The Best Navy Blue Color For Your Season (2024)

et’s talk navy. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of navy is “being of a very dark blue color.” I’m not sure how the names of colors were created, but the navy blue color got its name because it was the color worn by the British Navy. Colors are often associated with meanings based on the feelings the color evokes. The meaning of navy blue is reliable, responsible, and trustworthy.

The Best Navy Blue Color For Your Season (1)

Unfortunately, not everyone can wear navy and still shine. Plus, your best navy blue color is probably not the same as my best navy. What it truly comes down to is, which navy is right for you? The answer to that question is determined by your season.If you aren’t sure of your season, you might consider a personal color analysis.

Navy Blue By Seasonal Color Palette

It’s hard to create images that adequately show the variances in the navy blue color that looks best on each season, but believe me they exist! Winter and Summer have the most versions of navy, because it is a cool color and these are the cooler seasons. In the image below, you might be able to see that Winter has the darkest of navy blue colors, Summers have the softest, Spring the brightest, and Autumn the warmest. Honestly, most Autumns and super warm Springs don’t look their best in navy, but these are their best versions of the navy blue color.

The Best Navy Blue Color For Your Season (2)

Winter

We’ll start with Winter, because navy is often seen as a quintessential Winter color. All Winters have a navy blue color in their palette. Actually, they all have at least three versions! Since they are a darker season, all Winters seem to look good in dark navy blue. Beyond that, though, they vary a bit in terms of which navy is each sub-seasons best navy.

Deep Winters or Dark Winters have the most navy blue colors. This is probably because they have “shaded” versus “intense” coloring and there are lots of shaded versions of navy. Winters who are shaded look great in colors shaded with black, so Deep Winters have the most blackened navy colors. True Winters have the most intense coloring, so they look best in pure colors. Therefore, their navy blues are the truest navy colors. Cool Winters lean to Summer, so they have the softest navy colors of the Winter seasons. Clear Winters lean to Spring, so they have the brightest navy colors. The best navy Blue colors by Winter Sub-season:

Deep/Dark Winter: dark navy blue, deep navy, midnight blue, navy blue, true navy

Cool Winter: dark navy blue, true navy, cool navy

True Winter: dark navy blue, true navy, dark navy

Clear/Bright Winter: dark navy blue, warm navy, bright navy

Spring

Since Spring is a generally warm season, there are less navy blue colors that are harmonious with Spring color palettes. The neutral Spring seasons – Light Spring and Clear Spring – each have two bright navy colors. For obvious reasons, Light Springs have light and bright navy colors as deeper colors overwhelm them. True Spring and Warm Spring generally don’t receive a navy in their color palette, because they have a warm skin tone and navy is cool. However, when I complete custom color palettes for True and Warm Springs, I often find that many look lovely in a navy with a bit of green in it. Dark marine blue is often a nice version of navy on them, as well as, warm navy.The best navy Blue colors by Spring Sub-season:

Light Spring: new navy, light clear navy

Clear/Bright Spring: warm navy, bright navy

True/Warm Spring: warm navy, bright navy

Summer

Summers look lovely in navy, but look their most harmonious when it’s a softened or brushed version of navy. Summers truly look best in a muted navy. Light Summers are the exception as they shine in the same light clear navy that looks best on Light Springs. Cool Winters aren’t an exception, in that they also look great in a muted navy, but they additionally look beautiful in a softened deep navy. They receive the most versions of navy in their palette due to the depth of their coloring. Soft Summers have have more grey in their navy than any other Summer.The best navy Blue colors by Summer Sub-season:

Light Summer: light clear navy

Cool Summer: cool navy, soft navy, muted navy, grey navy

True Summer: soft indigo, muted navy, grey navy

Soft Summer: Dark Marine Blue, Dark Slate Blue, Deep Blue Grey

Autumn

It’s very rare that I give an Autumn a navy blue color in their custom color palette. I tend to only do this when they have blue eyes, because otherwise, it just doesn’t work with their warm coloring. Having said that, traditional color palettes usually include a few versions of navy for Deep Autumns and Soft Autumns as these two sub-seasons are neutral and lean to either Winter or Summer. Deep or Dark Autumns receive the same midnight blue and deep navy as Deep Winters. Soft Autumns receive the same dark marine blue and dark slate blue as Soft Summers. The navy versions that Deep and Soft Autumns receive have quite a bit of green or brown in them making them potentially work for True and Warm Autumns who don’t traditionally receive navy in their color palette.

