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You know I still love you but we can't go steady...

crutcher

Veteran

Over the past spring, I have been looking at adding navy to my mostly black wardrobe..I just happen to love black...However, I have read about, watched and admired navy...Going between colors has proven a tad difficult...Like in adding a navy blazer, what goes with navy?...Do you wear black bottoms and a navy blazer?...I know black and navy are done..just do you do it?...
Or, do I add navy bottoms, too?...I have the tops down as to what goes with what...its just the bottoms that are causing me questions...So I add, how do you go between black and navy when black has been your predominate color?...

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from crutcher

Deborah

Veteran

Awesome question! I have been adding a little navy and ink blue to my heavily black wardrobe and I have asked the same question. I have no trouble mixing navy and black BUT I have found I prefer black bottoms. Navy jacket with black skinnies. Tops and tunics in navy with black leggings but for some reason I find navy bottoms and shoes (not boots) quite frumpy on me:)

kkards

Veteran

i have always preferred navy, but for years black dominated by wardrobe because the was what was available. but for the past 2-3 years, there has been so much navy, i've been scooping up navy bottoms---now if it was as easy to find navy shoes, i'd be in heaven. i have to be honest, i don't wear a lot of navy and black together, for me, it just looks off. with a navy blazer i wear navy, grey, tan, olive, mustard, and of course white pants. all but the navy work well with black toppers, so i think of them as "bridge" pieces.
(the gap pants i added in finds have become a summer favorite, love the navy & the light grey, the vince are called coastal blue, but imo they are navy. also check out jcrew on line)

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Joy

Veteran

I agree with kkards that black bottoms seem easier than navy for some reason. To my eye the shade of navy to mix with black is important. I like to use a navy that is a bit lighter than ink, more blue,so that there is a little contrast. However I wouldn't hesitate to wear black footwear, belt or bag with ink. The shade of black probably figures into this too. I like the navy/black pairing to look deliberate, not like you just didn't have enough light when dressing to see what you were doing.
This is a good question and I will be watching for ideas. There is probably a pinboard out there for this but it's a hard combination to photograph.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Navy specifically is a great neutral to me so I would do exactly what Kkards has suggested.

Anonymous

My dominant color scheme is black/white/red. I developed wardrobe capsules using this color scheme with four accent colors. It works for me.

I really like the ink navy. I tried on several pieces and found them quite flattering, but if I were to start adding new colors in, I likely would have to develop a whole new wardrobe capsule around those colors. At this point, I just don't have the money or the energy to do that. So I left the ink navy in the store and came home empty handed.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wear black and navy or ink together all the time. I find it can help to have a "bridge" item that contains both colours in a pattern (a scarf or a top?) or that picks up one of the colours and you can repeat the other elsewhere (a bag, your footwear, or if black bookends your hair, you are set).

At first I used to worry that my navies didn't match. Occasionally I will see a combination that doesn't work to my eye. But mostly I just go with this. I do think Joy is correct that a slightly brighter navy tends to look best with black and most intentional. But truly, it's a sophisticated pairing and easier to wear than you might think!

Susie

Veteran

After years of not wearing navy, I've added some pieces in the past couple of years and am really liking it. I wear mine most often with white, denim and gray or silver. I too think black and navy can look great together if it looks very intentional. I have a navy tunic top that has black buttons and I love it with black bottoms.

But my current HEWI is navy shoes! It has been so hard to find a navy shoe that doesn't look dowdy. And the few styles I've found haven't worked fit wise.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I recently started adding navy and love it. I particularly like it with yellow, coral and raspberry. I had never thought it was flattering on me but realized that when I wore the occasional rare navy piece I got tons of compliments, so I am adding it in key pieces like a navy moto jacket from Gap, a navy sheath dress from Ann Taylor, navy and blue striped cardigan and t-shirt...Not a lot but it's worked into a wardrobe dominated by black, white and gray.

Jules

Veteran

For summer I like navy and black broken up with white. Something like white tee, black pants and navy topper (with some pattern, texture or other interest in there).

always trying

Veteran

When I started replacing some of my black with navy I found pewter, cognac, silver, and grey footwear went well with the navy bottoms. I did however find navy pumps and navy loafers that paired with the rolled pants, looks great to me. I find myself wearing them more than I thought I would, as I am really liking them with rolled khakis, olive, white, and lighter wash denim. Also my navy rouched sleeve knit blazer paired with dressier beigy grey pants and the grey ankle pants works well with the navy footwear. Finding navy tops is more difficult. Found a lovely elbow length sleeve sweater from Zara and a closet orphan grey, white navy and blue geometric print silky button down from Nordies Rack are getting a lot of wear now.

navy can be a great asset in your wardrobe, but since there are so many shades, it is harder to work with than black. Black will always have to be a staple, but some navy pieces to mix in is a pleasant change. Also as Nebraskim pairs it with yellow, coral etc. looks fresher than wearing these colors with black.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I LOVE ink blue. Sometimes it's a replacement for black and sometimes it isn't. Truly, I don't even think about remixing dark blue with black - I just do it, and to my eye it's a slam-dunk.

First outfit - black column of colour with navy jacket.

Second outfit - black turtle neck with ink coat.

Third outfit - black and cream striped skirt with ink sparkle jumper

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Joy

Veteran

Always trying, would you share where you found your navy footwear? Nebraskim's post reminded me that there are several colors that I like better with navy than with black...yellows, coral (or any shade of red, orange or pink) and greens. I like shades of blue like cobalt, pastel and Alice blue better with black.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

What Suz said!
I pair navy or ink with black all the time and do not have any problems with it. Rather opposite: I think the combination is fresh and more uplifting than black with black - especially with a white thrown in.
I like my navy to be dark and deep and saturated and this how I prefer it with black.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I am finding it more difficult than I thought to mix navy with navy or other blue. I got navy trousers and a navy blazer and when I wear them together the trousers suddenly look purple. It's easier to me to mix black trousers with navy tops. I am loving cobalt and white tops with navy bottoms and navy sandals. That's my summer uniform now.

crutcher

Veteran

Thank you for excellent suggestions...I read each one carefully and will reread to be sure I process your ideas...
Thanks Angie for the pictures...They really help me to see how you do this..
This is one of those concepts that you know and accept but somehow getting it down is hard..
I like the just do it...don't consider that it may not match..Wear your ink navy with black..
I have a Zara blazer in ink coming so it will be a trial to wear it with black..
Thank you again...This was excellent..

viva

Veteran

I agree with "just do it." I wear navy and black all the time, and I think jumping in really helps. Best not to over-think.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I agree with Suz too. I think there are some navies that don't look as great with black but those lighter, clearer ones or ink look fab imo.

Jeanie

Veteran

Thanks for this post. I have a new navy blazer in the closet that was waiting for me to figure this exact same question!

Lyn D.

Veteran

I am slowly starting to mix navy and black these days.
Navy is my preference, but not always easy to find.
Mixing with accessories is a great way to start.

crutcher

Veteran

Lyn D, could you elaborate on accessories?...I am intrigued with this but I want to be sure I understand where you are going with this...