I totally credit YLF and Angie for turning me on to ink blue/navy. My first few efforts were a bit of a struggle, until I learned that there were different shades of navy and a flat navy in a plain fabric, next to a flat navy of a slightly different hue in another plain fabric, didn't work. However introduce texture and subtle pattern, and just like blacks, suddenly there could be a richness to the pairing.

I found these navy suede and patent oxfords and it was instant love. I also had recently thrifted some mid-tone plaid jeans NWT to join #teamplaid. Although they went okay with gray items, the blue was too greeny-teal in person to work with any of my navy or ink items. The third element was a mauve shirt which never made me feel fab.

Add some Procion MX cold water dye and assorted ashy and salty additives, endless hours of stirring and rinsing (not kidding), water down the dye and cross my fingers that I wouldn't dye the plaid pants too dark, and I had a whole new look.

pics 1-3 (#3 for the outside colors)

leather jacket - LaMarque / the Rack
knit rayon crossover top - Forever 21 (dyed)
plaid jeans - I heart Ronson / Goodwill (dyed)
oxfords - Isaac Mizrahi / Ross
faux-fur crossbody - Goodwill

#4 and #5 - shirt and jeans before dye job (jeans were actually a little lighter in RL)

#6 bonus pics of SSIF purchase, blue/gray/black leopard coat from Loft. I sized down from the one I bought in Seattle, but am leaning toward keeping this new size.

Thoughts and tweaks? Have you tried dying? How did you find it? (This was my second attempt, after crashing and burning with RIT on other items).