The easiest way to make your outfit look expensive this season? Wear shades of brown.
 For years, the uniform of fashion editors and writers has oscillated between black, navy and grey. While influencers fill our feeds with statement-making, vibrant looks, those of us who write about clothes tend to wear more muted tones. Edging onto the scene for autumn/winter 2025 are iterations of brown, which doesn’t sound glamorous on the face of it, but add in words such as caramel, chocolate, butterscotch and coffee and you have something that sounds and looks delicious.Â
Mathilde goat suede dress, £295, Sezane
As always when it comes to objects of quiet luxe desire, The Row was among the first with a chocolate-coloured oversized tote, styled with a faded khaki trench. At Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello delivered a number of cocoa-hued evening dresses cinched in at the waist with ribbons. In January, Pantone christened ‘Mocha Mousse’ the colour of the year, apparently answering our desire for comfort. Once you start looking, you’ll notice that brown is everywhere. Caramel suede coats are trending (my favourite comes via Scandi brand Stylein), this season’s knitwear comes in a rich chocolate box colour palette, and cocoa tanned leather is having a moment too. Don’t forget the accessories either – while black footwear used to be preferred in fashion circles, brown loafers and mules have made a comeback in a 90s-inspired way. On my way into the office this morning, I clocked a sharp brown suit in the windows of Mango, a cosy-looking coffee-toned faux fur coat at H&M and at Rupert Sanderson, slingback heels come in chestnut. At Nike, even the trainers were tinged with a rich espresso.
Leather Park tote, £2,230, The Row
Halina cardigan, £240; Harmonia skirt, £200, both at Stylein
The style associations with brown are far-reaching. It summons images of glossy-looking Upper East Side princesses with their Max Mara camel coats and toffee-toned cashmere roll-necks; polished and understated. It’s a grown-up shade; women who wear coffee-coloured tones look like they have it all figured out, the type of person who never ends up running for a bus, or who forgets to turn off the oven. It also has a 70s boho edge – think Penny Lane-adjacent suede coats with fuzzy faux fur trims and knee or ankle-length brown boots either worn with cropped flared denim or mini dresses.
What’s interesting about brown is that it has a warm elegance to it, and a sense of groundedness that stems from its natural earthy origins. It isn’t as harsh as other tried-and-tested neutrals such as navy or black, and suits a wider array of skin tones. No longer does it feel dreary, instead it feels resolutely fresh. If you’ve always felt that black washes you out, this is your new-season alternative. As a fully paid-up member of the navy jumper brigade, it took me until this year – and an ethically sourced cashmere knit from Jean and Temple – to discover the joys of brown. When black seemed too stark and the early winter months felt dour, reaching for a soft crew-neck, butterscotch jumper felt right.Â
Gringo leather trousers, £1,516, Stouls Paris
I quickly realised that brown is one of the most versatile colours there is. It goes with pretty much everything, ideal for holidays when you really need style classics that work with multiple outfits. I wear my jumper with high-waisted jeans (it looks great with denim), but also black, tailored wide-leg trousers, and also a printed olive green pair. Brown goes particularly well with shades of the same palette, so lighter caramel, cream and oatmeal styles, as well as darker espresso and mahogany; tonal outfits are where brown appears at its most luxe. Head-to-toe brown is a fast-track to elegance, but just make sure you mix textures to stop it from looking flat – think a trench coat with a walnut-coloured knit, or a brown suede jacket with wool-blend tailored trousers. A little brown dress feels pulled-together but warm, and Miu Miu’s silk skirt and pink knit combination is compelling. Parisian brand Stouls makes a strong case for brown leather – its chocolate-y trousers, coats and tops feel chic, but also French-girl-cool. If you’re still unsure about whether to commit fully, consider investing in a pair of brown loafers (like these from Sezane) or ankle boots, or a bag. Loewe, Toteme and DeMellier do beautiful high-end options, while Strathberry is your girl for mid-range and Charles and Keith for polished high-street versions.Â
Silk mid-length skirt, £1,470, Miu Miu
Black and navy will be forever friends of mine, but this season I’m branching out. Roll on a soft and warm autumn filled with chocolate.Â
In need of more inspiration? Here, we’ve rounded up our favourite brown pieces:
Ella Alexander is Citizen Femme’s fashion features editor. She started her career at the Evening Standard, and has since held senior editorial roles at Vogue, The Independent and Harper’s Bazaar, where she remains a contributing editor. She also writes for The Telegraph, Sunday Times Style, Service95 and CNN. She is an author, having co-written Dame Zandra Rhodes’ memoir, Iconic: My Life In Fashion In 50 Objects, published by Transworld in July 2024. Her favourite travel destination is Catania, Sicily’s second city.
Lead image courtesy of The White Company
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