How to Style Navy with Black and Grey Separates
In comments on my recent post, Build Your Casual Winter Capsule Wardrobe, several of you mentioned that you found it challenging to incorporate your navy separates with black and grey. So to give you some ideas, today I’m sharing a casual capsule in cool neutrals.
Styles here are simple and classic to illustrate how these neutrals work together. (Though I tried to use some of the same types of items as in my own casual capsule wardrobe.) This capsule would also work with black or grey jeans, or black trousers. And if you prefer a closed-back shoe, these loafers are really good. The jacket shown is a dark navy, you could also go with one like this in black, or a textured tweed or bouclé.
Outfit ideas with black, grey & navy
A capsule wardrobe can be a great tool to help reduce decision fatigue, and simplify getting dressed. It’s not intended as an entire wardrobe, but rather a starting point to put outfits together. You can always add more color and swap out accessories for variety. Even so, with just this capsule of wardrobe basics and accessories shown above, you could easily get dressed for a week or more.
Here are just a few outfits you could create from this capsule…
Tips for building a neutral capsule wardrobe including navy
- Mix fabrics & textures! To avoid looking like you’re wearing a mis-matched suit, be sure to mix textures between pieces.
- It’s ok to wear mis-matched navies in the same outfit; again mix those textures!
- Dark denim counts as navy.
- Black and navy can be a very chic combo. IMHO, it works best with a medium navy, not a super dark one.
- Yes you can wear black or brown shoes with navy pants. Metallics, and white or ivory also work.
A capsule like this could also be a good starting point for a travel wardrobe, or transitioning a wardrobe from work to retirement or a more casual lifestyle. Starting with neutrals (from your seasonal color palette) creates cohesion and helps you do more with less.
What neutrals do you wear most often?
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Great ideas. Fantastic combos for travel, too.
Thanks, Susan!
That is my wardrobe, with pops of red, leopard and bright blue. I loved your recent post on gray basics and added gray jeans and a charcoal cardigan. I dont know what I’d be wearing or how I would feel about myself if I had not discovered your blog seven or eight years ago. So many thanks to you.
Hi Arlene, thanks so much! I’m so glad you’ve found it helpful.
Susan, can you possibly link to the post about gray basics? That sounds right up my alley but I can’t seem to find the post. Many thanks!
Hi Jenny, here you go: Building a Chic Grey Capsule Wardrobe
I love this capsule with two exceptions- the silver mules are lovely but NOT for the current season, and I find barrel jeans simply hideous. Their shape is unflattering for anyone over a size 6. This is the opinion of a former Costume Designer…
Hi Jeanie, thanks. I’ve been wearing mules with socks, which works in a climate with milder winters. But that’s also why I included an alternative link to a loafer. And regarding the barrel jeans, “flattering” is subjective. I think there are a lot of ways that clothing can be flattering (good colors, expresses our personality) that don’t involve trying to look smaller/taller/younger.
This.
I wouldn’t say ‘hideous’ as Susan looks cut in her barrel jeans. I just think that they tend to make women look knock-kneed. To me, they seem better suited to longer-legged women.
Thank You! So helpful!
You’re very welcome, Cathy!
Thanks, Susan. These are my colors. I think I’ve been hung up on the old adage telling us not to wear black and navy together, and yet they look chic when done well.
On the matter of barrel jeans, if one has a pear shape, they can nicely emphasize a small waist.
Hi Dianne, thanks and I agree about the barrel jeans. I think they can also help balance out broad shoulders.
Love this capsule. Navy is the base color of my wardrobe so I love seeing how to style it in different ways. So helpful.
Thanks, Cat!
My neutrals are mostly navy and gray. I rarely go to black now that I am retired. But when I do, navy and gray are usually in the mix. I also like to throw in some colors like lavender or purple with gray, and light blues and darker greens with navy. Not sure how many rules that breaks, but I say hey, rules are for fools. My challenge is mixing up textures, but I am working on it.
Thanks Susan, This is so helpful I love the idea of a capsule wardrobe but I do struggle trying to put one together.
You’re very welcome!
Thanks for this! I think the reminder to mix up the textures when dealing with black and navy or different shades of each is what made it all click for me.
Hi Murphy, thanks, and glad you found it helpful!
Hi Susan,
I like your taste and posts but i have 2 criticisms.
1. I would like mre pics with colours that are for winters with white gray hair.
2. Your viewers must be very wealthy. I like good quality clthes but in this post the jacket you pictured is $1100 US . Not many mere mortals can afford that.
Consider a broader audience relationship.
Hi Robyn, thanks for your feedback. 1. The capsule shown IS from the Winter palette. 2. The jacket in the collage is $695 (not $1100). Yes, it’s quite spendy; that’s why I also linked to two alternatives below that are more budget-friendly. The collages are meant to provide inspiration and illustrate concepts.
I LOVE everything about this post with the specific capsule pieces and accessories shown in various combinations! I hope you’ll do more like this for each season and also for transitions between seasons. As a minimalist drawn toward a classic style, I use a capsule foundation with neutrals that are primarily black, light to dark grays, light to dark tan and taupe, medium to dark blue denim, and white to off white. I add seasonal pops of color with solid tops and a few print tops or scarves that coordinate with my capsule pieces. With that said, your outstanding post has inspired me to add some navy pieces to my spring capsule–so thank you, Susan–you’re absolutely the very best at what you do and my favorite fashion influencer!
I wear black most often because I work in local theatres, and black is great for NYC. But love camel, beige and lt grey, and brown also
Thank you, and I enjoy your newsletters so much. In these very challenging times, clothes and thinking about clothes are my little stress release. All the best to you.
I have been trying to do navy and black ever since an NYT fashion writer said that was her go to combo when traveling. Please do more!!!
As soon as I saw the outfits in this post, I knew they were all “me”. Love this post, Susan! After checking out my closet, I have very similar items, except for barrel jeans & slides. Still wearing slim cut jeans & would consider silver Mary Jane shoes. Your posts just keep getting better & I so look forward to each one despite our different colour families. I’m a winter but now wondering if I’m a blue spring? Maybe do a post on blue springs?
Thanks for this post Susan. It’s as if you read my mind. I recently realized that grey, navy, and black are my happy place for wardrobe staples.
This post is so helpful. I am energized to hold out for dark navy and pale grey, and not give up in the search.
Your talents at visualization are a boon.
While I wouldn’t/couldn’t spend $600 on a jacket I am still glad to see it in this collection. It helps me focus on the look I want.
Susan, thanks for this. I like wearing black tops with dark wash jeans. I’m less apt to wear navy on top with black trousers — but think this is a look that I’ll try with black shorts this spring. Thanks especially for your comment about texture. Talbots has some textured tops I’ll look at before the prices for imported clothes goes up.
I struggled for years with items in navy, since they didn’t match if I hadn’t bought them at the same time through the same retailer. Your comment about mixing the textures is a brilliant reminder about how to do it.