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With both the nautical and preppy trends in full swing, it was only a matter of time before navy blue would take its rightful place as the hot neutral, explained Mark Woodman, president of the Color Marketing Group and owner, mark woodman design & color. “We also need something to ground all these brights because it can’t all be effervescent and silly, we still need some seriousness,” he explained. “And navy blue can be a serious stable color, but it’s not as foreboding in our culture as gray and black can be.”

It’s as versatile, poised and credible as a navy blue blazer, Mark described, able to go to a Sunday brunch or business meeting, depending on whether it’s paired with jeans or khakis. “Navy is taken for granted until you realize how great it is, how fresh it feels. It’s a nice easing sky blue, not as dark as midnight, just nighttime blue.”

Navy changes its mood depending on what it’s combined with. Paired with Kelly green, the mood is preppy; paired with turquoise and terra cotta, it takes on a Southwestern feel; and paired with hot pink it takes on a completely different edge.

“Blue and yellow in combination are very grand because it’s very sky and sun or water and sun, they sparkle together,” he continued. “Navy is interesting with silver, gold and copper metallics, it brings a modernity. Metallic navy also has a very different feel to it.”

Asked how long it will endure, Mark expects it to resonate a good couple of years. “I’m anxious to see it show up in holiday,” he finished. “I could see it gorgeous at Christmas paired with red, silver, gold or peacock and plum.” — Sarah Schwartz

Pictured: Navy & White — Snow & Graham notebook illustrates that these two tones are clearly classic.