Is Navy the New Black?

Is navy the new black? It seems to me that navy is a hip, trending color for fall and winter. It's cropping up everywhere from celebrity faces to runway clothing. Lucky for us, navy is nearly as slimming as basic black and a lot more interesting. Wear it as a neutral or as an accent piece to punch up your look. Here's a few great ways to incorporate navy into your wardrobe.

Navy nails. This is my favorite way to wear navy. I love it because with a short, squoval manicure, navy polish and a glossy topcoat look polished and professional. Nobody will wonder if you're dressing up for Halloween like they might with basic black nail polish. If you're a little bit nervous about how such a dark color might look on you, give it a test drive on your toes. If you decide to sport a navy manicure, keep a spare bottle of navy polish on hand for touch-ups. Any chips or cracks will be very obvious.

Navy stripes. Color blocking - mixing two or more equally vibrant colors- is still all the rage and works great with navy. Try a mix of navy and fuchsia nautical stripes for the trendiest look. Don't forget to pair it with a pair of equally pink jeans. For a more subtle approach, try out a navy and cream stripe and a pair of chinos. You'll still get a punchy look, but with a lot more panache.

Navy ruffles. A ruffled top or shirt-dress will look great in navy. So does a crisp, clean oxford top. To keep the look from getting a little too demure, use navy as your neutral and pair it up with a bright shade of yellow or aqua. A navy dress and heels will look terrific against a pair of brightly colored tights.

Navy eyeliner. If you want to slip in a very subtle way of wearing navy, try a navy eyeliner. It will look softer than your typical black liner, but will have a bit more emphasis than sable or brown. Keep your eye shadow neutral, if you wear any at all. Line just the top rims for a classic look, line just the bottoms for a more youthful, suburban feel. And don't forget your mascara.

For a classic, professional look, keep your navy hues to your shoes (navy stilettos? awesome!) and a pencil skirt with a crisp white blouse. Allow a brightly colored cami to peek out underneath for just a hint of color. Dig through your closet to find something you already own in navy, or pick up a navy-colored piece to pair up with items already in your wardrobe. Navy is such a hot trend it might melt away before spring shows up again, so don't spend all your wardrobe bucks on a single item. Whatever you wear, wear it with confidence and a smile.


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