April, I still lurk! Cool-toned chocolate brown is one of my favorites too. I just bought this Club Monaco cashmere sweater on sale. It's still available in XS, which would fit you well. The picture isn't very helpful, but it's a crew neck with a fluid fit and the button sleeves are a nice touch.

Hi Beth! So great to see you. Sadly, I find that a CM XS sweater on me is overly - to use your excellent word -- enboobening.

To all the kind souls who are loving the BR ribbed sweater; as I had feared, see above comment on "the e word." Ah well. I passed it along (final sale, no returns) and someone is now wearing it happily.

Angie, I did order the BR cool brown trench you pointed me toward. In two sizes, and am keeping one.

Have not yet sprung for the chocolate brown boots I could use, but I just consigned the one pair I had, so watch this space.

Haha April ... I have the opposite issue so the "e" word is a good thing for me

Update: here is what I have tried.

The famous BR ribbed sweater in chocolate brown did not work for me, sadly, so I passed it along (final sale, no returning).

Angie's BR chocolate trench suggestion is hanging in my closet.

Naturalizer tall boots are too wide in the calf and also not really chocolate brown -- too warm a shade -- and will go back.

But a pair of Ariats made it to my "maybe" staging area. I will walk in them a little more on carpeting to see if my horrible feet can tolerate them.

This thread is a gold mine - have been on the hunt to use chocolate brown as my main neutral instead of black, & have also come up empty. Thanks to Inge in particular for that long list - lots of inspiration for boots!

I personally have had luck at H&M, FitFlop and Clark's but during the sales - may be worth checking out if you have outlets for them near you.

Look what I just found, April