Laws of Couture: This Season is All About Breaking the Rules With Black and Blues

From left to right: Band of Outsiders,
Rag & Bone, Honor & Billy Reid

It’s official: that stuffy rule that black and blue don’t mix has been thrown out of the fashion handbook. The collections for Fall 2013 are proving one thing; designers aren't playing by the sartorial rules anymore! Black and blue has long been considered a "no-no" of colors to coordinate, but this year's trend-setters are rebelling against the rules and creating a fresh and modern reputation for the colors. If you're not yet over your antiquated fear of mixing black and blue, it's time to forget your fears!

Fall collections are full of the sophisticated combination as pairings of blues with black range from cobalt to navy. Pitch black was paired with navy wool at Rag & Bone and Billy Reid; at Honor it trimmed a cobalt suit and Band of Outsiders it was matched up with cobalt and royal blue.

This is a trend you can easily try out before even hitting the mall. Here’s the deal: while black and navy are considered neutrals, together they create a sophisticated, timeless palette. This means you can wear them any way, with pretty much anything, including each other! So go ahead and experiment. Mixing navy with black gives a subtle depth for a mysterious look, while cobalt creates a major statement.

Black & Cobalt

Want to jazz the black and blue color combo up a few notches? Black and cobalt are a striking duo, perfect for a night on the town.

Michael Kors

Vince

Michael Kors

Giuseppe Zanotti

Black & Navy = Smoky & Sexy

Take a cue from fashion's it crowd and pair navy with black all fall and winter long- it's a low contrast, but high impact look.

Tory Burch

Each decade has had its signature style and trend, and the 2010's trend is seemingly a "Fashion Revolution". From post-Labor Day whites to the pairing of mismatched colors and patterns, designers and fashionistas are snubbing the standards and shaking things up for fresh and bold new looks. So go ahead and get inspired by these unconventional black and blues.