The Best Shoes to Wear with A Navy Dress - Nina Anders (2024)

If you don’t have a navy blue dress or suit in your closet, you are missing a key piece in your wardrobe. Navy blue is such a versatile color– it can be dressed up or down, and it looks good on just about everyone. Navy dresses are always appropriate and can be worn to almost any occasion. Like the little black dress, everyone should have at least one navy dress. I love navy so much that I have always had a capsule wardrobe around it–even before capsule wardrobes were a thing! Like black, navy goes with almost everything and adds an air of class to even the most casual dress. There is just something special about navy blue dresses. I think that everyone expects a black dress, however, navy just has an inherent elegance that sets it apart. Navy feels luxe and with so many different shades, it looks great on everyone. For this reason, I am a huge fan of the color navy. It’s such a good color that the most popular garment in the world-blue jeans are navy blue–because the color goes with and looks great with every other color.

Navy looks great with white, cream, caramel, rust, lighter shades of blue, some shades of grey, and of course black. You can wear navy with neutral colors, bright colors, and primary colors like red, yellow, and blue as well as secondary colors. The trick is the choose the best color shoes for the dress you are styling, the look you are trying to achieve, and the type of occasion you are wearing the dress to. For example, you are not likely to wear the same thing to a formal occasion that you would wear to a beach wedding or a casual date night.

The bit that sometimes trips people up is choosing the right shoes to wear with blue outfits. It’s funny because as stated above, navy works well with just about any color combination. I think that what throws us off is a bunch of old styling rules or the old dress code. There was a time when style rules governed what we would wear with various colors, the colors or styles we could wear at different times of the year, and what could be paired together. Those days are gone, and while it is a good thing from a creative perspective, it can be daunting when you are trying to put together a nice outfit.

The truth is that wearing a navy outfit is a classic choice and you can style navy outfits with anything from a pair of leather boots to white pumps. Did I say that? White pumps used to be a faux pas! The point is that finding the perfect shoes to create a chic look is much easier than you might think.

Navy Sweater Dress https://rstyle.me/+C_z0LjMiEESN6RpjKIXk-g

How to choose the right shoes:

First, we must consider the occasion and the actual dress. The style, fabric, and length of the dress also come into play when choosing shoes for a navy suit or dress. Clearly, the occasion dictates one’s shoes as well. Finally and one of the more tricky aspects of choosing the right shoes is getting the right shade of blue.

Special Occasions:

Formal occasions like weddings (you can read more about what to wear to a wedding here), formal dinner dates, and some funerals, (you can read about what to wear to a funeral here) have a few more rules than ordinary occasions. Wearing a simple navy dress or a black dress is often a safe choice, you will look chic and elegant in a dark blue dress or a blue suit. All you have to do is choose the right shoes and accessories and you have your look nailed.

Best Colors for Shoes to Wear with a Navy Blue Dress to a Wedding

If you’re attending a wedding, you’ll want to make sure your shoes are dressy enough to match the formality of the occasion. For a navy blue dress, some good choices of shoe colors include silver, gold, black, white, or nude. Sometimes we struggle when choosing between gold or silver shoes, here is a good rule of thumb: If you usually wear gold jewelry, gold shoes are the best choice, if you usually wear silver–choose silver shoes, they will look best with your skin tone. However, if the dress has gold or silver trim, you should match the shoes with the trim to get the most cohesive look.

If you would like to be a little more adventurous, you could go for a pop of color with brightly colored heels–such as pink pumps, yellow shoes, or red shoes. A great handbag or scarf with matching colors looks amazing, or you can keep it all navy except for the shoes which are also fun. It depends on the overall look you are going for.

Another great option is a strappy sandal, again, depending on the dress. Transparent shoes are also a great choice–you don’t have to worry about nude colors not matching your skin tone, and they look great with any formal gown or lace dress you might consider. Whatever the shoe you choose, just make sure that the color and style you choose compliments your dress and are appropriate for the occasion.

Best Colors for Shoes to Wear with a Navy Blue Dress to Work

The workplace has changed considerably over the years, there was a time when suits and simple dresses were what everyone wore. Now, the workplace is much more casual–suits and dresses are not worn as often as before.

Nonetheless, navy is a classic color and is perfect for the workplace. When choosing shoes to wear with a navy blue dress to work, you’ll want to consider both comfort and style. After all, you’ll likely be on your feet all day! A comfortable pair of low heels in navy, brown or nude heels are ideal. Avoid any colors that are too bright or flashy– you want your shoes to complement your look, not steal the show! Classic styling in the shoe such as a slingback or pump is a great choice for the office. High or low heels are a matter of personal style and comfort–both work great in the workplace. In addition to a navy dress, the classic navy suit is a great addition to your wardrobe and if you are wearing navy trousers, a pointed-toe shoe will elongate your leg and elevate the look of your blue outfit.

A Navy outfit with tan shoes, a belt, and a handbag is among the top outfit ideas. If your dress is a midi length you can wear a pair of tan boots, in a nice suede. Black boots also look great with midi dresses in the winter.

Best Shoes to Wear with a Casual Navy Blue Dress

While navy has a classic polished vibe, a short navy dress, bodycon dress, or even a denim blue midi dress all create a chic casual vibe. A blue denim midi dress or a body con dress looks great with black leather boots, suede boots, and black ankle strap stilettos–that’s quite a range! I recommend you get your dress on, grab a bunch of shoes from your closet, and play–by trying on different shoes with your dress you will be able to determine whether to go with a simple black pump or something more adventurous is a perfect choice.

A lacy navy blue dress is perfect for special occasions like date nights, an evening out with friends, or even a fancy dinner party. Since the dress is already quite detailed, you’ll want to keep your shoe choice simple. Black heels are always a classic option, but if you’re looking for something a little different silver or gold strappy heels would also look great. Just make sure that whatever shoes you choose don’t have too many embellishments– less is definitely more when it comes to this look!

Tricky pairings:

There was a time that one would not wear white shoes with navy, but if the dress has white trim, white shoes can be a nice choice especially when paired with a white handbag. Brown shoes can also be challenging to style with navy dresses or suits, however lighter colors of brown such as rust and caramel can look stunning with navy. Tie the look together with a scarf with navy, browns, and caramels and your outfit will be pulled together and chic. Finding the “right” navy can be tricky as blues can be so different and it can be hard to get a perfect match. If you are having trouble finding the right color of blue, it might be best to choose nude shoes that closely match your skin tone. Finally, some prefer not to wear black shoes with navy. I disagree–one of my favorite looks is black patent leather with a tailored wool dress or suit. This look is great for formal events and for work.

As stated above, putting your dress on, and trying it with various shoes and boots from your closet will either show you that you don’t have the right thing, or that you have some great options hiding in your closet that will make your navy outfit special.

Navy blue is such a chic and versatile color– there’s really no wrong way to style it. The key is choosing shoes that complement your navy blue dress without taking away from its beauty. With these guidelines in mind, you’re sure to find the perfect pair of shoes for any occasion. Let me know in the comments whether you go for a classic look, a little sparkle, a nautical feel, or something more experimental like green shoes. It is always interesting to hear more about your style.