“Don’t wear blue with black” has been a saying thrown around for years and many people follow it. Lately, however, it seems there are no fashion rules. Wearing white after Labor Day is praised and mixing prints is exciting. Here are ways to mix the blue and black pieces you probably already have in your closet.

– One of the pieces should have texture. This immediately makes it obvious you are having fun with your outfit and not going for a uniform look.

– Pair a solid with a pattern. Most patterns can be paired with a wide range of colors and work because they have no single outstanding color-pulling focus.

– Opt for either a lighter blue with dark black or a faded black with deep blue. The differing amounts of saturation in each garment will make the outfit look like dark and light garments are paired together, rather than a dark navy and black. 

– Tie in an accessory that complements the garment farthest away, like a necklace complementing a skirt. Neutral colors work the best to not throw the outfit off.

– Choose one garment made with a heavy fabric and the other with a lighter one. An example would be a chunky knit with legging or silk pants.