Fade to brown: Nine new ways to wear a neutral classic

"The once sophomoric brown has been dominating the Pantone charts; its earthy reputation makes it a shoo-in with baby blue and buttermilk yellow pastels or fresh combinations of grey and cherry red."

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025 - 01:00

Annmarie O’Connor

Move over black. There’s a new neutral in town. Well, not exactly.

The once sophomoric brown has been dominating the Pantone charts; its earthy reputation makes it a shoo-in with baby blue and buttermilk yellow pastels or fresh combinations of grey and cherry red.

Unlike its starker cousin, brown has won the complexion-friendly public vote. You won’t need a red lip, a ring light, and eight hours’ sleep to make it work. Here’s how.

Full-length is the footnote from the fall runways. If you’re a lazy girl like me, this styling hack is a gem but does run the risk of falling flat.

The trick to elevating a monochrome look is incorporating texture: mock croc, faux fur, suede, fringing - anything tactile that adds dimension.

Ditto for shine. Think gold hardware, buttons or jewellery for extra polish.

When investing in pieces for your autumn, consider pieces that do the heavy lifting like a longline coat or over-the-knee boots.

Ring-fence these as your one-and-done pieces for days that might involve skinny jeans, a t-shirt and zero time.

Although smaller in stature, a classic leather bag pays wardrobe dividends.

More dash than cash? Look to styles like the trending ‘Clementine’ from U.S. brand The Horse for a clean aesthetic (Loewe meets The Row) without the hefty price tag.

For the bare minimum, pair brown over-the-elbow gloves (thanks, Khaite) with a short-sleeve top or a tonal knit dress. Effortless effort.

Failing that, it’s a brown manicure for the win. Extra points for a smoky eye. See? I told you this was easy.

GET THE LOOK:

A model presents a creation by Stella McCartney for the Womenswear Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2025/2026 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on March 5, 2025. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP) (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images)

1. A model presents a creation by Stella McCartney for the Womenswear Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2025/2026 collection as part of the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on March 5, 2025.