Navy blue
Dark shade of blue
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History
Navy blue got its name from the dark blue (contrasted with naval white) worn by officers in the British Royal Navy. The first uniform regulations for officers were issued in 1748, with the predominant colors being dark blue and white. It was initially called marine blue, but by at least 1780, it was being referred to in the British press as navy blue.
The distinctive dark shade of blue was subsequently adopted by other navies and military forces around the world, becoming a symbol of military authority and discipline.
The color gained further popularity as a neutral and versatile hue. Navy blue was often used for business suits, school uniforms, and other formal wear. It was especially prominent in men's fashion in the mid-20th century.
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Variations
Indigo dye
Indigo dye is the color which is called Añil (the Spanish word for "indigo dye") in the Guía de coloraciones (Guide to colorations) by Rosa Gallego and Juan Carlos Sanz, a color dictionary published in 2005 that is widely popular in the Hispanophone realm.
Indigo dye is the basis for all the historical navy blue colors, since in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century, almost every navy uniform was made by dyeing them with various shades of indigo dye.
Navy blue (Crayola)
The Crayola color named "navy blue" is not as dark a shade as the blues actually used by navies.
This tone of navy blue was formulated as a Crayola color in 1958.
U.S. Navy blue
The United States Navy uses #022A3A as an official color. Navy blue is the predominant color of U.S. Navy uniforms. The flag of the U.S. Navy uses navy blue.
Peacoat
The source of this color is the Pantone textile cotton extended color list, color #19-3920 TCX—peacoat.
Persian indigo
The color Persian indigo is displayed on the right. Another name for this color is regimental because in the 19th century, it was commonly used by many nations for navy uniforms, though it is rarely used in modern times.
Persian indigo is named for an association with a product from Persia: Persian cloth dyed with indigo.
The first recorded use of regimental (the original name for the color now called Persian indigo) as a color name in English was in 1912.
Space cadet
Space cadet is one of the colors on the Resene Color List, a color list widely popular in Australia and New Zealand. The color was formulated in 2007.
This color is apparently a formulation of an impression of the color that cadets in space navy training would wear.
In culture
Computers
- The color navy was one of the original 16 HTML/CSS colors initially formulated for standardized computer display in the late 1980s.
Military
- In many world navies, including the United States Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy, uniforms which are called "navy blue" are, in actuality, colored black, as the uniforms became progressively darker over time to counter fading of the dye, although modern dyes are fade resistant. The Canadian Forces dress instructions specify that "'navy blue' is a tone of black". (See also uniforms of the United States Navy and uniforms of the Royal Canadian Navy.)
Music
- Navy Blue is an album by Diane Renay (all the songs are about sailors).
Fashion
- Navy blue and white, often accented with gold buttons or rope motifs, are signature elements of nautical style. The colors evoke a sense of naval tradition and oceanic life. They are often seen in the form of Breton stripes; horizontal stripes found in the traditional marinière of the French navy. The colors have become synonymous with seaside chic.
- Navy blue is also considered to be a classic color in other styles of dress, especially in business casual. It associates with naval power, authority, and formal events, though it's also a common choice for a range of contemporary uses, from interior design to school uniforms.
Sports
- Navy blue is used by numerous professional and collegiate sports teams: