If you haven’t heard, the past few seasons have seen a staple colour emerge, and while summery shades of cobalt blue, chilli red and lemon yellow have momentarily stolen the spotlight, we're here to confirm chocolate brown is still big news in the fashion world. Yep, brown has always served as a neutral, worn as a nice complement to plenty of outfits. But now, it’s become the go-to colour of all our favourite fashion people – on par with ubiquitous black – and you’re going to want to join in.
Black clothing has been an easy go-to for pairing with other colours and even repping head-to-toe. When in doubt, a black jean or top will pull a look together while an all-black outfit is something a lot of people wear daily as it’s the easiest way to build a look quickly without stress.
In the last few months, however, we’ve seen a shift to chocolate brown, and I am not mad about it. Sometimes we want to feel a little bit more vibrant, and brown does just that without losing the clean minimalist vibe black fashion pieces have always provided.
It may be best associated with autumn, but we're here to tell you that donning this colour right now in summer guarantees a chic, stylish look with added warmth your black ensembles just can't provide. To help you venture into the brown sartorial space, we've rounded up a few outfit ideas that will help you tap into the neutral to know.
Brown with a side of cowboy-core
Rarely do we see brown as the resident button-up top colour, but this one’s doing exactly what it needs to. It brightens this entire look and adds dimension without having to try too hard.
The brown work suit
This chocolate brown matching set is the definition of chic. It’s professional, but also flirty and is the kind of tailored suit that also works well as separate pieces, so you basically can get three outfits in one.
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Texturemaxxing
I’ve been seeing an influx of texture mixing as of late. And this coordination of brown leather and brown suede is one of the more fashion-forward ways to dabble in the trend.
Chocolate maximalism
Pairing this brown graphic tee with a plaid brown skirt, then adding a brown cheetah hat (extra points for the accessorising!) and a brown coat is a maximalist mix of dreams.
Don't forget accessories
When leaning into our new favourite colour, it’s easy to not think of accessories as a part of that. But these chocolate brown sunnies prove how fun it can be to play with colour, especially for those of us who rely heavily on a pair of black sunglasses.
The little brown dress
Move over “little black dress.” The “little brown dress” is here, and she’s just as classic and interesting. Whether it’s a work event or drinks with friends, leaning into the little brown dress, especially for summer, is a sure-fire way to elevate your closet.
A two-tone brown look
The colour wheel can be intimidating, but you know what isn’t? Tonal dressing. This chocolate brown halter top is beautifully offset with light brown cargo pants, creating such a chic outfit together. Bonus points for the animal print purse as well.
Aiyana Ishmael is the style editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In her work, Aiyana focuses on the culture of fashion and how it intertwines and shapes the zeitgeist. She is an award-winning journalist from Miami, Florida, and a graduate of the historically Black university, Florida A&M. She is a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30: Media honoree, and her debut romance novella PASSING GAME is set to release March of 2027 (831 Stories/Simon & Schuster).