Deep/Dark Autumn: midnight blue, deep navy, navy

Soft Autumn: dark marine blue, dark slate blue, marine navy

True/Warm Autumn: dark marine blue, marine navy (as possibilities, but many are not harmonious with navy)

Making Navy Work For You

I love navy, but it doesn’t always love me. As a Light Summer, I really only look best in my light, bright navy. Given my lightness; however, I don’t have very many dark neutrals that work for me, so navy is my “go to” dark neutral. In the video below, I show you the differences between the navy colors in my closet and how I make the ones outside of my color palette work for me.

If navy isn’t the best color for you, but you still want to wear it, try wearing it on your bottom half paired with one of your best colors in your top or as the base of a great print. If you’re wondering, “What colors go with navy blue?” No worries as navy is a neutral and looks great with so many colors. I especially love it with versions of green, yellow and tan. For warm Springs, it looks great with citron, chartreuse, violet, and peach. Warm Autumns might try mustard, pumpkin, and light moss.

How do you feel about navy? I’d love to hear in the comments.

The Best Navy Blue Color For Your Season (2024)

FAQs

What color season looks best in navy blue? ›

Winter. We'll start with Winter, because navy is often seen as a quintessential Winter color. All Winters have a navy blue color in their palette.

Can you wear navy blue year-round? ›

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.

Is navy blue a good color for Summer? ›

Along with grey, navy is a great neutral for summers and generally easy to find in the softened Summer version.

Can an Autumn wear navy? ›

Although many Autumns can and do compromise a little by wearing Winter's true navy, which harmonises well with all of the Autumn palette, your best look is always going to be that deep teal shade. Autumn's version of white is rich cream.

What skin tone looks best in navy blue? ›

As a cool skin tone often means your skin is pale or has light features, you'll want to use darker colors. The best outfits for pale skin often rely on colors like emerald green, navy and bold shades of blue.

What Winter colors go with navy blue? ›

Red, pink, beige, black — mysteriously, all the colors go with navy blue.

What time of year do you wear navy? ›

Navy is a great neutral color that works well for all seasons. If you get tired of wearing black all the time, navy is a great replacement color for it. Blue is also a color that can work year-round, it just depends on the shade and tone of it.

Can navy blue be worn in Winter? ›

NAVY. Navy blue is one of the easiest colours to wear in the Winter months, and is now so ubiquitous, it's practically considered a neutral tone.

Can you wear navy in Winter? ›

REST: Winter lends itself well to formal dressing, but casual wear can be trickier. Navy can offer a more relaxed looking alternative to black and grey, pairing well with stone or lighter greys for an easy going vibe. PLAY: Winter's navy can create an elegantly timeless look paired simply with silver accessories.

What color does not go with navy blue? ›

Black-shaded hues like dusty purple, hunter green, and maroon share navy's intensity and are likely to fade when paired with the dark-blue hue. Luckily, you'll find plenty of colors, including mustard yellow, bright pink, cherry red, and even metallic gold, that go beautifully with navy blue.

Can you wear navy blue in spring? ›

As a Spring, navy is a great anchor colour for your palette, one of the more 'serious' shades in a palette that can be very light and playful.

Is navy blue for warm or cool skin tone? ›

Warm toned skin has a yellow undertone. Women with warm toned skin often prefer to wear deep autumnal colours like oranges, browns, navy blues, and warm greens. They also suit spring colours like creams, corals, soft yellows and deep ruby red.

Is dark navy blue a fall color? ›

Navy & Burgundy

The way that these colors seem to be both dark and vibrant at the same time really speak to the essence of fall colors without calling on the yellows and oranges of turning leaves. Not to mention that they're also super romantic – perfect for a fall wedding!

What is the color for all seasons? ›

White. You cannot go wrong with this. White is an incredibly safe bet because it is a multi-purpose color that works for all kinds of events and seasons.

Is navy a soft Autumn color? ›

A Soft Autumn suit could be in your warm dark grey, navy, rosewood brown, deep khaki-brown, or hunter green.

Does everyone look good in navy blue? ›

Navy clothing items can be dressed up or down based on colour pairing and accessories, and adding navy to any outfit creates a polished look. Not to mention, navy looks good on everyone and can be more flattering than black as it's not as harsh of a colour.

Does navy blue make you look tan? ›

Blue is the Warmest Color

Any kind of light, bright blue will yield a combination of contrast as well as highlighting your skin. The lighter the shade of blue you wear, the darker your tan will look in comparison. Conversely, the darker your blues, the less noticeable your new tan will be.

What does the color navy make you feel? ›

Navy blue represents trust and stability and is less attention-seeking than lighter shades of blue. Navy blue is conservative and evokes feelings of tradition and convention.

Is navy blue in style 2023? ›

Holland says navy blue and saturated shades of green are also on their way out for 2023. The reason for this is that these colors were mostly used for accent walls, and becasue that look is no longer on trend, these colors aren't either.

Does grey go well with navy blue? ›

Colour Combinations | Navy & Grey

It's a perfect partnership, that goes hand in hand with elegant tailoring and classic lines.

Does navy blue go with every color? ›

Navy blue is a modern neutral that plays well with just about any color, including every other shade of blue.

How do you wear navy in autumn? ›

Opt for a warm toned bag or scarf to ensure the look is as 'right' for you as possible. REST: Your rich marine navy harmonises with so many colours in your palette, but adding a splash of one of the really warm tones such as tan, mustard or moss green can really keep things tied firmly to your warm autumn skin tone.

Can you wear navy at Christmas? ›

Navy blue is another shade that shows up time and time again during the holidays. It's dark, but not black, so it may feel less somber in some situations than black might. Black works in most situations, but some ladies may prefer to mix it up, especially during the holidays.

How do you wear a navy blue dress in the winter? ›

Pair a navy dress or skirt with black tights and shoes and the look is quite fresh and modern. With this look, I treated the navy skirt as if it were any other color, and had black tights and booties anchor it. This is a good example of transitioning summer and early fall pieces into the cooler months.

What colors look good in winters? ›

A true Winter color palette is full of cool based jewel-tones like ruby red, sapphire blue, and emerald green. Winter types also get such classic neutrals – they look beautiful in black, crisp white, and navy to name a few. A true Winter palette is full of colors that lean crisp, cool, and highly saturated.

What is the best color to wear in winter? ›

Hues like pumpkin and rusty brown will carry over from autumn, while more unexpected shades like ice blue and punchy pink provide a nice pop of color. Of course, bright red is always a good choice when one is looking to stand out, so swipe on some red lipstick and prepare for the most colorful winter on record.

Which colour is best in winter? ›

Warm your home this winter with these cozy color schemes
  • Yellow Colour Schemes. Yellow is one terrific colour known to impart warmth. ...
  • Red Colour Schemes. If you are striving to cope up with the winter blues then red colour comes across as a brilliant choice. ...
  • Tangerine Colour Schemes. ...
  • White Colour Schemes.

Can bright winter wear navy? ›

Yes, navy can be used as a neutral. Bright Winter's neutrals are neutral, not too warm or too cool.

Can I wear my navy dress blues on leave? ›

A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the . 1. GENERAL. When traveling on leave, TAD or transfer, service dress blues may be worn during any season.

Does navy blue go with fall colors? ›

Navy is a great addition to the fall wardrobe, because it's the perfect transition color.

Does the color navy go with everything? ›

Navy is a dark shade of blue that works well with just about any color, whether summer or fall. Therefore, don't be surprised to see this elegant hue being one of the color staples in any closet. You can turn any Navy outfit into any look from Causal to Formal.

Can dark Autumn wear navy blue? ›

A Dark Autumn suit could be in your warm black, merlot, deep forest green, or navy.

Can you wear navy blue dress in summer? ›

Navy is a natural choice for sunshine shindigs as well. Just opt for a dress with a warm-weather-friendly silhouette to balance out your outfit.

What can you combine navy blue with? ›

Colours that combine with navy blue

As we said, navy blue is a versatile nuance: you can combine it with neutral colours, like black, white, grey or beige, but also with bold colours.

What is the most attractive skin colour? ›

Women Prefer Men With Yellow, Red Faces. A man with a yellow skin tone (above, right, in a composite photo) is more attractive to women than a man without a yellow skin tone (left, in a composite photo), a new study says.

