[Zot!]

The Navy-Navy Quandary

Anyone else have this problem:

Basically, when attempting to match two items together (usually a Navy blazer with a tie that contains a Navy stripe, or to a lesser extent socks with trousers), the dye lots are off by just enough to make the two seem to clash rather than compliment. I suppose this happens with any two shades that are similar but not quite the same, but it's particularly problematic with Navy, which is such a wardrobe staple. Maybe that's why I haven't had much of an issue with variations of charcoal gray- I don't own many gray ties.

 

[Daveboxster]

navy/navy

Anyone else have this problem:

Basically, when attempting to match two items together (usually a Navy blazer with a tie that contains a Navy stripe, or to a lesser extent socks with trousers), the dye lots are off by just enough to make the two seem to clash rather than compliment. I suppose this happens with any two shades that are similar but not quite the same, but it's particularly problematic with Navy, which is such a wardrobe staple. Maybe that's why I haven't had much of an issue with variations of charcoal gray- I don't own many gray ties.

I do run into this as well with navy slacks and socks. I haven't worried about it with a tie because the distance between the tie and pants is usually enough that a slight difference isn't noticed. But socks can look goofy in my mind.

With a blue blazer, I usually wear khaki or grey slacks so I don't have this issue.

 

[Mike Petrik]

My advice: Don't worry about it. An imperfect match suggests "clash" only because you are focusing too much on it. No two navies are identical, but they are almost always close enough to work ok, especially if the navy in the tie is just a stripe.

 

[Helvetia]

I agree. Navy & navy are usually close enough not to be noticed, or if noticed, not an issue with others.

 

[Joe Tradly]

The navy in a tie and the navy of a blazer shouldn't match.

JB

 

[Cowtown]

I wear navy ties with navy blazer all the time. Great look. As others have mentioned they are not supposed to match. I don't think that the clash either.

 

[bd79cc]

I wear navy ties with navy blazer all the time. Great look. As others have mentioned they are not supposed to match. I don't think that the clash either.

I agree. I wear navy blazers with ties of dark blue/navy background all the time, too.

 

[Cruiser]

I'm in the group that thinks that different shades of navy looks bad together. That's why when I'm wearing a navy jacket or navy pants I generally keep as little navy as possible in the tie. I think different shades of grey or charcoal can look good together, but for me it just doesn't work with navy.

Cruiser

 

[paper clip]

I'm in the group that thinks that different shades of navy looks bad together. That's why when I'm wearing a navy jacket or navy pants I generally keep as little navy as possible in the tie. I think different shades of grey or charcoal can look good together, but for me it just doesn't work with navy.

Cruiser

I generally agree with the above - I wear my navy ties (overall navy ties - emblematics with a navy background or a blue background BB#1 stripe - not merely a ties with a navy stripe - like an Argyll and Sutherlander) with my tweeds in the winter or a tan/brown sport jacket. For suit wear, I have a tan summer suit and a glen plaid with which I use my navy ties. Too dark for me with a navy suit or blazer and a navy tie.

 

[Joe Tradly]

From an aborted thread on "Schizophrenic Trad". Press sack suit paired with a spread/french shirt and a CT tie, half windsor.

But for these purposes, it's a navy tie and a navy suit. The tie is lighter than the suit, and, well, I think this looks fine, bordering on good.

JB

 

[paper clip]

Hmmm. That does look good, though the tie is "hella" different shade than the suit. That looks more royal/purply blue than the flat navy of the suit.

The light is not great in my room in the AM, so I just avoid the issue by using wine or green foulard ties with my navy suit. I have lots of more non-navy colorful repp ties for blazer use that I would not use with a suit, anyway.