How to wear navy: Color palettes and styles for you to choose from

It’s one of the most universally flattering colors around and can look less harsh than black. But what is the best way to wear navy blue? What colors go with navy? How can you put together stylish navy outfits?

Below are some ideas for you on how to wear navy, including color palettes for you to choose from.

Reasons navy blue is such a fabulous color to wear

Here are just some of the things we love about navy:

Navy is a universal color

Unlike black, which can be harsh, it flatters the vast majority of skin tones.

It looks stylish year-round

While it’s not always in stores in great quantities all year, it looks fabulous at any time of year, whether you opt for a navy party dress at Christmas, or you wear a striped navy tee during summer.

Similar cropped top (here and here), pants, sneakers, bag, earrings and sunglasses

It can be formal or casual

You could wear navy as a mother-of-the-bride in lovely lace, or you could choose a chunky navy sweater. It’s one of the most versatile colors out there!

Navy goes with every other color in your closet

If you are having one of those I-have-nothing-to-wear moments, adding more neutrals to your closet can help you get the most out of the clothes you already have.

Because it’s a classic shade, you can afford to think about navy clothes and accessories as an investment that you will keep for years.

Designers showcasing navy blue color palettes

Every season, designers always opt for at least some navy blue outfits, and this winter and fall are no exception. You’ll see that many designers this season decided to go top-to-toe navy.

Courrèges – Loewe – Carolina Herrera

Exactly what is navy blue?

Before moving onto some of the best navy clothes and accessories and navy outfits, let’s consider exactly what we mean by navy blue.

Navy blue was first used as a term for the specific shade of dark blue worn by the British Royal Navy.

Now, it is still used to refer to a blue color which is almost black, but you will find there are variations in shade. Some are so close to black that you would think they actually were black from a distance, while others have more blue in them.

Navy Outfits For Women: The Best Navy Pieces In Stores Now

Next time you think about adding more black to your closet, how about some navy instead?

If you don’t have any – or enough – navy in your closet, below are some of my favorite navy clothes and accessories in stores now.

Navy top

A tunic top is one of the handiest items of clothing to have in your closet as you can wear it with your leggings and skinny jeans.

LARACE V-Neck Tunic Top

Claudia @glamupyourlifestyle above (read her style interview here) tucks her navy top into khaki pants. She adds a pop of color with her lipstick.

Recreate her outfit with this similar polo shirt, jeans, sneakers, bag and necklace.

navy shirt

A navy shirt is great to wear over your leggings or skinny jeans, or to tuck into your wide pants and pencil skirts.

Lyssé Schiffer Shirt

navy t-shirt

The twist front on the Zella T-shirt (below) adds a point of difference to an otherwise simple style. Wear with your leggings for exercise, or your shorts or jeans for casual days.

Zella Twist Front T-Shirt

Navy blue dress

Rather than a little black dress, you could opt for a little navy dress. The COS shirt dress (below) is a versatile choice to dress up or down, and has sleeves long enough to cover your upper arms.

COS Belted Linen Shirt Dress

Sharryn @thestylishwoman (read her style interview here) wears her tiered navy dres with black shoes and accessories.

Get her look with this similar maxi dress (another option here), sandals, clutch, earrings and headband.

navy blazer

Everyone should have a blazer in their closet, and this navy blue style is an absolute classic.

J.Crew Willa Italian City Wool Blend Blazer

Navy coat

A trench coat is one of those wardrobe essentials that will always be a good investment. Rather than classic beige, you could opt for navy.

Wantdo Waterproof Double Breasted Trench Coat

Kylie @kylish_aus above opts for a classic outfit that will look stylish year after year.

Get her look with this similar top, trench coat, jeans, sneakers, crossbody bag, earrings and sunglasses.

Cardigan

A long cardigan is great for adding not just warmth but also long, lean, flattering lines.

ANRABESS Open Front Knit Cardigan

Navy pants

Rather than opting for black pants next time you choose a pair, how about navy blue? They’re just as versatile.

Massimo Dutti Straight Satin Trousers

Similar printed top (plain option), pants, jacket, sneakers and sunglasses

Navy skirt

You could team the navy blue skirt (below) with a t-shirt and sneakers or wear for a more formal dinner or event with a silk shirt and heeled sandals.

Massimo Dutti Waffle-Knit Wrap Midi Skirt

navy swimsuit

While a black swimsuit is a true classic, you could also choose navy blue. You’ll also find more swimsuit inspiration in this article on the best bathing suits for women over 40.

J.Crew High Support One-Piece

Navy shoes

A pair of navy sandals would look beautiful for summer, or for a night out. Or how about a pair of ankle booties as summer turns to fall. You can also think about navy loafers and classic pumps.

