Never sure how to style navy? Zara Tindall just wore this underrated neutral with burgundy and it's the perfect winter pairing
These two shades are a failsafe combination for her and she knows that keeping things simple makes her outfits really shine
Even though navy blue is considered a neutral, it's a colour that many of us find tricky to style and often avoid compared to black or grey. However, as we head further into autumn/winter and want to embrace a few more seasonal shades, navy can really come into its own.
Zara Tindall is a big fan of blue in general and when she braved the rain at Cheltenham on 24th October she championed navy and burgundy as an underrated colour combination. Dark reds are always popular this time of year and primary colours always look fabulous when styled together.
The King's niece reached for a cashmere jumper by Karen Millen with a roll-neckline and long sleeves that she cleverly tucked into her navy leather gloves.
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Available in both standard and extra wide fits, these sock boots have a sturdy heel and a rounded toe. They're crafted from soft faux suede and are constructed with Next's Forever Comfort® cushioned footbed. The inside zip makes them easy to get on and off and the deep navy tone feels so autumnal.
Affordable and easy to layer over and under, this jumper is a wardrobe staple for the colder months. It comes in other colours too, though the deep merlot shade is most similar to Zara Tindall's Cheltenham knit. It's finished with buttons on the cuffs for a touch of detail.
This lined, single-breasted blazer is made from twill and has a notched lapel collar and buttons at the front. The shoulder pads and seams at the front and back give extra structure and shaping. There are handy front pockets and a welt chest pocket, as well as buttons at the cuffs.
A cosy 100% cashmere jumper is one of those wardrobe indulgences that is well worth the investment. This one has a roll neck design and comes in various different colours besides dark burgundy too. It's got a relaxed fit and the cashmere makes it breathable when you're layering up.
When you want to be cosy but still look chic, you can't go wrong with a pair of leather gloves like these. They're made from supple, high-quality leather and have a sleek aesthetic and warm interior lining. The navy blue is deep and versatile, though they also come in cobalt if you love brighter colours.
You can carry this mini handbag by the long crossbody strap like Zara Tindall did at Cheltenham, or by the top handle. The leather is pebbled and the gold-toned hardware adds a flash of glamour. There's a flip lock fastening and the inside pocket is practical.
The deep red knit was a rich contrast against her blue herringbone Veronica Beard blazer and trousers, which had threads of purple and navy running through it. Zara picked up the red again with drop earrings, headpiece and her crossbody bag from one of her favourite British clothing brands, Fairfax & Favor.
Her boots were a sumptuous navy blue velvet and everything about this outfit for The William Hill Showcase horse racing meeting was elegant and put-together. Like the chocolate brown colour trend that's everywhere right now, navy is a softer alternative to black and is still very versatile.
It doesn't take over an outfit and means you can have more fun with the other colours you're wearing without worrying about making too much of a statement.
Burgundy is bolder and screams autumn-winter, so styling these two together is an easy way to give your outfit a seasonal yet sophisticated edge. If you're more of a fan of merlot reds, then you can wear more of this colour and add just a subtle hint of navy through accessories.
Zara Tindall's leather gloves are a gorgeous example of this and she's worn so many variations of navy and burgundy outfits over the past few years, particularly for days out to watch horse racing. Although the equestrian royal went for a suit on this occasion (a sensible choice for a freezing, stormy day), she's shown that this shade combination works just as well with jackets and skirts too.
You can also adjust things to make your style slightly more casual than Zara's outfit, swapping tailoring for indigo jeans or heeled boots for flat knee-highs and layering a chunkier coat over the top.
To get that same elegant feel, I'd recommend sticking to those two shades as much as possible rather than incorporating a lot of other tones.
Navy blue will be the neutral that grounds your look and keeping to just a few colours in one outfit tends to look understated and chic. It's something we see royals doing a lot and the contrast of navy and burgundy does all the talking anyway.
