Navy blue

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Navy blue is a dark shade of the color blue. The name navy blue originally referred to the color of uniforms worn by officers in the British navy. In the late 18th century, the British Royal Navy adopted the color for its sailors' uniforms, partly due to the practical reason that dark colors were less prone to showing dirt and wear during long sea voyages. The color became so associated with naval service that it came to be known simply as "navy blue."

History

Navy blue got its name from the dark blue (contrasted with naval white) worn by officers in the British Royal Navy. The first uniform regulations for officers were issued in 1748, with the predominant colors being dark blue, and white.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was initially called marine blue,<ref>Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York: 1930 McGraw-Hill Page 168 Discussion of color navy blue</ref> but by at least 1780, it was being referred to in the British press as navy blue.<ref>https://www.oed.com/dictionary/navy-blue_n?tab=factsheet#13346423</ref>

The distinctive dark shade of blue was subsequently adopted by other navies and military forces around the world, becoming a symbol of military authority and discipline.

The color gained further popularity as a neutral and versatile hue. Navy blue was often used for business suits, school uniforms and other formal wear. It was especially prominent in men's fashion in the mid-20th century.

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Variations

Indigo dye

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Indigo dye is the color which is called Añil (the Spanish word for "indigo dye") in the Guía de coloraciones (Guide to colorations) by Rosa Gallego and Juan Carlos Sanz, a color dictionary published in 2005 that is widely popular in the Hispanophone realm.

Indigo dye is the basis for all the historical navy blue colors, since in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century, almost every navy uniform was made by dyeing them with various shades of indigo dye. Template:Clear

Navy blue (Crayola)

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The Crayola color named "navy blue" is not as dark a shade as the blues actually used by navies.

This tone of navy blue was formulated as a Crayola color in 1958. Template:Clear

U.S. Navy blue

Template:Infobox color The United States Navy uses #022A3A as an official color.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Navy blue is the predominant color of U.S. Navy uniforms. The flag of the U.S. Navy uses navy blue.

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Peacoat

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The source of this color is the Pantone textile cotton extended color list, color #19-3920 TCX—peacoat.

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Persian indigo

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The color Persian indigo is displayed on the right. Another name for this color is regimental because in the 19th century, it was commonly used by many nations for navy uniforms, though it is rarely used in modern times.

Persian indigo is named for an association with a product from Persia: Persian cloth dyed with indigo.

The first recorded use of regimental (the original name for the color now called Persian indigo) as a color name in English was in 1912.<ref>Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 203 (It is also stated under the entry on Persian Blue on page 201 that the color on Plate 47 Color Sample C10 (regimental) is a [darker] tone of Persian Blue.); color sample of Regimental: Page 117 Plate 47 Color Sample C10</ref> Template:Clear

Space cadet

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Space cadet is one of the colors on the Resene Color List,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a color list widely popular in Australia and New Zealand. The color was formulated in 2007.

This color is apparently a formulation of an impression of the color that cadets in space navy training would wear. Template:Clear

In culture

Computers

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The color navy was one of the original 16 HTML/CSS colors initially formulated for standardized computer display in the late 1980s.

Military

In many world navies, including the United States Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy, uniforms which are called "navy blue" are, in actuality, colored black, as the uniforms became progressively darker over time to counter fading of the dye, although modern dyes are fade resistant. The Canadian Forces dress instructions specify that Template:"'navy blue' is a tone of black".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (See also uniforms of the United States Navy and uniforms of the Royal Canadian Navy.)

Music

Navy Blue is an album by Diane Renay (all the songs are about sailors).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fashion

Navy blue and white, often accented with gold buttons or rope motifs, are signature elements of nautical style. The colous evoke a sense of naval tradition and oceanic life. They are often seen in the form of Breton stripes; horizontal stripes found in the traditional marinière of the French navy. The colors have become synonymous with seaside chic.

Navy blue is also considered to be a classic color in other styles of dress, especially in business casual. It associates with naval power, authority, and formal events, though it's also a common choice for a range of contemporary uses, from interior design to school uniforms.