Navy is my black.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm obsessed with navy blue. To me it exemplifies taste, restraint and refinement like nothing else. Plus, I look horrible in black. Navy is my black. It's also my white, my gray, my casual, my dressy, my pick-me-up, my calm-me-down... you get the idea. I suppose this near worship of navy began in grade school, when I was forced to wear an almost acidic, bright scarlet cardigan with my otherwise attactive uniform. I was painfully jealous of the upper grade girls, traipsing around in their navy blue sweaters, the inky blue hiding the cardigan's cheap acrylic. 

                                      

(Excuse me while I sulk down bad memory lane.) I'll never forget sullenly driving to the uniform shop somewhere deep in the valley to pick out my new garb. I practically squealed with delight when I saw my new school's name perched atop a rack of nautically inspired uniforms, complete with middy blouses and red sailors' ties! My mom shot me a knowing smile that said, "See, this won't be so bad." I was trying not to let on just how pleased I was as we stood at the counter, my new look piled high. Then evil struck. The clerk informed us that the navy sweaters, and navy Friday service blazers, were for "upper grades only." Sigh, I thought. What will I have to wear, some babyish navy pullover? Suddenly, the woman returned with the most hideous red sweater ever weaved. It may have actually been molded. I'd been able to overlook the crunchy, scratchiness of my navy sweater. But somehow in the junior "scarlet" version the cardigan's plastic-ness was all the more apparent, even offensive. I winced, then felt a burning in my throat and the dreaded sting of tears filling my eyes. Honestly, this was the sweater I was being forced to wear for the next five years?? Wasn't it enough that I was being torn from all my public school friends and the second-grade boyfriend I swore I was meant to marry? Or that I had just been mercilessly teased with an ensemble that I was actually quite thrilled to don? This sweater not only ruined an otherwise perfect uniform, it ruined my chances of any real happiness, or of ever being warm (I'd rather freeze, thank you very much) for the next five years. So, I guess it's no wonder wearing navy makes me feel the way it does. Like the day I hit 7th grade, I put it on and I feel warm, cool and happy all at once. Now, if you've stayed with me this long, you deserve a treat. And here it is, compliments of my Polyvore friend Andley. Check out these lovely navy ensembles...

I could live in this outfit. Who needs kids? Paul Smith jacket $1,345. farfetch.com;

Camilla & Marc skirt $260, Louis Vuitton "Melrose" handbag, louisvuitton.com

I'd be so ladylike in this Hobbs Christie jacket, $260, johnlewis.com, and Dolce and Gabbana shoes, $660, couture.zappos.com

People would sure think I was getting work done in this Marc Jacobs cashmere cardigan, $320;

Tibi skirt, $240, both at net-a-porter.com; handbag and bangles, Kate Spade, katespade.com.

Images: Navy blazer at top, forgotten (I'm so sorry! I know you're on my blogroll, so please email me and I will credit you for this incredibly inspirational photo), all other images from Andley at Polyvore and sites where noted.