Some Rules are Meant to be Broken

I am a rule-follower… usually. I can't get behind socks with dress shoes, I won't wear jeans to the theater, and I believe bras should be under wraps. Now that I know the history behind it, I am more comfortable with wearing white after Labor Day. But some style rules are meant to be broken. The most significant rule I find that needs to be broken—and by breaking, increases your style quotient—is the rule of what can and cannot be paired with the color black—no black with navy, no black with brown.

Some Rules are Meant to Be Broken

I was raised following this rule – gosh, it took me a long time to even be comfortable wearing a black shirt with dark denim jeans! However, over time, I have come to realize that there is a reason behind this rule, but it was created in a black and white (or black and brown – heh heh) perspective.

Style Rule: Pairing Navy with Black

For many years, style experts told us never to pair navy with black. True navy is almost black, but over the years, navy has become the name of a very dark blue, which isn't black but can be very close in color.

I remember seeing a photo of Jessica Simpson from 2006 (see above) – she was wearing a fabulous navy trench with a black dress and heels.  It looked so chic, so simple, and far more elegant than if the coat were red, ivory, or gray.  This photo inspired me to start wearing navy with black.

The reason navy truly works with black is because there is no one shade of navy, the way there is only one shade of black (excluding those black knits in your wardrobe that have been washed far too many times). When your navy garment is closer to blue than black, there is enough contrast to have it look fabulous with black.

A deep dark navy WOULD look wrong with black because the colors would be so very similar they would clash (think of that faded black tee in your wardrobe and imagine it paired with your brand-new black gabardine trousers). The more distinct the navy and black are, the better they look together.

Fabric variations also help when pairing navy with black. A navy silk cocktail dress with a black velvet sash would look amazing because the contrast in fabrics would add to the contrast of colors. The silk would have the light bounce off it, while the velvet would absorb it, giving new depths to these two colors. I like wearing a black patent belt with a navy dress to have a real contrast in textures, emphasizing the difference between the two fabrics.

Finally, make sure your combination looks purposeful. Wearing a black blouse with navy pants can make you look as though you got dressed in the dark. However, if you do things like add a black patent belt and black patent shoes, or a scarf with navy and black in the print at the throat, the outfit is cohesive, obviously thought-out, and purposeful.

Style Rule: Pairing Black and Brown

Again, the point is to bring attention to the differences in the colors. This can be done with a contrast in fabrics or textures. I again have to mention a black patent belt – it’s the perfect way to make black work with a brown knit dress.

Brown and black are colors that are often combined in prints, especially animal prints. Having a piece with both colors in it adds to your outfit, making it a cohesive look.

I remember when I was a visual merchandiser, one of my favorite business/public speaking outfits was a dark brown Ponte de Roma knit pantsuit. I would switch out the self-belt for a black leather one and wear a leopard-print scarf around my neck. I also had a brown A-line tee shirt dress I would pair with black shoes and a necklace made of gold and tortoise shell beads. The necklace had a lot of black and dark parts in it, which made the black shoes look purposeful and the ensemble cohesive.

Brown leather is a very popular choice for footwear, outerwear, and handbags, so pairing a black dress with brown boots or a black turtleneck with a brown leather jacket is not as unusual as navy with black. The goal is to create a cohesive or purposeful combination. The brown accessory should be unique and stand out on its own, while the black clothing should be simple, allowing the focus to be on the leather accessory.