How to Wear Navy in Summer

Last year I put together a summer capsule wardrobe in shades of blue, consisting of pieces ranging from white and light blue to dark navy. I still believe this is one of the most versatile selections for a summer wardrobe.

In this article, I want to focus specifically on navy pieces and how to style them with each other, or mostly with white, to create a strong contrast. In clothing, navy and white is also the combination that most people naturally associate with summer style. So when you are not sure what to pair it with, remember that it almost always works well with white. It’s a color that works perfectly in most fabrics, which makes it incredibly versatile, because it looks amazing in linen and wool or cotton canvas and denim. That’s why this is a color you can use for everything, from very casual to very formal looks. I will focus on a few different groups: casual looks, jackets, suits, and evening wear.

Casual looks

When it comes to casual summer dressing, some of the most essential and versatile navy pieces are a polo shirt, shorts, linen trousers or chinos, and a navy-and-white striped T-shirt. These pieces are easy to style with many other wardrobe staples, but they often look their best when paired with other navy pieces or with white for a cleaner contrast..

Below you can find a few classic examples.

Navy blazer and polo with white trousers

Simple all navy look - casual shirts with chinos

All navy linen look - ultimate summer vibe

All navy look with sweater and bandana

Navy blazer

A navy blazer is a classic that works all year long, but in the summer it will have a very different vibe when worn in combination with other more relaxed summer fabrics and with a lot of white or navy pieces.

Western vibe with denim shirt and jeans

For more formal look you can also use jacket with stripes

Paired with indigo denim for more polished look

Classic combination with navy striped t-shirt and white trousers

Navy blazer paired with light blue trousers, very subtle and not so common combination

And paired with washed blue jeans for more casual look

Navy jackets

Instead of a classic blazer, you can also choose a more casual option, such as a safari or military-inspired jacket in a summer fabric like linen or hemp. 

Casual jacket works similarly as navy blazer but creates much more casual look

In the same fabric as trousers can have the appeal of a very casual suit

Navy suits

A navy suit is another classic that belongs in every man's wardrobe, but summer fabrics can completely change how it feels. A lightweight linen, tropical wool navy, or seersucker suit feels much more relaxed than a traditional business suit, especially when worn with just a polo shirt or T-shirt. And if there is one suit that unmistakably signals summer, it is the classic blue-and-white striped seersucker suit.

Even when styled more traditionally with a shirt and tie, the texture and lighter construction of summer fabrics make it feel more relaxed and less formal.

For a formal setting you can never go wrong with a navy pinstripe suit

A very casual navy suit in check, paired with light blue knitted tee

Paired with a classic white t-shirt is the easiest way to dress down any suit

Paired with navy knitted tee will add a more relaxed vibe while keeping more dressy appeal

Paired with navy knitted polo creates more relaxed but still very elegant appeal

Seersucker is for the ultimate summer vibe

All navy look

With the right tie, you can make a pinstripe suit feel more relaxed

Navy evening wear

Navy also works beautifully for evening wear. If you prefer a more subtle approach, you can keep the classic black tuxedo and just add a touch of navy with velvet slippers or accessories. And if you want, you can go all in with a navy dinner suit. But my favourite way to incorporate navy into summer evening wear is somewhere in between: pairing a navy dinner jacket with black or white trousers, or even going a bit more casual by wearing it with a navy knitted T-shirt.

All navy evening look

Navy dinner jacket paired with navy bow tie and slippers

If you add black bow tie it instantly makes the whole look more serious

You can dress down the evening jacket and wear it with a knitted t-shirt

Let me know what is your favourite way of wearing navy in summer.

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