Realization about navy - YouLookFab Forum

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Realization about navy

Synne

Veteran

SYC last month thought me that I am done with navy. For years I have been weaning myself off black. Although classic, it feels terrible with my complexion. I feel dull, ghastly, it sucks all colour and life out of me.

Wearing my navy coloured clothes in the depth of winter felt not much better. Too harsh and dark. Uninspiring. Unflattering.
No more navy, I promised my self. I need to come up with another dark neutral.

And then I came across this beautiful jacket while thrifting. Tried it on for fun (low-shop, and all that...). And WOWZA! It's still navy, or is it? And sublime!
Now this is my colour! A rich, vibrant, gourgeous navy. A lesson learned that colours come in many shades, hues, saturations (insert DUH-moment here, if you prefer).

My new navy jacket to the right, and a sample of my old navy stack on the left.
Will share some WIWs when I find the time. Thanks for reading!

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Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from April

kkards

Veteran

Imo not navy. It’s more like the Pantone Color of the year classic blue
https://www.pantone.com/color-.....-year-2020

And it’s lovely.

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notsaf

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I call this "inky blue" in my own palette, and love it. I also wear a lot of navy and black, but this is a great pair with both for me and it's helpful to differentiate it from regular navy. Nice find!!!

Synne

Veteran

Kkards, OMG, I have become quite the trendy fashionista then it seems! I blame YLF Love this colour!

Marilyn

Veteran

Indeed. I'm weaning myself off black as well and navy/deep blue is my thing. A dark navy can be hard to tell apart from black.....and you're right in that it can look almost, but not quite, as harsh as black. And yes, dark blue comes in many shades. A pinch of brightness makes all the difference.

Synne

Veteran

Notsaf, I thought "ink blue" meant a very, very dark navy. Almost black. I realize I'm very uneducated on this topic (too, lol). The more you learn

Marilyn, yes, I was surprised at how much navy I had aquired, "since it wasn't black". But still harsh and dark like black. Didn't do me any favours. So, what was the point... I will keep an eye out for yummy shades like this dark blue instead!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I call that one "bright navy." It's my best navy, too, but I also wear ink (almost black) very well too, and brighter, lighter blues.

Yours seems a bit "softened" by white, too -- a bit heathered. That might be another reason it works better than a flat navy. The weave of a garment can affect the way we experience the colour. I actually look great in black velvet (luminous) and horrible in flat black gabardine, esp. if the black has a greenish undertone as opposed to a blue undertone.

notsaf

Veteran

Haha. Yes I don't think my teminology is particularly accurate, but just meant to suggest that finding a name for it to differentiate it from navy might be helpful!

MsMaven

Veteran

I'm sick of navy. I wouldn't call this color navy--I have a couple of sweaters in it now with various names. Marine blue? I love this color.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

that’s the trouble with Navy,it comes in a lot of different shades!Frustrating if you are trying to match up separately bought items.l like the colour of your new jacket whatever it’s called.

taylor

Veteran

I really think fabric plays a huge roll as well. Cotton ( think sweatshirt) tends to look washed out where a richer, finer fabric can look deeper , clean and crisp.

Kari

Veteran

Synne, me too.

For example of what I have on my camera roll, all of these pieces (including cuffs on the shirt) are called “navy”, but formerly the color was called “midnight blue.”

It’s not as bright as classic blue or cobalt, and it’s not as dark as ink. It’s just a more saturated/vivid navy.

(These are all taken in pretty bright outdoor light. They are all the same shade.)

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Marilyn

Veteran

I have this little jacket that I like to wear with certain things. Looks fantastic with light denim. Aritzia calls it Classic Navy. It has more brightness to it than a dark navy.

Babaton macauley short blazer Cropped, 3/4 rolled sleeve blazer

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Helena

Veteran

I thought of bright navy too ... or maybe soft sapphire? To me, the lighter and brighter the navy, the more it reads as a colour rather than a neutral. But I think that is also a matter of colour tolerance and personal preferences/definitions.

FWIW I also think some of the deep browns could be gorgeous neutrals for you Synne!

