Dark blue jeans are probably the most versatile type of denim. You get that classic blue color we all love about jeans, but the darker shade gives it a level of smartness that light blue denim doesn’t provide.
This means navy jeans go with everything. They fit just as well with a casual jacket and sneakers as they do with loafers and blazers. And it’s equally at home when paired with a long coat and boots in winter as it is a polo-shirt and canvas shoes in summer.
You also have plenty of options when it comes to colors too. With other jeans, you have to worry about the color of the clothes you wear. It’s easy to go wrong when wearing black or light shades. The potential for a color mismatch is great. But that’s just not the case with dark blue jeans.
This article will explore how to wear dark blue jeans and it includes some of my favorite outfits for inspiration.
12 Ways to Wear Dark Blue Jeans
Dark blue jeans are a classic piece for everyday wear. These outfits reflect this, and they’re fits that I think work for many people and occasions. As you’ll see in the images, I prefer skinny jeans. But the points are relevant for pretty much any style of jeans.
With a Breton Stripe Shirt
If it’s too hot for a sweater but not quite t-shirt weather try a Breton stripe shirt. The instantly recognizable blue stripes on a white background go brilliantly with dark blue jeans. I like to go sockless and wear brown loafers with this outfit. Boat shoes or canvas shoes would work equally well.
What Colors Go With Dark Blue Jeans?👇
Colors that go especially well with dark blue jeans include whites and off-whites, grey, black and neutral shades. These are the easiest to get right when wearing and they’re the colors I wear most often with dark blue jeans.
But, other colors do work. Brown goes with navy, as do primary colors like green and red. Consider using these as highlights in your outfit. The main color I’d consider avoiding is a shade of blue that match the color of the jeans. But even that can ok if you break the outfit up with splashes of color elsewhere.
With a Sporty Sweatshirt
I was recently bought this sweater and I love its dark green shade. It’s not a color I’d usually choose but I think it goes really well with navy jeans. It’s a nice change from the gray sweatshirts I normally wear. Although, grey sweatshirts also go really well with dark blue denim so that would be a good fit too.
With a Grey T-Shirt
Grey and blue go great together so pairing a grey t-shirt with navy jeans is a no-brainer. I like to finish the look off with casual shoes or canvas sneakers. This look is so simple and something you can wear casually and know it’s going to look good.
The Boardwalk Style Tips 👇
This look works with a striped t-shirt like in the image, but plain or even printed shirts would work well too. Or you could give the look a modern twist by switching in an oversized t-shirt.
With a Denim Jacket
Black denim jackets go great with navy denim. There’s no chance of the colors clashing but it still produces a dark silhouette. I like to wear mine with lighter-colored shirts, such as the Breton stripe top in the image above. The contrasting colors also mean that wearing a black jacket and blue jeans is the easiest way to wear a denim jacket with jeans.
What Clothes Go With A Black Denim Jacket👇
Black denim jackets are super-versatile and go well with most casual items. The most common things I wear with my black jean jacket with are indigo jeans, black boots, and light t-shirts or jumpers. Chinos are a cool alternative to indigo jeans and Vans or canvas shoes will the job too.
With a Coat and Boots
Dark color clothes look great in winter and navy jeans are no exception. They go well with my thick boots, chunky knit jumper, and quilted coated. The look would work equally well with a wool coat. As a side note, check out the snowmen in the background of this image 🔥.
With a Leather Jacket
Leather jackets and dark denim is a match made in heaven. I often wear my jacket with faded black jeans for an indie-rock look, but it goes just as well with dark blue jeans. Put a lighter-colored t-shirt or sweater on underneath so the outfit isn’t too dark.
The Boardwalk Style Tips 👇
Leather jackets aren’t cheap, but you can see our picks of affordable leather jackets here. The look would also work with other types of jackets such as bomber jackets, Harrington jackets, or blousons.
With a Sweater and Sneakers
Pairing dark blue jeans with a sweater and sneakers is perfect weekend wear. I like the neutral color of the sweater in the above image as it contrasts nicely with the denim. I chose a light sweater but you easily go for a chunky knit sweater in winter. I feel like a dark color would work really well in this case.
With a Check Shirt
I bought the above check shirt from the 2020 Uniqlo JW Anderson. I love the asymmetrical checks and the neutral colors. The shirt goes great with navy jeans and it’s a nice change from a typical plaid shirt.
The Boardwalk Style Tips 👇
Really, any kind of casual shirt would work well here. Consider printed shirts, cuban collar shirts, or even polo shirts for a more casual look.
With a Cardigan
There’s a school of thought that says blue and brown don’t go together. And there are some cases where the two colors can definitely clash. But it can work, and I think the above outfit is a great example of this in action. Eagle-eyed readers will notice the shirt is the one from the previous outfit.
With a Thick Polo Neck
I love turtlenecks and often wear them with dark denim. My favorite turtleneck is the dark chunky knit one featured in this article. But I recently bought the off-white one in the image above and I think the navy and neutral colors look great together. Navy and off-white are two colors that look great when worn together, so it was an obvious choice of pairing.
Next up: Discover more ways to wear a turtleneck here
With an Oxford Shirt
Dark blue denim and oxford shirts are a perfect match. While there can be a mismatch between these shirts and lighter shades (i.e. more casual) of jeans, with dark blue jeans it works perfectly. Roll up the sleeves and wear it with sneakers to keep the look casual, or pair the jeans with dress shoes for a smarter look.
With a Blazer
As navy denim tends to be smarter than lighter colors, it’s easy to pair these jeans with smarter items like a gray blazer and Chelsea boots. In the image above I wore a dark fine knit sweater to complete the look.
More Dark Blue Jeans Outfit Example
