A satin mule, a matching skirt and one color choice that changes the whole outfit. For years, the evening shoe question had one answer: black. Last fall, brown took over, from chocolate suede to rich espresso leather. Now Kendall Jenner has made a strong case for a third option, and it may be the chicest of the three.
The color is navy, and as Who What Wear puts it, it is one of the easiest ways to make shoes look expensive and polished.
The Outfit That Started It
Jenner was photographed heading to dinner with Hailey Bieber at Sushi Park in West Hollywood in early October. She wore The Row’s June mules in navy satin, a $1,000 pair, with a matching navy knee-length skirt and a black boatneck T-shirt, according to Who What Wear. A mustard leather Terrasse shoulder bag, also from The Row, added a single pop of color.
The mules sold out shortly after, though Who What Wear suggests joining the waitlist in case they restock.
Why Navy Looks Richer Than Black
Black is safe, but it can look flat, especially in satin or under evening light. Navy has more depth. It reads as dark from a distance and reveals its color up close, which gives an outfit a subtle, considered quality.
Who What Wear’s Eliza Huber acknowledges that black or brown flats would have worked with Jenner’s look, but argues that navy made it more elegant, adding polish without any extra effort.
Navy also sits beautifully next to the colors most of us already wear. Beside blue denim, it looks deliberate rather than mismatched. With gray, it feels quietly sophisticated. With camel or mustard, as in Jenner’s bag, it creates a rich, slightly retro contrast.
The Trick for Softening All-Black
If your wardrobe leans black, navy shoes are a smart way to break it up. They keep the outfit dark and sleek, but the change in tone adds dimension, the same effect Jenner achieved by pairing a black T-shirt with navy pieces.
Three Ways to Wear It This Fall
- With denim. Navy ballet flats or mules with straight or wide-leg jeans and a gray sweater. Reformation’s Buffy ruched ballet flat ($228) or Old Navy’s V-cut ballet flats (about $30) are easy options.
- Tonal dressing. Copy Jenner with a navy skirt or trousers in a similar shade to your shoes, broken up by a black or white top. Margaux’s Clara flats (345)orMansurGavriel’sDreamBallerina(445) work well.
- Evening polish. Satin or velvet navy shoes with a slip skirt or tailored trousers. The Row’s Tilda satin mules (1,050)arethesplurge,andLeMondeBéryl’sOlympiavelvetballetflats(655) bring a softer, textured finish.
How to Choose Your Pair
Satin and velvet feel dressy and catch the light, which is perfect for evenings. Leather is the most practical for daily wear. Choose a deep, inky navy rather than a bright blue, so the shoe works like a neutral.
Not black, not brown: this fall, navy is the shoe color that quietly makes everything else look better.