Lucky Brand Saimy Block Heel Sandal – Naturalizer Vera Ankle Strap Sandal – Franco Sarto Racer Pointed Toe Pump – Franco Sarto Carolynn Tassel Loafer

Navy handbag

A navy bag should go with all the things in your wardrobe that a black bag could be worn with.

Tory Burch Ella Nylon Tote

Other navy blue accessories

As well as a classic navy handbag, you could think about adding other beautiful navy accessories to your closet.

Longchamp Mini Le Pliage Cuir Leather Top Handle Bag – Nina Ophelia Frame Clutch – Bocar Multi Layer Seed Beaded Necklace – ZENZII Beaded Hoop Earrings – Nine West Teardrop Earrings – rag & bone Floppy Brim Felted Wool Fedora – Tory Burch 53mm Rectangular Sunglasses – Tanpie Leather Waist Belt

Fly London sandals, similar jumpsuit (another option here), hat and sunglasses

Colors that go with navy

So now that I’ve extolled the virtues of navy, what should you wear with your navy?

What are the colors that go with navy? What matches with navy blue.

Scroll down for some of my favorite navy color combinations.

How to choose the best navy outfits

With all the versatility offered by navy blue comes choice.

So, just how do you go about narrowing down what you will wear with your navy?

You could take a look at color palettes such as those below and then create an outfit based on your favorite. Or, just choose one of the colors you like to wear – it’s hard to get it wrong when matching colors with navy.

navy with green

Wearing navy with green is a particularly modern way to wear your dark blue right now, given that this shade of green is so on trend. Choose a shade of emerald or lime green that will contrast well with your navy.

If you already have a navy dress, you could update your outfit with green accessories. Or you could add a green jacket or sweater to navy pants.

Outfit 1: COS Asymmetric Gathered Midi Dress – Naturalizer Vera Ankle Strap Sandal – Nina Ophelia Frame Clutch – Nine West Teardrop Earrings

Outfit 2: Zella Twist Front T-Shirt – COS Wide Leg Pants – Franco Sarto Carolynn Tassel Loafer – Tory Burch Ella Nylon Tote – ZENZII Beaded Hoop Earrings

Outfit 3: COS Oversized Shirt – Massimo Dutti Straight Satin Trousers – Lucky Brand Saimy Block Heel Sandal – Longchamp Mini Le Pliage Cuir Leather Top Handle Bag – Bocar Multi Layer Seed Beaded Necklace

Boma @mrs.gaf above shows how well navy blue goes with lime green.

Steal her look with this similar blazer, jeans, pumps, handbag and earrings.

How to wear navy blue: with cream or beige

Another timeless way to wear navy is to pair the color with neutrals like cream or beige. These colors can also provide a great base if you want to add a pop of another color.

Navy and neutrals can be a great combination whether you are looking for a casual look or something more formal.

You could, for example, wear a beige pencil skirt and navy blouse for work, or you could look at beige or navy chinos for a casual weekend vibe. Or, you can add a beige blazer to your navy pants.

Outfit 1: Caslon Knot Detail Cotton Blend Tank – COS Pleated Tailored Culottes – DREAM PAIRS Espadrille Wedge Sandal – Tory Burch Ella Nylon Tote – ZENZII Beaded Hoop Earrings

Outfit 2: Zella Twist Front T-Shirt – COS Linen Shorts – Tory Burch Miller Leather Sandal – Longchamp Mini Le Pliage Cuir Leather Top Handle Bag – ZENZII Beaded Hoop Earrings

Outfit 3: Urban Coco Open Front Office Blazer – Caslon Knot Detail Cotton Blend Tank – MANGO High Waist Culotte Wide Leg Jeans – Franco Sarto Racer Pointed Toe Pump – Tory Burch Ella Nylon Tote – Nine West Teardrop Earrings

navy and black

The old adage that you shouldn’t wear navy with black is just one of those outdated rules like not wearing white shoes after Labor Day!

It can actually be a very chic combination.

It’s often a very Parisian combination to wear! To stop the two colors from looking as if they are bleeding together, use different textures, or use black as an accessory to your navy.

Outfit1: COS Asymmetric T-Shirt Dress – Naturalizer Vera Ankle Strap Sandal – Nina Ophelia Frame Clutch – Bocar Multi Layer Seed Beaded Necklace

Outfit 2: Lyssé Schiffer Shirt – MANGO High Waist Culotte Wide Leg Jeans – Franco Sarto Racer Pointed Toe Pump – Nina Ophelia Frame Clutch – Nine West Teardrop Earrings

Outfit 3: Eliza J Lace Bodice Jumpsuit – Steve Madden Loreli Ankle Strap Sandal – Olga Berg Cece Straw Woven Box Clutch – Kate Spade New York Pearl Raffia Hoop Drop Earrings

Deborah @deborahgates_ above shows how you could update a black outfit with blue outerwear.

