SOMETIMES it's not possible - nor even necessary - to be a fashion original. That's why the classic combination of navy blue and white continues to be such a popular summer perennial. There's absolutely nothing new about putting these two colours together and yet, year after year, they manage to look fresh and clean. It's as though over the winter months, the two have been rejuvenated together, ready for another exposure as the season's favourite style duo.
Navy and white have always had strong nautical associations (just think of the origins of the descriptive term navy blue) and this summer, the tonal teaming looks especially appropriate thanks to a powerful marine presence in Ireland. In addition to the seasonal influx of overseas sailors that we always see around our shores right now, some 5,000 members of the United States navy called into Dun Laoghaire harbour two weeks ago and at least 500 boats and their sailors were due in Crosshaven, Co Cork yesterday for the start of the biennial Ford Cork Week.
While there'll be plenty of experienced sailors about at this event, few of them, however, will be clad in traditional seafaring colours. Which is a great pity because white and navy look terrific against weather warmed skin. That's why this is in essence a summer teaming; a golden tan is required to set off the clothes' two colours to best advantage. No other pairing of shades exudes quite the same sense of robust good health.
There is, of course, a simple explanation why today's sailors don't often turn out in time honoured tones. For all their seafaring associations, navy and white just aren't the most practical colours to wear on board; the latter is particularly hard to keep clean while messing about on boats - which made the American marines' impeccably groomed uniforms on their recent visit a source of wonder to Irish admirers. If there's any dirt around (and boats always seem to harbour lots of rust) then it will quickly and instinctively find a way onto white items.
Rather like apres ski clothing, therefore, it's probably wisest to keep all navy/ white ensembles for post sailing and landbased occasions. But for social gatherings held close to water, this colour combination will instantaneously give even the most unseaworthy individual a suitably nautical air. Dressed in an approximation of traditional sailing garb, who's to know that you suffer sea sickness at the very suggestion of a mild swell?
Footnote: Expect to see most well shod sailors at Crosshaven this week wearing shoes from Dubarry, the Ballinasloe based company which next year celebrates its 60th anniversary. Dubarry, one of the sponsors of Ford Cork Week, has plenty to celebrate at the moment; thanks in part to a specially patented non slip decksoles earlier this spring it was voted number one for sailing shoes by Yadits & Yachting magazine. Not only have Dubarry's hand stitched shoes been selected by the Irish Olympic sailing team which has already gone out to Atlanta, but the company is also to provide footwear for the 12 month BT Global Challenge which starts next September.