blacks + blues
Does anyone else remember that old Fashion “rule” about not wearing black and blue together? What was that about anyway?
It’s really only been in the last year or two that I’ve warmed up to wearing blue (aside from denim jeans), but it’s quickly becoming a signature color in my wardrobe. It’s so easy to mix and it’s such a flattering and easy color to wear. And yes, I also love how it looks with black.
earrings: Roberto Coin | scarf: McQ Alexander McQueen | sweater: Eileen Fisher | bag: Chanel (similar here) |
bracelet: French Kande (similar) | jeans: AG “Prima” | boots: Acne
I’ve been searching for a more polished looking pair of black denim jeans for some time; these AG “Prima” jeans have wonderful fabric and fit me well, except for the length. I purchased the jeans from Nordstrom, as they offer free hemming on full-priced pants. The alterations person and I disagreed on the optimum length, and I let her talk me into going longer. I think I was right, and will have them shortened a bit more.
What fashion “rules” from the past have you been happy to let go? Are there any you think are still valid and follow?
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You look great and I love blue and black,even have this combination myself. Hmmm,about old rules…every one has an exception!
Dottoressa
Such a lovely shade of blue…and it goes really well with the black!
Do you remember “blue and green should never be seen?” Your black and blue go well together. Blue has become one of my accent colours and I often wear it with black.
Yes. I’ve never heard such a rule about blue and black though, except perhaps true navy and black.
As always you look lovely. The new hair cut suits you very well. I recently purchased a silk scarf in the same shade of blue as your top. Looks lovely with my grey hair which I wear very short. Just last week I found myself returning two days after my hair appointment to have it cut a second time. The hairdresser had convinced me to try to let grow it out which I knew wasn’t right for me and yet I agreed. I take some comfort in your having had a similar experience with your jeans. Sometimes it is difficult to say no ; )
How cute and up-to-the-minute fresh you look! Love the haircut, that scarf, and your jewelry, but it’s also the way you put all the elements together.
Have never understood the taboo on black and blue. Great combo. There’s another unfathomable “rule” against combining blue and green– “Blue and green should never be seen”. THAT is smashed to smithereens by me almost daily, since that is my favorite color combination. I even like blue and green in decor. What about English country houses with Georgian green walls as a backdrop to collections of Canton blue and white porcelain? Gorgeous and ethereal.
The fashion “rule” it is most fun (and practical) to break is the one that fashion editors are most ferocious about– that of not wearing nude hose. So many women seem to have swallowed this one, against their better interests. The vast majority of legs are greatly enhanced by fine gauge hosiery, especially older legs. Especially if you wear skirts all the time, as I do, it’s too limiting to have to stick to opaque tights, boots, or poor denuded legs all the time. So I salute Kate Middleton for flaunting her nude hosiery, and join her in the rebellion…
So true about the hose! I don’t even care if Kate wears hose because the Palace insists on it — it helps those of us whose look really benefits from wearing them!
I’m so glad I can get away with wearing hose occasionally in the winter again– just attended a wedding in the chilly North East and sheer hose were perfect with my sweater dress and heels. (yes, wore a sheath sweater dress to a wedding and no one blinked an eye!) My 23 year old daughter calls wearing hose “Going Kate Middleton”, as if it’s something very chic.
Your hair looks great, and I like this combo on you.
I remember reading somewhere that Karl Lagerfeld “made it okay” for us to wear blue and black together. Not that I need his blessing, but for those in the world of couture who do, I’m glad he gave it. I think it’s a dynamite color combination.
The “no black and blue” was, I think, mostly an American rule, like never having your skirt show below your coat. The French have long worn it, including navy with black, which is my favourite- more unusual than all black or all navy.
speaking of France, where I live : No purple except for dowagers. Red, navy and forest green are for children. Brown, too.
I’m wearing a black midi dress with a denim shirt unbuttoned over it. Yes to blue and black together. Yes to brown and black together also! I love that color blue on your sweater. Lovely!
Liking your new haircut, the colour combo and actually your pant length too! Makes your legs look 2 miles long!
Love, love. That tee with your black jeans, and the scarf. I want to reach right into the picture and grab the whole outfit to wear this morning. And the lip colour is perfect with the peach/coral in your scarf. Still loving your new haircut too.
You also weren’t supposed to wear brown and black. Such nonsense! I’ve ditched pretty much every fashion rule I knew. Rules are made to be broken ; )
I adore the colourful scarf. It makes the outfit for me.
bisous
Suzanne
I’ve always loved black with blue. I was told never to pair them together because it resembled the color of a bruise. Nonsense! I’ve been hunting for some new jeans since I put on some unwanted pounds. I’ll check these out. Thanks!
Forgot to mention I like this length with your boots!
LOVE this outfit!!! (I’ve just assembled something sort of like this) but the scarf….oh – is super lovely on this – and takes it to -extraordinary! Your blog posts have really inspired me…I recently found an Eileen Fisher sweater similar to this on sale…and I’m so glad I sprung for this. I know I will get a LOT of wear out of this. I love it, and can dress it up or down….it’s perfect! Thanks again for all your inspiring posts!
Your ‘newish’ short hairstyle is so flattering on you as well as your hair color. Royal blue is YOUR color!
What a gorgeous outfit! I love wearing black and blue together. Black and navy is one of my favorite combinations. The length of your pants seems just right to me. Of course it’s difficult to see the details perfectly in the photo, but I like the way your pants legs drape over the top of the boots. There’s enough ease that they will stay in place when you sit down and bend your knees.
Your hair also looks terrific, and is very similar to the way I wore my hair for many years (now it’s slightly longer). Have you considered wearing the ear pieces of your glasses under instead of over your hair? I recall trying them both ways and finally deciding that under looked better… somehow more natural and less controlled.
