy or ink blue with denim, cream, camel and cognac over the last year. I also have started wearing navy, denim and silver as a combination. I love all these and find them simple to coordinate.

I don't have navy footwear or handbag, and am unlikely to get these. I do have dark bue earrings and a blue sparkly necklace. I have a scarf with navy in it but no black.

I wll try a couple of combinations, post them and come back to the thread. I am doing the 30x30 but while I have a draft list I am happy to edit mine as I go - being winter here I can repeat pretty easily.

Be back soon!!

Sal

Veteran

Ok added pics from today's attempt!! Feedback or suggestions welcome.

Black Barbara Lee jacket- thrifted last week
Ink/navy tee/ witchery 2016
Black crops - witchery 2017
Blue necklace - can't recall
Black Mary Jane heels - overland 2009

Joy

Veteran

What a cute jacket. This looks great. The navy looks intentional to my eye. It looks like a bright navy, almost cobalt.

tulle

Veteran

Great! That blue is plenty bright enough to look distinct and intentional with the black jacket and pants. The jacket's extended shoulder detail is unusual and interesting--reminds me of an admiral's epaulets. Nice.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Well the picture seals the deal--it's a great outfit, Sal! The necklace is really pretty and a nice addition. The outfit would work color-wise without it, too. Denim would look good with the top and jacket, as well.

DonnaF

Veteran

What a beautiful navy! It goes well with black and is so much better than non-matching blacks worn together.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Perfect execution of navy with black!

Deborah

Veteran

Sal I have been wearing quite a bit of navy and black together and I really like it. I don't think it takes much to make it look intentional. I like this outfit a lot! My only suggestion, and I do realise it's cold, is that I would love to see a nude ankle in this outfit to create some more balance. Would a nude knee high stocking sock be an option?

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Deborah - great idea - I just added some additional nude knee highs in last week. As I am doing the 30x30 challenge I will be rewearing and repeating and looking for small tweaks using accessories (which is one goal as I am a lazy accessoriser).

Next week I will rewear the jacket, top, pants, shoes with nude hosiery and a different necklace/jewelry option. I do actually have a lovely blue clutch but it is very evening and not suited for a day at the engineering workplace!!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This totally works to my eye, although I also love Deborah's suggestion. The blue is a brighter navy and reads as a "colour" to me -- it's gorgeous on you!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Looks good and intentional to me. I second (or third?) Deborah on the nude ankle socks.

Anonymous

I've always liked black and navy together. It feels more fall to me (works for you now).

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