Callum Turner proves some tailoring rules are meant to be broken
Black and navy has long been deemed a no-go combo – but why?
FOR A LONG TIME, black and blue were considered to have no place together when it came to getting dressed. It’s a rule that, like the old Victorian prohibition on wearing brown in town, became commonplace. But we’re not actually sure where the old wives’ tale that navy and black shouldn’t be worn together originated, and nor is anybody else. Some think it came from the master tailors of Savile Row. What we do know is that it’s absolute nonsense.
And do you know who’s with us? Callum Turner. The actor attended the New York premiere of rom-com One Night Only, in which he stars, last night. And sure, most people were excited because he and Dua Lipa made their first official red-carpet appearance as newlyweds since getting hitched in June. But what Turner wore had us beaming with delight. Why? Because he completely dispelled the old adage that navy and black cannot be worn together – and it was all over social media.
Turner, a Louis Vuitton ambassador, wore a custom suit from the French maison. Bold navy in hue, the double-breasted number was worn over a pale-yellow shirt and striped tie. On his feet were a pair of black Derbies, in defiance of the old menswear rule. If anything, they made the outfit more interesting. All black would have been nice, sure, but a helping of navy is an easy way to take the edge off. Turner’s stylist Ben Schofield told Esquire: “the navy suit is a reinterpretation of the opening look from the Spring/Summer 2027 collection. Black and navy is one of my favourite combination. It never fails to look chic.”
Turner’s look works so well because one of the pitfalls of dressing in black and navy is that it can look as though you accidentally reached for the wrong thing, especially with mismatched tailoring. His, however, was obviously a deliberate choice. What’s more, as Schofield suggests, black is always a sophisticated addition to an outfit. Ideal for the office, perfect for a wedding and even better at a New York premiere.
The controversial colour combination, especially when it comes to suiting and footwear, is something we’ve seen elsewhere, too. Hermès sent out navy suits with black lace-up shoes for its autumn/winter 2027 collection, as did Paul Smith and Ralph Lauren. Note that all three brands are masters of top-level menswear.
So forget whatever you were taught about colour-clashing and take a leaf out of Turner’s rulebook, in which, seemingly, there are no rules.
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