When you style a navy blazer, certain colours match to perfection to create a silent luxury, old-money look.
As a rule of thumb, you never want your pants to be darker than the blazer or too close in colour to it.
As such, dark-coloured pants in black and navy are off the roster.
At the same time, six colours match navy to perfection, as detailed below.
1. White
For a classic 1930s look, a navy or striped blazer with white or off-white flannel trousers looks great.
You will look very debonair with a light blue oxford shirt, green tie or ascot, and maybe a cornflower or Edelweiss boutonniere.
If spectator shoes in brown and white are too much for you, white buckskin shoes or shades of brown, including oxblood red, will work well.
Pairing a blazer with white pants is another option, of course, and a traditional one, but the look is so preppy in pedigree that it’s hard to pull off outside a horse race or country club visit.
A navy blazer with white pants works especially well during spring/summer months.
White pants have an implied casual feel without leaving you underdressed.
Wear this look to a summer wedding; don’t upstage the groom.
2. Khaki
Chinos in khaki make navy pop, and with a shared military background, it is also historically a good companion.
Whether you opt for a fuller cut with pleats and cuffs or a flat front, narrower and shorter cut, chinos go very well with a blazer.
Don’t shy away from fresh colours like green, yellow, light blue, and Nantucket Red, all work wonders with a navy blazer.
The quintessential blazer combo is a blazer + white button-down shirt + khakis.
Pair your blazer with khaki chinos and a solid shirt, and, if needed, dress it up with a tie. Top it off with a pair of loafers, and you look clean.
3. Grey
The epitome of timeless elegance.
A navy blazer paired with grey trousers is a classic combination that works for almost any occasion.
This combination exudes sophistication and versatility.
Whether attending a business meeting or a dinner date, this pairing ensures you’ll look sharp and stylish.
Navy blazers with grey pants are an absolute classic.
Wear lightweight, wool grey pants with a slim (not skinny) fit to work in the boardroom as well as in the bar room.
Throw in a white shirt, and you’re set. Need to make things a little more formal? Throw on a tie.
For grey trousers, you should wear black Oxford and light-coloured shades with brown.
If you understand seasonal colour palettes for men, I highly recommend bottled green shoes or oxblood.
4. Cavalry Brown
Most men won’t necessarily think of combining corduroy or cavalry twill trousers with a blazer.
Still, the combination can look quite stunning in burgundy, beige, rust or even a lighter brown.
5. Sailor Red
For the confident gent who wants to break away from the tan-coloured khakis crowd, a navy blazer paired with red/rust chinos or corduroy pants makes for a handsome, attention-grabbing look.
6. Denim Blue
No, a blazer with jeans is not too much blue – modern men combine blazers with jeans, loafers (or boat shoes) and button-down Oxford shirts in a look more appropriate for casual outings than the office.
Pairing a blazer with denim is doable and a great way to make the look more casual while maintaining a dressed-up, out-for-a-special-occasion appearance.
To avoid a quasi-matching, pseudo-suit feel, you want your jeans to be lighter than your blazer.
Throw on a shirt with a button-down collar (to keep things looking smooth and controlled), and you’ve got the perfect outfit for a casual Friday or date night.
Keep your jeans on the dressier end — not too light and washed out, tailored in cut, closer-fitted, and free from holes and distressing — so they don’t clash with the formality of your jacket.