5 Ways To Wear Chocolate Brown – Fashion’s Hottest Hue
In search of a new neutral to invest in? Chocolate-brown is currently topping the color charts – and it’s a shade with serious staying power. It’s time to give in to its modern allure…
In previous years, chocolate brown has made a much quieter statement than its timeless counterparts black, navy and gray – or has only been spotlighted whenever ’70s style swept the runways. On the recent runways, however, the luxuriously rich shade made serious impact during fashion month, appearing as the star of the show everywhere from Gabriela Hearst to The Row, fast becoming the It-color among editors, influencers and stylists alike. The buzz around brown didn’t stop there, either, as the shade cropped up on front rows for spring/summer ’24.
“Chocolate-brown is a color I try to incorporate often,” says stylist Danielle Goldberg, the brains behind some of Kaia Gerber and Ayo Edebiri’s latest (and coolest) looks. When it came to dressing Laura Harrier for Saint Laurent’s SS24 show in Paris, Goldberg ran with the elegant shade from top to toe. “Pairing different textures and fabrics together gave the color so much more depth, and I knew it would be absolutely stunning on Laura. The show felt like the perfect moment to celebrate such beautiful designs,” she adds, admitting that she fell in love with the look from the moment she saw it hit the runway. So, what does this mean for your winter wardrobe? You could follow Harrier’s lead and stick to a cocoa palette for a gorgeously refined take, but the versatile shade creates scope for countless styling possibilities. Read on for five ways to wear it now…
Mix it with denim
Playing with tones and textures doesn’t need to feel like risky business – it can be as simple as sticking to one key color and one key fabric: such as chocolate and denim. The Row’s collections are inspired by simplicity and arrive each season filled with enduring staples in beautiful fabrics. Tailored from wool twill with sharp shoulders, its ‘Myriam’ blazer is the piece of dark chocolate you need to base the rest of your looks around. Layer it over Agolde’s Western-inflected ‘Glinda’ shirt, fastening only the top snap to reveal a white tank beneath, then ground it with the brand’s baggy ‘Low Slung Puddle’ jeans and a pair of ’90s kitten-heel boots. Lastly, let Jacquemus’ ‘Le Bambimou’ bag add softness with its squishy padding and buttery leather.
Break it up with black
Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to relinquish black to the deepest, darkest depths of your closet. An incredibly chic way to wear a brown double-breasted winter coat – such as Wardrobe.NYC’s double-breasted style – this season (and beyond) is by teaming it with inky blacks and charcoals that are just as refined and enduring. Dressing from the feet up, start with Le Monde Béryl’s trending Mary Jane ballet flats, which are made from soft suede. Add a great pair of black pants from Róhe, a new NET-A-PORTER brand that makes modern, minimalist designs using exceptional Italian fabrics, and a tonal cashmere sweater.
Treat it as a neutral
“Sometimes, black feels too hard; other times, cream is too light; chocolate-brown has become the hero hue that perfectly sits in between,” says NET-A-PORTER’s market director Libby Page, who looks for hard-working shades when building her wardrobe necessities. Warmer neutrals such as honey will temper darker chocolates like Allude’s cashmere cardigan and The Frankie Shop’s ‘Ripley’ wide-leg pants – just add Frame’s blanketing camel coat. Brown will also act as a canvas for brighter SS24 tones, reveals Page, adding: “Chocolate has become a great neutral for confident pops of color such as red and green.”
Dress it down
This is the season to raise your leather game. Make an investment and an impression in a supple chocolate-brown trench from a brand that has perfected ‘forever’ designs: Yves Salomon. Its shearling-trimmed coat is built to last and has an effortlessly cool loose fit that works in harmony with a slouchy cotton hoodie. Dress it down a touch further by belting it over jeans in a classic dark-blue wash that won’t compete for attention – Citizens of Humanity’s organic ‘Devi’ jeans are part of our consciously crafted NET SUSTAIN edit. Finish with glossy Chelsea boots.
Focus on accessories
“For anyone new to trying this shade, start with accessories,” recommends Page, adding that “a chocolate-brown boot or a sumptuous tote will enrich your winter whites”. Supporting responsible leather manufacturing through the Leather Working Group, Toteme’s croc-effect knee-high boots from our NET SUSTAIN edit have a slim shape, whilst Aquazzura’s ‘Desert’ boots are chunkier and utilitarian. While temperatures remain chilly, cozy finishing touches matter, too – look to The Row’s long gloves and Johnstons of Elgin’s fringed scarf.
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