Navy is a cool, dark blue, so a warm mustard or a soft pink makes it look intended. Light grey, white and light blue are the steady choices.
Find what fits me bestMustard is a muted golden yellow, close to blue's opposite on the wheel, so against navy it warms the outfit and makes the pants look deeper. It is also far lighter, which keeps the two apart even in dim rooms. It suits warm coloring that finds white and pale blue too cold. Wear it in fall and winter as a corduroy shirt or heavy knit with dark brown boots.
Light pink is a cool pastel that rests easily against cool navy, so the outfit has color but no tension, and the pale shirt sits far above the dark pants in lightness. Wear it from April to September, at garden parties, daytime weddings and long lunches; white sneakers make it weekend wear, and brown suede loafers make it smart enough for a July office.
A light grey shirt or fine knit keeps navy pants cool and quiet, with enough lightness above to stop the outfit from turning dark. Burgundy loafers add a single warm accent. It makes a good winter office outfit, and it often flatters soft, cool coloring better than stark white does.
For a business-casual interview, a white shirt over navy says serious without saying suit, and brown oxfords with a matching belt keep it approachable. Add a grey or navy blazer if the company dresses up.
Suits: Deep WinterCool WinterBright Winter
Full outfits on OutfitSuggestion: What to wear to a job interview →
Pale blue and navy are one hue at two depths, a tonal pairing that looks finished without effort. It suits a graduation, under the gown or in the photos afterward, with cognac loafers for warmth.
Suits: Light SummerCool WinterCool Summer
Full outfits on OutfitSuggestion: What to wear to a graduation →
Which of these flatter you depends on your color season. Find my season →
A black shirt over navy pants looks like a choice made in a dark closet: the two are close enough to seem meant as a match and far enough apart to miss it. For a dark top, a charcoal knit or a deep burgundy separates itself from navy far better.
Royal blue shares navy's hue but not its depth or calm, so beneath it the pants look dull, almost grey. Blue on blue works when the top is clearly paler, as with light blue or chambray, not when it is a louder version of the same blue.
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Navy pants, or dark blue pants as plenty of shops label them, are the most adaptable pair after grey: dark enough to look formal, blue enough to carry a little color. They behave like a neutral, so nearly any shirt stands a chance, but their blue still has a temperature. Navy is cool, and it looks sharpest beside cool, light colors and richest beside warm ones.
The more interesting shirts for navy play with that temperature. Mustard, a muted golden yellow, sits across the wheel from blue and makes navy look deeper; pale pink keeps everything cool while adding the color navy lacks. Light grey, white and light blue are the steady contrasts in lightness that keep the pants businesslike. What rarely works is a shirt as dark as the pants, which merges with them, or a blue just different enough to look like a failed match. Brown shoes suit almost every version; black ones belong to the formal end.
Yes, and it is an underrated pairing. Dark green sits next to navy on the wheel, so a forest green flannel looks calm, though it needs a light shoe or jacket to keep the two darks apart. A sage shirt is easier, because its lightness gives navy the contrast it needs. Brown leather suits both.
Dark blue pants that are a little brighter than true navy, such as ink blue or dark denim, take the same shirts: pink, light grey, white and pale blue. Because they carry more color, they also welcome a warm shirt in camel, rust or mustard. Skip a mid-blue shirt that almost matches them.
Yes, if the two navies clearly match or clearly differ. A matching set looks deliberate, close to a suit. A shirt a step lighter, or a different texture such as navy linen over navy wool, also works. Two navies that are nearly but not quite the same look like a mistake, so break them up with a light jacket or white sneakers.
At a daytime or summer wedding, a light pink or white shirt with navy pants and tan or cognac shoes looks fresh; add a light grey or beige jacket if the dress code asks for one. For an evening wedding, keep the shirt white and add a burgundy or deep green tie with dark brown or black shoes.