Trend color brown: 6 Styling tips

Brown is still going strong as a trend color and is currently everywhere in stores. Many are even calling it the new black, and indeed, brown has already established itself successfully over several seasons. But while black instantly conveys timeless elegance, brown requires a bit more finesse to work in an outfit and avoid looking dull.

Styling tip 1: The key is finding the right shade of brown. Try out a few tones and see which undertone brings the most radiance to your face.

Styling tip 2: Brown only looks truly elegant in high-quality materials like wool, silk, cashmere, corduroy, mercerized cotton, or (suede) leather. In plain cotton, the color can appear too casual and less sophisticated.

Styling tip 3: Brown really comes to life when paired with lighter contrasts like off-white, powder pink, sage green, or soft gray. This lightens the heaviness of brown and gives it a fresh, modern feel.

Styling tip 4: For those who like a bold look, brown can be combined with strong accent colors like emerald green, teal, royal blue, or pink. The charm lies in the fact that these vibrant colors appear more muted and elegant next to brown than with black—they retain their intensity but look stylishly understated.

Styling tip 5: Brown also works beautifully as a monochromatic look—provided you mix different shades and textures. Combining brown tones of varying depth and fabrics like corduroy, wool, silk, cashmere, and knitwear creates visual interest in your outfit.

Styling tip 6: Brown accessories, such as shoes and handbags, make the strongest impact when materials and textures harmonize. Suede paired with suede gives a relaxed, casual vibe, while smooth leather doubles create a clean, polished look. Even a deep brown nail polish can make a subtle but stylish statement.

Golden accents: Jewelry, belt buckles, and handbag hardware in gold add an extra touch of glamour to brown outfits.