Navy dresses have been dominating the red carpet recently. Formal fashion’s current fancy has forced the darker side of blue to come to light and transform into new shapes and forms.
For us, the obsession started when Amber Heard showed up in a one-shouldered navy gown by Atelier Versace at the 2014 Golden Globes. She made the usually stiff and somber color look sultry, sexy, and eye-catching, as if it were an intense, fiery shade.
Amber Heard in a navy silk gazar Atelier Versace dress at the 71st Annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 12, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Apparently, Amber convinced other celebrities and their stylists to think so as well because navy dresses started sweeping red carpets soon after.
Jennifer Garner in a navy Max Mara dress, Brian Atwood shoes, Salvatore Ferragamo clutch, and David Webb jewelry at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 18, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Impeccably tailored was the top choice of dress style, which is what designers would naturally pick to match the color’s militaristic, authoritative, and perfectionist vibe.
Mindy Kaling in a navy matte David Meister jersey gown with a gold belt, Jennifer Fisher earrings, and a Jerome C. Rousseau clutch at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 18, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Anna Faris in a navy Fitriani strapless dress, Giuseppi Zanotti shoes, and Sutra jewelry at the 56th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
America Ferrera in a navy Badgley Mischka dress, Paul Andrew heels, and David Yurman jewelry at the premiere of Cesar Chavez at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival held at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, Germany, on February 12, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
But designers, being the creative people that they are, soon wanted to break navy out of its box and decided to use it on dresses with bold prints, elaborate patterns, and intricate textures.
Here is navy blue being risky, adventurous, and brazen; here is navy like you’ve never seen it before.
Brie Larson in Escada at the 19th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on January 16, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Julie Delpy in a navy Romona Keveza dress, Bionda Castana shoes, and a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch at the 19th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on January 16, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Ariel Winter in a navy Badgley Mischka dress, Amrapali jewelry, a vintage clutch, and Brian Atwood shoes at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 18, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Avant-garde pieces? They’ve embraced the navy color, too. Metallics and gold are usually the colors paired with navy, but Kelly Osbourne demonstrated that purple could also work just as well.
Kelly Osbourne in a navy Zac Posen gown, Aperlai shoes, a Colette ring cuff, a Le Vian ring, and Jordan Alexander earrings at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 18, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Claire Danes, on the other hand, showed that navy could be a stunning centerpiece accent to a black-and-nude dress.
Claire Danes in a Vionnet gown, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Forevermark Diamonds jewelry at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 18, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
With its origins in menswear, navy is the chic choice for suits and jumpsuits that have become red carpet dress alternatives for Hollywood’s fashion-forward set.
Ciara in a navy blue Lanvin Homme pin-striped suit at the 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Carole King event at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, on January 24, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Alesha Dixon in Three Floor at Britain’s Got Talent auditions held at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on January 18, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Navy has also surprisingly become a choice for those who prefer traditional or princessy dresses.
And you can’t get more princessy than Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who was recently spotted sporting the said hue on one of her characteristically recycled dresses.
Melanie Laurent in Maxime Simoëns at Swiss luxury watches brand IWC Schaffhausen’s exclusive gala commemorating the launch of its new “Aquatimer” watch collection held during Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2014 at the Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 21, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Bonnie McKee in a Memeka by Gustavo Cadile gown at the 56th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Jenny Packham at “The Portrait Gala 2014: Collecting to Inspire” fundraiser held at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England, on February 11, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
This is the new navy, but despite its transformations, we’re happy to see that we can still come back to good ol’ blue.
Credit: Brian To / FayesVision / Apega / Adriana M. Barraza / Iveta Rysava / Frederic / Future Image / Steve Searle / Patrick Hoffmann / WENN