What colors go with navy blue?

Camel, white, light blue, rust and burgundy all work with navy. Your season decides which of them belongs closest to your face.

Find what fits me best

What to wear with navy blue

navy blue #1F2A4D
camel #C19A6B

Navy blue and camel

Neutral base High contrast

Camel is navy's warm counterpart: a golden mid-tone against a cool near-dark, so each makes the other look richer. The gap in lightness reads clearly from across a room without the hard edge of navy against white.

When to wear it: A camel coat over a navy suit or knit is the classic cold-weather version. In spring, try camel chinos with a navy polo, or a navy dress with a camel belt and bag.

What to avoid: Shiny camel synthetics next to matte navy wool cheapen both. Keep camel to one or two pieces, or the outfit drifts into all-over beige.

Suits: Soft Summer Bright Spring Deep Autumn

navy blue #1F2A4D
white #FFFFFF

Navy blue and white

Neutral base High contrast

White gives navy the strongest contrast it can get short of black, which is why the pair looks fresh and deliberate. Optic white is a clear, cold color, so worn by the face it flatters coloring with the same clarity and contrast.

When to wear it: Summer, the office and anything near water: navy shorts with a white linen shirt, a white tee under a navy blazer, white sneakers with navy chinos. Nautical stripes and a crisp white shirt under a navy suit are the classic versions.

What to avoid: On soft or warm coloring, pure white by the face often looks glaring; an ivory shirt keeps most of the contrast with less glare. Heavy winter navy wool next to thin summer white canvas looks mismatched, so let the fabrics agree on the season.

Suits: Deep Winter Cool Winter Bright Winter

navy blue #1F2A4D
light blue #A8C8E8

Navy blue and light blue

Tonal: one color, light and dark High contrast

Light blue is navy with most of its darkness taken out, so the two share a hue and differ only in depth. The outfit looks calm and finished, and the lighter shade sits by the face where it lifts the skin.

When to wear it: Workdays: a light blue shirt under a navy suit or sweater is the most common office pairing for good reason. On weekends, a navy knit over a pale blue oxford does the same job more casually.

What to avoid: Adding a third, mid-range blue between them flattens the contrast and turns the look into a blur of blues. Icy, greyish light blues can look cold beside a warm, inky navy, so match the undertones.

Suits: Cool Winter Cool Summer Bright Winter

navy blue #1F2A4D
rust #A8451C

Navy blue and rust

Opposites on the color wheel Medium contrast

Rust sits almost opposite navy on the color wheel, so the pair draws out the warmth of one and the depth of the other. Both are muted enough that the contrast feels autumnal, not loud.

When to wear it: Fall and winter: a rust sweater with navy cords, a navy coat with a rust scarf, a rust skirt with a navy blouse. It suits relaxed dinners and weekends more than formal events.

What to avoid: Equal amounts make the two compete; let navy take most of the outfit and rust a third or less. A bright traffic-cone orange in rust's place turns the look sporty, so keep the orange earthy.

Suits: Deep Winter Deep Autumn Bright Spring

navy blue #1F2A4D
burgundy #800020

Navy blue and burgundy

Contrasting hues Low contrast

Burgundy and navy sit a third of the wheel apart but share a similar depth, so together they read as one dark, rich palette with only a quiet contrast. The effect is polished, the kind of pairing that looks considered without asking for attention.

When to wear it: Evenings and cold months: a burgundy tie on a navy suit, a burgundy knit under a navy coat, a navy dress with burgundy shoes. It suits dinners, holiday parties and dark office days.

What to avoid: With so little light-dark contrast, the two can blur into one dark mass in dim rooms. Break them up with a light shirt, a white collar or metallic jewelry.

Suits: Deep Winter Cool Summer Deep Autumn

Which of these flatter you depends on your color season. Find my season →

Colors to keep away from navy blue

- black #111111
Navy and black are both near-dark, and next to black, navy can look like a black that faded in the wash. If you wear them together, make the difference loud with texture, such as a black leather jacket over a navy cable knit.
- purple #6C3A92
A deep purple shares navy's depth and much of its blue, so the two look like two slightly different versions of one dark color. Together they look muddy, as if one of them were a mistake; a pale lavender sets navy off far better than a dark purple does.

Step 1 / 1

Take a selfie in daylight

Face a window, without makeup if you can, hair as it naturally falls. Daylight and no filter keep your real skin tone — colored lamps and beauty filters change the result.

🙂

Your selfie is used for your reading and saved in your private Color Suite only if you go on to a try-on. Never shared, never used for training.

The most common mistake with navy is wearing it like black. Navy carries enough blue to take sides: beside warm colors such as camel and rust it looks deeper and richer, beside white and pale blue it looks crisp and nautical. Treat it as a dark blue that behaves like a neutral, and it fits more classic combinations than almost any other dark color, from the office suit with a pale shirt to the striped summer tee.

Let the day pick the partner. At the office, light blue keeps navy calm and businesslike, and camel warms it for days without a tie. In summer and near water, white gives the sharpest look; pure white flatters clear, high-contrast coloring most, and softer coloring gets a gentler version from ivory. When navy starts to feel predictable, rust and burgundy bring color, both at their best in the colder months, in wool, suede and corduroy.

FAQ

Do navy blue and brown go together?

Yes. Brown leather shoes, belts and bags are a classic with navy, because brown is a darkened orange, the color opposite blue. Mid and dark browns work best; a very dark chocolate can come too close to navy in depth and needs a lighter piece, such as a white or light blue shirt, between the two.

What color shoes go with navy blue?

Brown and tan leather are the most versatile, from loafers with chinos to oxfords with a suit. Burgundy shoes add color without much contrast, white sneakers suit casual navy, and black shoes work with a navy suit for formal evening events. Grey suede is a softer choice for spring.

Is navy blue a warm or a cool color?

Navy is cool, since it is a darkened blue, but it is muted enough to act as a neutral for most people. Navies with a hint of grey or green are easier to wear with warm coloring; brighter, inky navies suit cool, high-contrast coloring.

What colors go with navy for a wedding?

As a guest, a navy dress or suit pairs well with light pink, silver or gold jewelry, and a burgundy or dusty rose accent. Navy with metallics reads more formal than navy with pastels, so let the dress code decide which way you lean.

Does navy go with green?

Yes, when the green is clear or deep. Emerald, forest green and teal sit close to blue on the color wheel and look harmonious with navy, and olive works as a relaxed weekend mix. Bright lime is harder: let navy take most of the outfit and keep lime to one small piece.