Say goodbye to the little black dress because navy blue dresses are the new go-to outfit for any occasion. I’m going to go out on a limb and say you have at least one navy blue dress in your wardrobe. Don’t worry, you’re not alone: even I have four navy blue dresses in my own closet: one for everyday wear, one for corporate events, one for semi-formal events, and a floor-length strapless floral number for summer.
These dresses may all be the same color, but that’s not to say that I can style them all the same way. For instance, I’d wear my fine 925 silver jewelry with the corporate and formal dress, but I wouldn’t wear it with my casual dress. Nor would I wear bright-colored necklaces with my floral dress as the colors will be all over the outfit.
Even with simple but elegant navy blue dresses, you need to learn how to work neutral color fashion. Here are our top picks for the colored accessories to best use with navy blue dresses.
Silver Jewelry
Silver is one of the timeless accessories that will never go out of style – as long as you know how to use it. Whether you’re using fine silver jewelry encrusted with precious stones, plain 925 silver (also known as sterling silver) accessories, or even silver-plated jewelry you can find in most fashion stores, silver accessories can help you either stand out of a crowd or achieve an elegant, understated look.
For an understated look, go for plain and small to medium-sized silver accessories. While navy blue is a beautiful color, for some people and some dress styles, some dress styles are so plain that it’s easy for a dress to wear some people and they end up looking like boring, shapeless figures that can easily blend into a crowd. Adding a few simple silver accessories can add some detail to a dress.
On the other hand, for a more extravagant silver look, opt for larger accessories, with even some encrusted with precious gemstones (or crystals, for those who don’t have fine jewelry). This is where you bring out the dangling earrings, large necklaces, and silver-plated belts. However, if you’re going all-out, dress appropriately. If you’re dressing up for an event like a wedding, for example, you’ll want to look good, but not too much that you’ll upstage the bride and groom. Balance is key.
Gold Accessories
Gold pairs well with navy blue because of the way the dark color of your dress creates a chic backdrop for glitzy and bright accessories. Unlike silver that complements your dress’ color, gold is designed to stand out from your dark dress color.
The amount of gold you wear can affect how much of a head-turner your whole outfit would be. A simple brooch, earrings, hair clip, or bracelet can help you stand out, but bigger accessories like belts, large necklaces, or a gold scarf is sure to turn heads and give any simple dress a chic but classy look. However, too much gold can make you look gaudy, so keep it simple for more formal events. Leave the extravagant and experimental looks for more appropriate events.
Yellow Accessories
If gold is a little to glamorous or too formal for your style, try yellow. It’s one of the brightest colors on the color wheel, and while it might be one of the more difficult colors to pull off, if you choose your yellow accessories carefully, you’ll have a really stylish navy blue outfit with a fun or trendy feel.
However, be sure to measure a room or event first and see if wearing yellow accessories is appropriate. A navy blue dress can be appropriate for a business meeting or a funeral (assuming you don’t have a black or any other dark-colored dress to wear), but adding a fun and bright yellow accessory to your dress during these situations can be seen as inappropriate.
Coral Accessories
If yellow is too bright, try complementing your dress with warm coral accessories. It’s still an eye-catching and bold color in contrast to navy blue, but not as bright as yellow or pink but not as simple as silver or champagne accessories.
When worn correctly, it creates a stunning and majestic look. Try coral earrings, necklace, or even a coral-colored handbag. The color is not so striking that you can also add a third neutral color like silver or gold to make it look more formal during certain events.
Pearls
Pearls are a quintessential choice for the woman who wants to look her most formal – even in a navy blue dress. The likes of Princess Diana and Jackie Kennedy in blue dresses and pearls has graced many covers in the past and has become an iconic style for women who want to dress formally with a more understated elegance. Pearls don’t shine the way gemstones do, but its white luminescence provides a subtle sense of glamour for any woman who wears it during formal events.
Pearl necklaces are the most common, but don’t be limited to this. Pearl earrings and brooches are also common, as well as hair pieces, brooches, and other forms of accessories. There’s something timeless about the beauty of pearls that always make it look trendy with most colors.
Champagne Accessories
Finally, if you want to go for a more muted form of gold, try champagne-colored accessories. It is an elegant jewelry or accessory color. And like pearls and gold, the color stands out against a dark navy blue, making it a stylish but understated accessory color.
You can use either champagne-colored crystals, gems, pearls, or any other accessory to add a hint of added style to your dress. Add some bronze or gold accents to add another layer to your outfit.
Navy blue dresses are “in” at the moment. And because of their versatility and timeless color, it’s definitely here to stay. Most dresses look good on their own, but if you want to take your style game to another level, consider adding some colored accessories depending on the mood of the event you’re attending.
