Navy is the New Neutral
📍 Museum of Fine Arts, St. Pete
Shirt ($25 off with code KATIEKENNEDY) || Skirt (Similar Dress) (Similar Blouse) || Wedges || Clutch
Navy is the new neutral! In all honesty, it has always been a neutral for me. Blues make up the vast majority of my wardrobe, navy specifically. It’s easy to see how it goes with everything! I wear it for a complete monochromatic ensemble, contrast with pops of color, and everything in between. Grayson is my number one destination for white button-downs. They are made by women, for women. Recently, they added a line of navy button-downs to their roster, which are perfect if you’re still wondering what season to dress for. Happy to show off one of my favorite colors, here’s how to effortlessly wear a splash of navy, no matter what the weather has in store.
Roll Up Your Sleeves
I don’t think button-down shirts get as much love as they should. They are a closet staple, but can sometimes seem too formal or stuffy. Especially since I live in Florida, the only way to truly wear a button-down is by rolling up the sleeves. Sometimes, it’s just enough to show off my watch and bracelet, but other times it’s all the way to the elbow. Not only does it help to make you stay more comfortable in the warm weather, but it also revamps a traditionally conservative top to feel more carefree and fun. That’s also true if you decide to knot the bottom hem. As you can tell, it’s also one of my favorite tricks!
Slip on a Midi Skirt
Of course, you can opt for a pair of jeans, but what’s the fun in that? A midi-skirt with a great pattern and plenty of volume adds so much character to a traditional button-down. This particular skirt from J. Crew looks like it was made just for a navy shirt. The movement is incredible. On this windy day, it sashayed with me as we walked through downtown St. Pete and visited the Museum of Fine Arts. This skirt is the kind that is perfect for date night with my husband, brunch with my girlfriends, or getting gussied up to run errands. If you love the pattern, but aren’t a skirt kind of girl, they also have a similar boho-inspired maxi dress and blouse.
Wear Monochromatic Shoes
If you don’t own a pair of navy shoes, stop what you’re doing and grab a pair right now. When it comes to neutral footwear, we tend to think of blacks and browns. While those are important to have, navy should be the very next color on that list. Ballet flats, sandals, pumps, I rotate through all navy styles pretty consistently. For the summertime, my go-to is always a pair of espadrille wedges. Mine are from Castaner, and they are simply perfect for warm-weather soirees. Sarah Flint has an incredible collection of navy shoes. Use the code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE to get $50 off your first pair.
Add a Pop of Lip Color
Finally, since you’re going with an all navy ensemble, don’t forget to add just a dash of color. This helps the outfit look intentional and put-together. When it comes to navy, sometimes I opt for a contrasting handbag or footwear. On this particular day, it was all about lip color. I’ve never been one to talk about makeup because I don’t really have any ground to stand on. I have precisely four steps to my daily makeup routine: a few dots of concealer, a touch of eyebrow pencil, obligatory mascara, and simple lip color. I’m currently in the market for a perfect shade of red that matches my olive skin tone. Typically, I wear Jour by Chanel. It’s a beautiful coral that makes me think of Holly Golightly’s lip color from Breakfast at Tiffany’s!
Navy is one of those colors that you either absolutely love or avoid entirely. It looks fantastic n everyone and can seamlessly be worn for any occasion. I recommend looking at Mackenzie, Carly, and Krista for even more inspiration for women who wear navy and blue better than anyone else I know.
Love from Florida,
Katie
As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.