When building a wardrobe around the classic navy color, it’s important to choose complementary shades that will look stylish and pulled-together. Certain color palettes work especially well with navy clothing and accessories. By selecting hues that play off navy in pleasing ways, you can create fashionable outfits that make a sophisticated statement.
Go for Neutrals
One easy way to pick colors that pair beautifully with navy is to choose neutral shades. Neutrals like white, black, gray, tan and brown act as go-with-everything basics that naturally coordinate with deep blue navy tones. An outfit that combines navy with crisp white, for instance, has a nautical vibe perfect for summer. Mixing navy with lighter tans and camels creates an earthy, relaxed look. And navy with black is a foolproof combination that always looks elegant and chic.
Neutrals balance out the richness of navy, while also allowing the navy color to shine. They create an easy canvas that you can build upon by layering in additional colors and textures. Start by collecting key navy and neutral wardrobe staples, like:
- A navy blazer
- Navy trousers or jeans
- A navy sleeveless sheath dress
- A crisp white button-down shirt
- Black pumps or ballet flats
- Tan leather tote
Having these navy and neutral basics in your closet will make it easy to pull together sophisticated outfits.
Accent with Red, Pink and Burgundy
Vibrant reds, pinks and burgundies provide gorgeous color contrast against dark navy shades. These rich, jewel-toned hues have a striking, high-fashion look when paired with navy clothing, accessories and shoes. To add a pop of red or pink, try:
- A bright red cardigan or blazer over a navy dress
- A pink statement necklace with a navy blouse
- Burgundy boots with navy trousers
- A navy handbag with red or pink detailing
When shopping for navy and red or pink pieces, look for tones with similar saturation or depth. Pair a deeply saturated fuchsia with a dark midnight blue, or soft dusty pink with faded navy denim. This helps the colors look cohesive.
Choose Earthy Greens
Earthy greens like olive, sage and moss also complement navy beautifully. These grounded, natural tones work well with navy’s deep blue hue. Try incorporating olive green accessories into a navy outfit, or wearing a moss green jacket over a chambray top with navy jeans. Other ways to wear navy with green include:
- Navy trousers with a sage green blouse
- A navy pencil skirt with an olive green sweater
- An emerald green cocktail ring with a navy sheath dress
- Moss green suede booties with navy leggings
When pairing greens with navy, stick to muted tones rather than bright greens, which can sometimes clash. Olive, sage and moss green strike the perfect balance of earthiness against rich navy.
Use Coral, Orange and Peach as a Neutral
While vibrant corals, oranges and peaches have a lively, summery vibe, they can also work as neutrals that pull a navy color palette together. Their warmth provides a beautiful contrast against the cool tones of navy. You can smoothly incorporate these colors by:
- Adding a pop of coral or peach to a navy outfit with a scarf or bag
- Wearing orange flats or wedges with navy capris or a dress
- Layering a peach cardigan over a navy top
- Choosing navy and peach striped nautical tee
Stick to muted, dusty and pastel versions of coral, peach and orange to keep the look sophisticated. The subtle warmth of these tones prevents them from clashing with navy.
Use Metallic Shoes, Bags and Jewelry
Metallic shoes, handbags and jewelry instantly dress up a navy outfit. The sheen of metals like gold, silver and bronze make them shine against dark navy hues. Incorporate metallics into your navy look by:
- Adding gold bangle bracelets and hoop earrings
- Carrying a bronze leather tote bag
- Wearing silver ballet flats or metallic sandals
- Pinning a brooch onto a navy blazer
When selecting metals, stick to silver, gold and bronze for the most classic combos. Flashy metallics can sometimes overwhelm navy, while these traditional metal tones complement the color.
Purple and Blue Create a Sophisticated Look
Different shades of purple pair gorgeously with navy to create sophisticated, put-together outfits. As analogous colors on the color wheel, navy and purple naturally complement each other. Combining these cool-toned shades results in a polished, elegant look. Try:
- Wearing a navy dress with purple heels or bag
- Adding a purple scarf to a navy coat
- Pairing a navy skirt with a lavender blouse
- Accessorizing a navy suit with a purple tie or pocket square
When selecting purples, aim for shades like eggplant, lilac, lavender and iris that aren’t too overpowering. Dusty mauve and pale purple work well with faded navy denim. Stay away from pairing navy with super bright purples.
