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The Perfect Navy Blue Dress Shirt

What to look for in the perfect navy blue dress shirt?

A navy blue dress shirt is a powerful addition to your wardrobe. It goes with as much as a black shirt in todays mens style, perfect for blue jeans, dark denim, tan or green chinos, even grey pants. The perfect navy blue dress shirt has an air of mystery about it, just uncommon enough to look stunning against your peers yet classic enough for everyday wear. Here is what to look for in the perfect navy blue dress shirt:

Fabric

Fabric, this is the most important part. A faded blue just will not cut it. The darker the navy blue the harder it is to maintain the color. Never pick polyester or nylon shirts, yes the color will last, but the fibers will trap odor and are less breathable causing this to happen more quickly on a dark color shirt on a sunny day. Also on dark colors these synthetic fibers will look shiny and cheap.

What we recommend looking for is mercerized cotton. This traditional process uses a harmless chemical to straighten and smooth the fibers. The benefits are a much smoother hand to the fabric and the additional absorption of up to 25% more dyestuff. For navy blue shirts this is critical. 25% more color makes a big difference in how long your shirt looks great.

Style

Style, as silly as this sounds a minimal look to the style will help the navy blue color take the front seat. Small details can help draw the eye and add interest. When choosing a shirt make sure the details are top notch as they can stand out on this dark color.

Stitching

With just a slight change of the stitching on your navy shirt you can get a great look. A black stitch on a navy shirt can help bring subtle attention to the shirts shape. A brown or gold color stitch can give your shirt a denim/casual feel. Heavy thread thickness stitching thread can add a masculine feel.

Buttons

Buttons, seem like a simple detail. On a navy shirt they really stand out. We prefer smoke(gray) colored mother-of-pearl. A white mother-of-pearl button is another good option. They will add a pop of interest to the front of your shirt and a premium look.

Pockets

A single pocket for your pen or two pockets to have a more utility feel can add to your look. The addition of pockets to your navy shirt can totally change the rugged look of your style. Simply remember without pockets is more formal and with pockets is more casual.

Care

Care, The fabric will become most worn out and fated at the edges and points of wear. We recommend washing your navy blue dress shirts inside-out to lessen the agitation and removal of the color due to abrasion. Much like dark denim, the more care you take to washing the longer the dark blue color will last.

Watch your blue colors

One final note on your perfect navy blue dress shirt. Watch your blue colors, navy blue can be either the red or green side of the color spectrum. If you are going for an all blue look it is best to make sure your blues match in color. For example denim often has a slight green tint to it, so your shirt would need to have the same. So it is best to match a very neutral (not green or red) navy blue to these jeans so the colors do not fight.