May is a feast for the senses if you are a fan of gowns, with the Met Gala in the beginning of the month and the Cannes Film Festival by the end. There are too many pictures of celebrities looking delightful and gorgeous— just too many. This picture of Natalie Portman in Dior just rocked me for its simplicity and earnest details:
And look at that smile!
Despite color trends going bright or pastel, my new favorite staple color is navy. Navy stands out just enough in a sea of black, it’s timelessly chic, and it looks great on everyone. What I really love about this look in particular is that Natalie broke one of the fashion rules your mother may have told you: “Don’t match navy with black.” I’m here to tell you that when done correctly, and by that I mean ‘with intention,’ black and navy pairings look put-together and powerful. While it helps that some of the detailing on her dress was black to begin with, the dedication to the pairing is cemented with her choice of shoes and handbag, both black.
It reminds me of a favorite quote from one of my early writing teachers: “Once you know the rules, you’re allowed to break the rules.” Navy and black pairing is absolutely one of my favorite rules to break.
If you’re planning to run to all of the parties this summer, or if you’re just one of us crazy types who likes to wear a gown to do errands, here are some lovely navy dresses to pair with whatever color accessories you like:
The Row Millis stretch jersey dress
Viktor & Rolf Techno Dress
Zac Posen Duchess Satin Gown
Anthropologie Fluttering Flora Dress
Barney’s Co-Op Colorblock Sheath Dress - (hurry! On sale!)
Kate Spade Talitha Dress
Stop Staring La Vie de Vixen Dress
So, what staid rules are you breaking today?