What blues look best on warm skin tones? ›

Those with cool colouring can wear both the warmer and cooler blues, as blue is naturally cooler in undertone, but warm undertone skins are best just sticking with the warmer blues (in the right intensity and value for you too).

What shade of blue looks good on warm skin tones? ›

While blue isn't an immediate choice for warm-toned complexions, periwinkle and teal are the blues best suited to you. Anything cooler can make your skin look gray. When it comes to neutrals, you're looking for warm grays and off-whites.

Is dark blue and navy blue the same? ›

While they are both dark shades of blue, midnight blue is not the same as navy blue. Midnight blue is darker than navy blue and is generally considered to be the deepest shade of blue, one so dark that it might be mistaken for black. Navy blue is a comparatively lighter hue.

Can light spring wear navy? ›

Black is likely to be much more harsh on light spring than some other seasons. Black definitely isn't your BEST color, and lighter shades of brown and navy will be most suitable.

Is dark blue a summer color? ›

Blue is one of the most quintessentially summery colors. Think about it. You've got blue skies, the different blues of water from the beach to the pool, even the deep, rich blues of hydrangeas in bloom.

How do I choose my color season? ›

If your skin tone and hair have a warm undertone, or you are a natural red-head, you would be classed as either a Spring or an Autumn; if your skin has a blue-ish, cool undertone and your hair is more ashy and has no golden or red highlights, you are either a Summer or a Winter.

What colors to wear in September? ›

Combinations of Colors for September
  • Navy Blue and Gold.
  • Brown and Beige.
  • Grey and Burnt Orange.
  • Deep Purple and Champagne.
  • Light Grey and Sage Green.
Aug 2, 2022

What color best represents summer? ›

The summer palette consists of soft neutrals and pastels such as powder blue, dusty pink, mauve, lavender and pale yellow. Most summer's have blonde light hair to dark ash brown hair and their eyes can be green hazel or occasionally rosie brown. The summer is flattered by soft colors with blue undertones.

What colors should you avoid in deep Autumn? ›

Colours to Avoid

White, pastel and other toned-down colours, such as dusty blues and pinks, will make your naturally rich colouring look off and washed out. Very cool, frosty colours, like intense pinks and blueish greys, will also clash with your naturally warm appearance.

Is the color navy in style? ›

Navy Blue is currently one of those colors that is very fashionable in soft goods and fashion, but it's also a long-term classic color whose peak in popularity will last for a long time. 2022 interior design trend featuring a Navy Blue kitchen island.

What is Spring navy color? ›

A navy for each season: Spring – This navy is a bright, clear colour. There is no greying to it at all; it is definitely not a soft colour. Imagine mixing a 'true' navy (i.e. sea captain uniform) with a bit of cobalt blue to achieve the perfect shade for Springs.

Does navy blue look good on everyone? ›

Universal Neutrals

Navy is the universal cool neutral. Less harsh than black and more soothing than brown, navy is a flattering color for every skin tone. It is a cool muted blue that leans toward purple. You can see on the color spectrum that it contains purple, blue, gray, and veers towards black.

Can a soft Autumn wear navy blue? ›

A Soft Autumn suit could be in your warm dark grey, navy, rosewood brown, deep khaki-brown, or hunter green.

What does wearing navy blue say about you? ›

Navy blue evokes feelings of power and authority rather than the ideas of relaxation and peace that go along with more standard shades of blue. Darker shades of blue tend to lean more towards ideas of authority and importance.

What type of person is navy blue? ›

Navy blue represents trust and stability and is less attention-seeking than lighter shades of blue. Navy blue is conservative and evokes feelings of tradition and convention.

Is navy a fall color? ›

Navy is a great addition to the fall wardrobe, because it's the perfect transition color.

What color does not go with navy? ›

Black-shaded hues like dusty purple, hunter green, and maroon share navy's intensity and are likely to fade when paired with the dark-blue hue.

Is blue a Winter color? ›

What are Winter colors? A true Winter color palette is full of cool based jewel-tones like ruby red, sapphire blue, and emerald green. Winter types also get such classic neutrals – they look beautiful in black, crisp white, and navy to name a few.

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