Yellow Adds a Fun Pop of Color
While most other colors in a navy palette should be more muted, bright yellow provides a fun punch of contrast. Cheerful yellow injects a vibrant, sunny vibe into a navy outfit. To add yellow, you could:
- Carry a yellow clutch or tote bag
- Wear yellow ballet flats or sandals
- Add a yellow belt over a navy dress
- Tie a yellow scarf around a navy button-down
Opt for bright, saturated yellows that make a bold statement against rich navy. Soft pastels can look washed out, but vivid lemon or mustard yellow really pops. Use accessories like bags, shoes and jewelry to layer in small hits of yellow.
Cream and Ivory Create a Soft Contrast
Along with bright white, softer creams and ivories also look beautiful with navy. These warm, gentle tones provide subtle contrast against deep blue navy shades. Try pairing navy with:
- An ivory lace dress
- Cream pumps
- A camel trench coat
- Oatmeal knit scarf
Stick to muted cream and ivory tones that aren’t too stark against navy. Soft, neutral shades complement without overpowering the navy color.
Charcoal, Slate and Heather Gray for Depth
Charcoal gray, slate gray, and heather gray are sophisticated neutral shades that enrich a navy palette. These darker gray tones have excellent depth that complements navy’s darkness beautifully. Incorporate these colors by:
- Pairing charcoal trousers with a navy jacket
- Adding a heather gray scarf to a navy peacoat
- Wearing slate gray shoes with navy jeans
- Carrying a charcoal leather handbag with a navy dress
Deeper grays like charcoal, slate and heather flatter navy more than light grays, which can sometimes look washed out. The rich depth of these grays enhances the navy color.
Brown Adds an Earthy Feel
Different shades of brown partner well with navy to create natural, earthy color combos. Rich saddle browns, chocolate browns, chestnut browns and mocha browns work particularly nicely with navy. Try wearing:
- Chestnut brown boots with navy jeans
- A mocha cardigan over a navy dress
- Saddle brown leather belt with navy trousers
- Chocolate brown loafers with a navy suit
Deeper, warmer brown tones flatter navy more than light tans or beiges. But avoid combining navy with orangey browns, which can clash.
Camel and Khaki Offer Lighter Contrast
For a lighter brown contrast, camel and khaki are nice complements to navy. Their lighter neutral warmth acts as an understated accent against deep navy tones. Incorporate these colors by:
- Adding a camel trench coat over a navy dress
- Pairing khaki cropped pants with a navy top
- Wearing camel loafers with navy trousers
- Carrying a khaki leather satchel with a navy blazer
Stick to soft, muted camel and khaki tones so they don’t overpower the navy. A light touch of these colors goes a long way.
Conclusion
Navy is a versatile neutral that pairs well with almost any color. But certain shades look particularly stylish and elegant when combined with rich, deep navy. Neutrals like white, black, gray, tan and brown act as foolproof basics. Vibrant reds, corals and yellows inject brightness and contrast. Earthy greens, purples and browns create sophisticated depth. Metallic bags, shoes and jewelry add shine. By thoughtfully selecting complementary hues for your navy wardrobe, you can achieve timeless, pulled-together looks.
| Color | Shade Examples | Pairing Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Neutrals | White, black, gray, tan, brown | Go-with-everything staples that balance navy’s richness |
| Reds | Bright red, fuchsia, burgundy | Use similar depth; add vibrancy |
| Greens | Olive, sage, moss green | Choose muted, earthy tones |
| Oranges | Peach, coral, rust | Softer accents work well |
| Metallics | Gold, silver, bronze | Classic metals complement navy |
| Purples | Lavender, lilac, mauve | Avoid bright purples |
| Yellow | Lemon, mustard | Use bright, saturated tones |
| Creams | Ivory, cream, oatmeal | Subtle contrast against navy |
| Grays | Charcoal, slate, heather gray | Richer grays flatter navy |
| Browns | Chestnut, chocolate, saddle | Deeper browns complement navy |
| Tans | Camel, khaki | Softer neutral contrast |