You are one glamorous woman and an inspiration to us all!
I really like your short hair, it looks great on you.
I forgot to tell you this before but I think you’re haircut actually makes you look younger! I love your outfit today–one of my favorite combinations–and the French Kande doesn’t hurt. XO
A long time ago I learned that black and brown (if it is a chocolate, warm brown) work really well together. That shade of brown works well with navy also. However, I later realized that wearing brown depresses me so I got rid of all my brown clothes. The lesson is we need to play with our clothes and look in a mirror.
You look lovely! I’ve been looking at this EF sweater online for awhile, wondering if I should get it or not and I decided to take the plunge! I’ve found EF sizes so all over the place lately, sometimes I’m swimming in (what was) my usual large so badly I need a medium and other larges too tight. Fingers crossed!
Love your longer length pants, very youthful, and modern! You look taller and slimmer!
Have noticed this with my own pants. For me, a longer leg is more flattering!
I didn’t know the blue/black combo rule when it was in force – whew! I would have been mortified on many occasions. It doesn’t even make sense – black almost always has tones of blue in it. You look great in this, and I love that scarf. You have such a stellar collection of them. Bah on pushy tailors – I’m glad it’s an easy fix.
I love your HAIR!! So cute. I also like black and blue together! Some rules were made to be BROKEN. Another combo I’m LOVING– is gray and brown 🙂 I’ll wear medium gray jeans, a gray LnA tee, and my carmel-brown Frye boots. Comfy and stylish!
I missed the message about black and blue (I was quite oblivious growing up). I DID hear the one about black and navy…and then how it was chic to wear together. I would love to see you do a black/navy post.
I’d always heard that black and navy together were a no-no. But I also thought that meant black and “real” navy which is almost black, so it didn’t look like you got dressed in the dark.
When it comes to fashion, I tend favor color theory/color harmony regarding what goes together and why or why not, rather than fashion “rules”. I think your blue and black looks terrific.
I meant to mention that a bought a Liberty scarf when I was in London a few years ago specifically because it had blues and black together. I don’t know how this photo will look on your monitor (on mine the blues look kind of greenish), but it has a couple of shades of denim-y blue with pale gray-blue…. Looks great with jeans.
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You reminded me of a time I arrived at work wearing 1 black and 1 navy shoe (same style) because it was a bit dark in my bedroom.
I grew up with so many rules, I can’t even remember them! Blue and black was certainly one (as was blue and brown). I love blue and black together. This is a fantastic outfit and you look teriffic! In fact, I think this is your best one so far, and that’s saying a lot because I like all of your outfits! Your hair looks great! I’d love to see the back as I’m trying to grow out my short hair a bit.
I’ve always worn black and blue together! Never heard of the rule not to. Love your new hairstyle, if really suits you.
Oh my gosh you look so pretty! I wonder if the increased blue is down to the lighter hair color?
Oh oh, I never knew about the black/blue rule. I’ve been wearing blue tops with black pants or skirts for years! Lots of shirts have black and blue mixed together in the designs. Sheesh, who knew?
Lovely outfit! I never used to wear much blue, but since I let my hair go white I find that I wear a lot more blue. It’s interesting how suddenly a certain color will “speak” to us and feel and look right.
Funny, I didn’t explicitly know the rule about black and blue, but I had never worn them together until this year. That rule must have been so ingrained in me that I didn’t even know it – I just lived it. Anyway, I think that a deep blue looks very elegant with black.
As for rules I have a very hard time breaking, the one that comes to mind is wearing shoes that are NOT as dark as the darkest color in one’s clothes. The first time I heard about “nude for you” shoes I was truly shocked – all my work shoes were black or brown – I couldn’t imagine wearing anything else. I am slowly coming to enjoy a good pair of nude shoes in the summer – they definitely can lighten up an outfit. I still cannot let a shirt hang out below a jacket or sweater, though. I just can’t.
The blue looks great on you. I’ve never been able to wear it, I have an aversion to any shade of blue on myself.
I live in Florida & wear white pants year round. I love the black & blue combo.
Love blue with black. I always feel like I’m s naughty breaking some crazy rule. Love doing it! You look great!
Good Heavens! If I never wore blue with black I would have about 3 things left in my closet! For those of us with fair coloring it tones down the harshness of solid black and the many shades of blue are easily mixed with one another. It works for all levels of style- casual, work and dress up and is key to simplifying my wardrobe.
The cute shorter haircut and this light, bright blue (forgive me) takes years off of your appearance. I love it!
You wear this ensemble just perfectly and the blue/black combination look stunning!
I love black & blue together, so chic. LOVE your new haircut, too!
Very Parisienne. I just left a comment on Patti saying how chic black and blue are together. I rarely wear it myself, and I don’t know why. The scarf gives your look a delicate touch.
I love the combination of blue and black and wear navy and black all the time . Plus forest green and burgundy so it’s just as well I don’t go to France any more Jeanne! .the rule I am ‘breaking’ more and more is to wear dressy fabrics ie velvet sequinned Jersey etc during the day with thick tights, wool sweaters and flat ankle boots .my husband complains that everything in my wardrobe looks the same ,sort of old lady school uniform . The more so since letting my hair go grey and I have had to get rid of all the Browns camels and warm colours generally and prints . I hate printed fabrics ,on me that is . One rule I never break though is that I never ever wear old lady shoes ,if my daughter wouldn’t wear them then neither will I !
BTW I do like to wear one piece of dramatic Jewellery . I love the French Kande pieces you wear . It’s not available in the UK but am looking forward to acquiring some when I next visit NYC .
Wishing every one a happy heathy and peaceful new year