Orange and navy: meet the hottest trans-seasonal colour combo

July 11, 2011

I was walking past my local Country Road store the other day, on a mission to fight the crowds at the toy sales, and I was stopped in my shopping tracks. I just felt *compelled* to head in store.

Admittedly, when it comes to weighing up toy shopping with the *opportunity* to run my hands over racks of new-season clothes, it was a no-brainer. Clothes win every time.

And when those clothes are screaming at you from a vibrant orange and navy window display, all thoughts of laybying-till-Christmas immediately left my head.

New in store at Country Road: an eye-popping colour combo of navy and orange

I’ve loved the colour navy for forever … even in the ’90s when it looked ever so fetching when offset by gold embroidery and buttons … and navy court shoes. (Oh, God, did I really just put that fashion confession in writing?)

Navy has often received a bad wrap as being a more conservative/mumsie cousin to black but it really has the capacity to wow.

And wow is what you get when you make navy “pop” with orange. (Check out this post for why you don’t have to wait until spring to embrace a pop of colour.)

This colour combination suits blondes and brunettes and is easily adaptable to wear now when the temperature is still low. Just incorporate neutral or tan-coloured shoes or boots and a denim jacket and you’re good to go.

Trust me, heads will turn.

The Morrison spring-summer 2011 is starting to arrive in store ... and yes, orange and navy feature here as well. www.morrisonshop.com

Found orange getting saucy with navy over at HoneyHoney too. Pictured are bags from the Rebecca Minkoff collection. www.honeyhoney.com.au

What do you think? Is this a colour combination you’re ready to embrace? Or should I have kept walking to the toy store?

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Sarah

Hi Nikki, I love the CR striped dress and already wear a bit of orange. My nearly 5 year old son has loved orange since he was about 2 and it has rubbed off on me. He was with me when we saw the striped tunic at Country Road and he said “Mum I love this – if you by it I will give you lots of cuddles”!! Hows that for pursuasion!! My question is though could you get away with black leggings with the dress or not – I don’t think so but do you have any suggestions? Could not do the bare leg look like the model!! Thanks, Sarah
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  Oh, I love that! How could you not buy?! I don’t think black leggings would work but how about a navy pair of tights or a pair of dark denim skinny leg jeans?
Pagan

Love it all! I have a question though – what about orange and purple? Too much??
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  If you’ve got the personality to pull it off, then I say go for it! Especially this season when we’re only going to see more and more colour blocking. Nothing will shock.
http://theblogstylist.com Bree

Wow. I want everything on this page!
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  I know, me too … well, clearly otherwise I wouldn’t have blogged this fashion vision wishlist!
Sanna

Thanks for posting this .. it got so inspired by this post that I went to buy myself new jeans (really dark navy ones). I’m loving this colour combo and hope to get few orange pieces into my wardrope very soon.
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  I love my dark navy jeans … they’re almost black but that blue shade pops when you had an orange with it.
http://www.mummy-mayhem.com Jodie Ansted

I LOVE navy blue and think it looks gorgeous with the orange, but doubt I’ll wear orange. I have a lot of red in my face and I don’t think orange will help! Having said that, I wear pink and shouldn’t so I might be tempted..,
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  I too have a lot of red on my face and I can do this colour. It’s worth a little try and if you’re game, work it back with hot pink as well!
http://www.ohgorgeousbaby.blogspot.com Fiona @ oh gorgeous baby

I love the pants and tops, they look awesome together. I just wish I had the gutts to wear the dresses but I’m such a pants girl, I don’t really know how to do dresses. The colour combo is a refreshing change from red and navy all the time.
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  I’m a dress and leggings girl in winter and love dresses for summer as it’s one garment to deal with. Not all dresses are super feminine. The styles of the Morrison ones, for example. It’s a matter of “playing” and finding styles that you can imagine yourself in. Most of my clients are non-dress people until I get a hold of them!
Paula

I saw the orange Morrison dress in their window recently and its stunning.
Sadly, I tried on that navy patterned shift in CR and it did nothing for me – but looks awesome on that model!
I can put my hand up too and confess a long-term love of navy.
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  Ah, lovely to see another long-term navy *victim*. And the shift did not work for me either. I have my eye on the striped tee or the peasant top.
http://linda-stuffilike.blogspot.com/ Linda

Love navy and orange. Love Country Road. I noticed your Facebook (??) page mentioned they had free delivery for their online winter stuff at the moment, too. How awesome.
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  Yes, free delivery at Country Road and Trenery at the moment!
http://www.hairromance.com Christina @ Hair Romance

love this combo! It’s one of my all time favourites and I love that it’s back in store! Zara has a great orange bow belt I just bought and I love those orange shoes.
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  Ooh, love the sound of that belt!
Milina

love, love, love this! Especially as I’ve been trying to bring some colour into my boring black wardrobe and I’ve found that orange works on me. Thanks for this post!
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  Orange actually works on most people – go brighten up your day!
http://writingloud.blogspot.com Megan @ Writing Out Loud

You’ve stopped me in my tracks with this one. Last night I bought a navy blue long tunic, and very very very nearly bought some orange tights to go with it. I wimped out at the last minute though! Are you telling me I was on the verge of being on trend?!
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  YES! Go back and get those tights! Or a scarf!
http://Www.themodernparent.net Martine

Love it…especially the navy dress and the orange shoes. So looking forward to getting out of my pregnancy clothes and going shopping for spring/summer!
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  I have my eye on those shoes, that’s for sure!
http://kellyexeter.com.au Kelly

Ooh err … when I saw your headline I thought “I am not sure about this one Nikki” … but now you have me convinced!
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  Haha, I know that feeling but this is a great combo as you can choose the level of orange that suits – a little or a lot.
Amy

Oh its all a bit delightful, isn’t it?
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  I think I have a new obsession!
http://catch.com.co Mrs Catch

Mmmm. Love!
- http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
  
  Agreed!
  - Amy
    
    I bought a super cheap francis leon top from Thread People the other day, its bright orange. I now want to buy a navy suit to compliment it!
    - http://www.stylingyou.com.au Nikki Parkinson
      
      Oh, good score Amy! Very jealous!