As I mentioned in my trend report, dark brown is having its fashion moment and the trend is mainstream. We haven’t seen mainstream dark brown at retail for ages, and it’s quite refreshing. You’ll see it in just about every wardrobe item, including categories that are less typical for brown, like swimwear, workout wear, evening wear, jeans, and underwear.
Dark browns range from a warm and lighter milk chocolate through to a cool and bitter dark chocolate. Take your pick. The dark earthy neutral is coming through in new Fall and Winter collections in solids and a handful of patterns. The collection below shows some examples.
Dark brown is a versatile colour. It’s an earthy fashion neutral that works well with other neutrals, pastels, mid-tones, earth tones, brights, dusty and murky colours, jewel tones, and brights. Dark brown also works well with black. It’s a question of choosing what’s to your taste, and wearing dark brown your way.
Plenty of my clients will be thrilled with the dark brown trend. They have been patiently waiting for the dark neutral to make a comeback, and will make the most of it. Some wear warm dark browns, and others wear cool dark browns. Some will wear dark brown shoes, bags, and patterns, but not solid clothing. Some will wear it as bottoms, but not as tops. Some will wear it as outerwear. Some will wear it as eyewear and leave it at that. And some won’t wear dark brown at all.
I think dark brown is beautifully rich, and looks incredible on those who enjoy it and wear it well. I’m thankful that it has made a comeback for those who don’t like wearing dark blue, charcoal, and black as a dark neutral. That said, dark brown looks as great worn with these neutrals if you like them all.
Personally, I don’t gravitate to wearing dark brown although I like it on others. Wearing dark brown as a school uniform for six years has somewhat killed it for me. That said, I’ve had a couple of dark brown items in the past that I bought by choice, and enjoyed them. I also have a great pair of old brown-burgundy specs that I keep as back-ups, and tortoiseshell prescription sunnies. I wear the sunnies regularly in the Autumn and Winter.
Over to you. Do you like to wear dark brown?
