Is navy a 'warm season only' color?

Sheila

So what do we think of wearing navy in the Autumn and
winter months? I've been loving it with white all Spring and Summer but have never worn it in the cooler months (except for blazers). Is navy even stocked in cool weather clothes???

10 years ago

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Absolutely. Navy wool suiting is usually offered by the larger retailers. I find it is a better alternative to black as it is a bit less formal and works with almost every color.

10 years ago

carter

Veteran

I have 2 navy sweaters ready to go for Fall. Planning to wear them with black, gray, light denim, taupe, winter white, cognac!

10 years ago

Sheila

Veteran

Thanks, Cheryle. I am retired so live pretty much in casual-to-dressy separates. I wear several shades of dark blue denim and they work well in our climate all year. And cashmere, too. I just have never worn a navy winter top with a cream or white winter bottom...seems kind of 'Palm Beach' to me but I think I will try to figure out how to make it work...probably with season-friendly accessories.

10 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Ah, so you are looking for more casual pieces. A pair of slim cropped navy pants with a white (or any color) top would also make a nice outfit for fall. I find that there is a lot of variation in the depth of color and the brightness that navy can work for a broader range of people than many neutrals.

Can you tell I am a fan?

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wear navy (and ink blue) all year. With cream or white, too! This combo looks more autumnal if you add cognac, wheat, or taupe accessories, or leopard print, or dark reds (or rusts, if your colouring permits). It also works with plums, some greens, golds.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA, I also wear navy in winter quite often with black.

10 years ago

retailgirl

Veteran

Black used to be my go to neutral but now I have lots of navy...looks good with gray, burgundy, pink, different greens, ( ESP. Hunter green in fall and winter) camel, etc. so, definitely not just for summer or spring!

10 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

I love navy and wear it year round.

10 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I hope not!
I am not a huge navy person by choice, since when it's a dark navy it's still draining. But, since it's a little better than black, and goes with my color palette, and is everywhere, I've acquired some items.

I'm echoing others above, that it's a business staple neutral, so that is year-round, not part of a "resort" or vacation-nautical-only palette. And I find it easy to "warm up" with rich autumn colors and textures (navy, camel and burgundy look great to me), or to lighten up with pale gray, white, pinks or mauves, and probably other pastels for those who wear them. So I'm not really looking to add heavy navy cold-weather items (it would not be my wool coat color, for example), it has proved useful as a seasonless and season-transition color. It's not hard for footwear, either, since I will wear black, if that's what I have, but also gray, dark red, and warm browns (cognac, camel).

10 years ago

Meow

Veteran

I'm a jeans gal too and jeans are essentially navy. I'm very happy wearing navy sweaters and tops wtih my jeans. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but I find it slimming and elongating. Like others said, I wear cognac booties and purse and belt to warm things up and that's pretty much my winter uniform!

10 years ago

Traci

Veteran

I think the suggestion of thinking of navy like denim is a good one. I love navy with blush, camel, black, coral and gray. I'm actually a little more drawn to navy in winter. I've been on a black and white kick for summer.

10 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I wear it all year long. I consider it a neutral, like black or khaki.

10 years ago

Anonymous

I'm looking at navy with taupe or greige colours for fall. I just bought an EF poncho in those colours - and am really looking forward to wearing it. Also navy and cognac is a rich, sophisticated matching.

10 years ago

Veteran

I wear it year round too, like everyone else! I do tend to par it with different colours depending on the season, but I don't have any strict rules, just I gravitate towards slightly different palettes at different times of the year.

10 years ago

Sheila

Veteran

Wow I am getting very excited about navy year-round! I had not even considered wearing it with all of the colors y'all have suggested. I am going to formulate some outfit ideas right away. Thank you, everyone, for your amazing ideas.

10 years ago

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Oh yes - navy is a big part of my wardrobe in fall and winter. I think it goes with far more colors than black does. I love it with all shades of orange and yellow. Also burgandy and greens.

10 years ago

Traci

Veteran

Thinking on this more I'm realizing navy is working for me more as my wardrobe is becoming more neutral. I wasn't as keen on it when I had more vivid colors in my wardrobe.

10 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Shiela I have been wearing navy and black together all winter this year. In fact I find it far easier to find winter navy items than summer:) My wardrobe is basically full of neutrals and navy is proving to be a very good addition.

10 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Navy is year long staple for me too.

10 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I grew up in the SF Bay Area. When I was a kid, the US Navy mandated that their sailors (and officers) wear their winter uniforms in summer there. Back then, it was Navy Blue wool. So, yes, navy is a winter color, per the US Navy. Of course, their navy blue is practically black, but still.

So I was surprised to see your question. In the SF Bay Area there wasn't very much difference between our winter and summer wardrobe. Maybe it was the microclimate I grew up in, but July tended to be cold with fog, and February was pretty mild. Anyway, I wear navy year round.

10 years ago

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Navy is a year long staple for me......one of my key neutrals. I wear it a lot in winters ---- sweaters, coats, ponte pants, even woolen hats and scarves.

Infact, I wear it more in winter than in summer. In summer, other shades of blue like teal, cobalt and turquoise are also great to wear, but I like navy as the primary shade of blue for my winter wardrobe.

10 years ago

Sheila

Veteran

After thinking about this more, I realized that one of my lifelong associations with navy is classic navy and white spectator pumps. As a teenager I thought spectators were the epitome of springtime chic. They also signaled 'Easter Sunday' to me. Funny what we remember...Also love spectators with black and cognac -- each with white, of course.

10 years ago