Get her look with this similar top, pants, topper, sandals, earrings and necklace.

navy and silver

If you want to add a touch of glamour to your navy, then silver will go beautifully. You could add silver shoes and accessories to your navy dress, wear a navy crop jacket over a silver dress, or add a sequin top to your navy blazer.

Outfit 1: GRACE KARIN 3/4 Sleeve Cropped Cardigan – Massimo Dutti Satin Camisole Dress – Naturalizer Vera Ankle Strap Sandal – Nina Ophelia Frame Clutch – Nine West Teardrop Earrings

Outfit 2: COS Belted Linen Shirt Dress – Massimo Dutti Vinyl Flat Slider Sandals – Massimo Dutti Leather Bag – Karine Sultan Alice Statement Necklace

Outfit 3: J.Crew Willa Italian City Wool Blend Blazer – L’AGENCE Vida Metallic Tank – Massimo Dutti Straight Satin Trousers – Naturalizer Vera Ankle Strap Sandal – Massimo Dutti Leather Bag – Karine Sultan Medallion Drop Earrings

Navy blue and white

Crisp and clean, navy and white is an incredibly chic combination.

It was, for example, chosen by many of the guests at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding.

There are plenty of beautiful navy and white options on the high street. This combination can also go beautifully with other neutrals such as tan and taupe.

Outfit 1: Elan Long Sleeve Shirtdress – J.Crew High Support One-Piece – Tory Burch Miller Leather Sandal – Tory Burch Ella Nylon Tote – KLFrogPond Tassel Drop Earrings

Outfit 2: COS The Clean Cut T-Shirt – Massimo Dutti Waffle-Knit Wrap Midi Skirt – Sam Edelman Ethyl Low Top Sneaker – Longchamp Mini Le Pliage Cuir Leather Top Handle Bag – Bocar Multi Layer Seed Beaded Necklace

Outfit 3: Cara Cara Asbury Tie Waist Shirt – MANGO High Waist Culotte Wide Leg Jeans – Lucky Brand Saimy Block Heel Sandal – Nina Ophelia Frame Clutch – Nine West Teardrop Earrings

Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk above chooses a navy outfit and metallic shoes.

Check out this similar top, pants (another option here), sandals, bag and hoop earrings.

Navy blue and orange

Of course, navy doesn’t have to be worn just with neutrals like black, white and taupe. It can go beautifully with so many colors. For major impact, try wearing with orange, red or yellow.

This can be an unexpected color combination but yet a classic one.

Outfit 1: COS T-Shirt – Massimo Dutti Straight Satin Trousers – Franco Sarto Carolynn Tassel Loafer – Tory Burch Ella Nylon Tote – Bocar Multi Layer Seed Beaded Necklace

Outfit 2: Lyssé Schiffer Shirt – COS Pleated Midi Skirt – Naturalizer Vera Ankle Strap Sandal – Nina Ophelia Frame Clutch – Nine West Teardrop Earrings

Outfit 3: COS Belted Puff Sleeve Dress – Tory Burch Miller Leather Sandal – Tory Burch Ella Nylon Tote – ZENZII Beaded Hoop Earrings

Navy with blue

Wearing navy blue with pale blue tends to be something you associate with men’s fashion.

There’s a classic combination of navy chinos and a pale blue shirt that never dates.

But, navy and pastel blue aren’t just for men to wear to work! It’s a combination that looks equally classy for women too!

Outfit 1: COS Belted Linen Shirt Dress – Lucky Brand Saimy Block Heel Sandal – Longchamp Mini Le Pliage Cuir Leather Top Handle Bag – Bocar Multi Layer Seed Beaded Necklace

Outfit 2: COS Oversized Shirt – Zella Strength Run Hike High Waist 7/8 Leggings – Franco Sarto Carolynn Tassel Loafer – Tory Burch Ella Nylon Tote – KLFrogPond Tassel Drop Earrings

Outfit 3: Lyssé Schiffer Shirt – Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution High Waist Flare Jeans – Lucky Brand Saimy Block Heel Sandal – Longchamp Mini Le Pliage Cuir Leather Top Handle Bag – FANCY SHINY Raffia Earrings

Eileen @eileenternullo above wears a pale blue top and scarf with her navy suit.

Steal her look with this similar blazer, trousers, shoes, scarf, bag, earrings and sunglasses.

Your navy looks together in one capsule

Below, you can see some of the looks from above together in one capsule. You could definitely mix the clothes, shoes and accessories up to create different looks.

shop THE items above here:

Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.

More navy capsule inspiration

The below capsule is past season but should still give you plenty of navy outfit inspiration.

Do you know how to wear navy blue? What are your favorite navy blue combinations?

Continue reading:

1. The Ultimate Checklist Of Wardrobe Essentials: Which 28 Essential Pieces Do You Need In Your Closet?
2. A Capsule Wardrobe For The Classic Style Personality
3. How To Wear Gray: Color Palettes And Ensembles For You To Choose From!

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