Gigi

Veteran

So happy for you! I personally love navy; it's one of my best colors. Glad you found your own version.

I have been reading lately about how some people need their colors to be muted to be the most flattering. I think it has to do with whether there is some gray in the eyes (gray in the eyes works better with muted colors, apparently). Maybe muted colors would work well for you across the board?

rachylou

Veteran

I do think it’s more classic blue, but certainly you’ll find a wide range of colours under the appellation ‘navy.’ I think of navy as practically black. Ink slightly bluer but still very dark. But then there’s a sort of ‘dusty navy’... which is the one I think you find drab. I’m not sure, but my navy is probably almost black...

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well I hope it is Pantone's classic blue because I also recently found a top in something like that color and realized that it is very good on me too. Perhaps it will be showing up even more this year.

slim cat

Veteran

What @Suz said about texture is very true - I can do "shinier" black but not flat black color next to my face. Your new blue jacket has wonderful textured look.
Another thing to consider: if your non-favorite jacket is on the cooler/muddy side of navy colors ( maybe not your best color at all.. ) and your new one - is brighter, warmer tone that goes well with your earth colors, complementing your skin and outfit in general.

Synne

Veteran

Again, so many wise musings here... I fully agree that textures make a big difference in how colours come across. How they add or steal glow from the skin. Now, why haven't I thought of that before...

What Rachylou describes as "dusty navy" is THE WORST navy (or colour in general) on me, and this is the sort I have the most of. Sigh..

Gigi, interesting about muted colours. I do have a lot of grey in my eyes. This may be why I am drawn to the "soft summer"-palette. Muted colours all around.

Kari, that is a gorgeous blue on you! My old self would have classified it as just "navy", but I see now that not all navy are equals. That navy is the one I like best too!

I think I am hardwired to call all dark blues navy. It's particularly confusing since "navy" is labeled "marine blue" in my mother tounge. But what is really the difference between dark blue and navy then? Is it a very dark cyan? Is it blue with some black? Some gray? Hum...

Synne

Veteran

A quick pic of me with two layers of navy. Channeling Audrey Hepburn in my specs, heh...

The turtleneck is the navy I feel most drab in. It's like it highlights any skin issues, fades my haircolour, flattens my look. Steals my shine!

The jacket otoh gives me pizzaz! At least that is how I FEEL wearing it. There's just that slight difference.

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notsaf

Veteran

I love the tonal blues! A fab, sophisticated look for you, Synne.

kkards

Veteran

LOVE LOVE LOVE...that color, no matter what we call it, is FAB on you!

Lesley

Veteran

It's royal blue, isn't it? I love it!

Bijou

Veteran

I love this colour too, a lighter, brighter version of navy. You look super cute in your Audrey Hepburn picture - the jacket lifts the darker navy.

Runcarla

Veteran

I LOVE navy or dark blues paired with black, but don’t actually have a lot of it in my closet. One turtleneck sweater is a black AND navy marl. We renovated our rec room this time last year and the walls are BM ‘Hale Navy’ - LOL!

Your jacket and turtleneck combination is beautiful, Synne, and worth repeating. Whatever the colour, it’s a good one!

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Lesley

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Runcarla, SPECTACULAR rec room. I'm blown away by those walls against that pool table!

Marilyn

Veteran

Beautiful picture of you, Synne. I love a tonal look and the blue is swoon worthy.

slim cat

Veteran

@Synne - you look gorgeous in two different navy colors and sunnies.
What a wonderful skin tone and lip color - lovely! It's absolutely works even if it's not your usual combination.
I wonder if adding slightly more make up in bronze, warm beige/brown, gold tones can make it all work even better for skin tone. Anyway - great look.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fun! Colours are sooo emotive.

This is a dark or muted cobalt to my eye. Or very light navy. But good with navy and black. And most other colours. You look amazing in it

Synne

Veteran

Thanks all! Fun to explore fashion and style with such an entusiastic cheersquad

Runcarla, wow! What an amazing lounge room. You are just the coolest lady. Both in style and personality. You have low key inspired me to take up playing bridge again, too. I used to play in college, but haven't maintaned my (sub-par) skills.... it is fun, though!

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