Bring Back Navy Blue!

The inaugural meeting of BBNB  -- Bring Back Navy Blue – took place in a nondescript location in western Pa., recently, spurred by an equally nondescript trip to the mall. In a world overflowing with apps for everything, 150 cable channels and left-handed scissors, society lacks a choice in neutrality: navy blue shoes, blue coats and suits are hard, nay, impossible to find. Black has become the new navy, apparently. And, be warned: brown may suffer the same fate as the once staple blue hue.

One would think retailers would apply a bit of clairvoyance and realize that in a struggling economy, a bit of conservative color would be welcomed by credit card-toting shoppers and therefore might add a much-needed boost to sales. Contrary to their merchandise displays, we are not a nation in mourning. And, although our elected officials have a propensity to make their mark on history by enacting official bird, flower, drink and tree legislation, none have made “noir” our national fashion color…yet.

BBNB has no objection to Pantone’s Color of the Year 2012, Tangerine. But why has navy blue vanished from the color radar? Our favorite neutral doesn’t appear on Ford’s car color study. Research by both Ford and PPG Industries indicates that white has overtaken silver as the most popular car color. Only 9 percent of 2010 cars in the U.S. and Europe and 7 percent in Asia were blue. PPG’s research found that color influenced three out of four car purchases. BBNB found no similar studies on coat, shoes and suit selection.

BBNB did find this ray of hope: Midnight appears on the Fall 2012 color trends for women from forecaster Interfilière. It’s not navy blue, but it’s an acceptable and welcome close.