If you haven’t heard, there’s a new staple color in town and she’s cousins with black. Brown has always served as a neutral, worn as a nice compliment to plenty of outfits. But now, it’s become the go-to color of all our favorite fashion people—on par with ubiquitous black—and you’re going to want to join in.
Black clothing has been an easy go-to when pairing your outfits with other colors and even going head-to-toe. When in doubt, a black jean or top will pull a look together. And 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 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.
So as you venture into the brown sartorial space, might I suggest 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 color, 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.
Texturemaxxing
I’ve been seeing an influx of texture mixing as of late. And this matching 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 (extra points for the brown cheetah hat) is a maximalist mix of dreams.
Brown Sunnies
When leaning into our new favorite color, it’s easy to not think of accessories as a part of that. But these brown sunnies prove how fun it can be to play with color, 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 color wheel can be intimidating, but you know what isn’t? Tonal dressing. This dark brown halter top with light brown cargo pants is 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).
