Chocolate Brown Is The Color Trend We're Seeing Everywhere For Winter 2024
In case you haven't heard, chocolate brown is the color of winter 2024. The rich cocoa shade is dominating cold weather trends thanks to its warmth and decadence. Plus, it's easy to work with. We first saw this after a slew of latte-inspired trends in the fall of 2023 — That then morphed into the return of knee-high leather boots and rich brown bomber jackets a la "Top Gun."
But chocolate brown goes beyond outerwear. Blazers, skirts, body suits, and stockings in rich shades of warm mahogany brown are taking over black as the essential wintertime neutral. "Complementing all skin tones, brown is surprisingly easy to style and can be thought of as a neutral base to layer other colours and prints on, or wear it head to toe by pairing different textures alongside each other," Libby Page, market director at Net-a-Porter, told Harper's Bazaar.
While chocolate brown is exquisite on its own or in monochrome looks, it also pairs well with, more vivid shades. As a neutral tone, it grounds siren red, which makes it a great option if you're trying to experiment with color. Depending on your fashion proclivities, there are so many ways to rock chocolate brown this winter!
Design a tonal outfit around a long, chocolate brown wrap coat
The long lines of a woolen wrap coat in deep chocolate brown give an elegant silhouette to an outdoor look. The rich tone brings a unique warmth to the large piece that normally feels weighed down by grey or black. Meanwhile, the ample sleeves and oversized collar of the wrap coat gives the outfit sumptuous excess. Opting for a style with more room allows you to layer up underneath because we do want fashion to be comfortable and seasonally appropriate. Style with heeled leather boots in a caramel brown tone.
Slay the streetwear game with a chocolate brown blazer
There's no match for the styling range that a blazer offers. And while it's easy to reach for a blue or black style, going for something in an earthy brown is a great way to experiment with color while maintaining a neutral look that's still work-appropriate. Going for a deep brown blazer with structured tailoring and a trendy oversized cut offers an effortless way to quickly make an outfit appear carefully curated. Combine it with the unexpected by layering it over a hoodie for a 'just-running-errands' look. Lean into comfort with platform shoes and loose denim without sacrificing that dapper touch.
Turn it up in a ribbed, chocolate brown dress
Monochrome has been on our minds since early 2023, and we're not stopping anytime soon. Bring the trend to your winter wardrobe by wearing a long chocolate brown dress as the ideal base. The deep, brown shade looks beautiful against a variety of skin tones, making it ideal for a midi dress with a v-neckline to show a hint of decolletage.
A thigh-high slit also gives you the chance to show off a pair of brown boots. A snake skin brown leather duster adds major drama, but you can also layer a fitted turtleneck on top if you need the extra warmth. Since brown invites a monochromatic palette, play with the texture of your pieces. "As designers are using neutral colours, texture becomes super important too, which we saw with brown suede dominating bags and footwear – think tan suede accessories from Bottega Veneta and Celine's knee-high ruched boot in chocolate brown suede," Heather Gramston, senior head of buying at Browns, told Harper's Bazaar. Texture is the new way to play.
Layer chocolate brown leather pants with more brown tones
Leather trousers have been all the rage for the past two years with the resurgence of '90s trends, and there's no better way to stay ahead of the trend than opting for a pair in brown. Where the black leather pants give more of a casual, rockstar vibe, the brown color exudes pure luxury. "Chocolate brown is a color I try to incorporate often," stylist Danielle Goldberg told Net-A-Porter. "Pairing different textures and fabrics together gave the color so much more depth..." Goldberg went on. A gold chain of oversized links and tinted aviators stay within the color family and complete the outfit.
A leather mini skirt harnesses the chocolate brown magic
Leather and chocolate brown go together like peanut butter and jelly. Work the dreamy combination to its utmost potential by sporting a leather mini skirt. The chocolate brown tone of adds a warm neutral richness to the feminine piece. "Sometimes, black feels too hard, other times cream is too light; chocolate brown has become the hero hue that perfectly sits in between," Libby Page, Net-A-Porter's market director explained. The wearable color works beautifully with whites and camel tones. Pair with brown tights for extra layering, and rock with flats or boots.
Wear chocolate brown riding boots as a winter footwear staple
Chocolate brown riding boots are one of the easiest ways to style this wintery pigment, since the footwear goes with pretty much anything. Style brown riding boots with jeans or wear with a skirt and tights for a preppy finish. Chocolate brown accessories offer an effortless way of bringing the trendy tone into your looks. "For anyone new to trying this shade, start with accessories," Libby Page, market director for Net-A-Porter, explained, noting that "a chocolate-brown suede boot or a sumptuous tote will enrich your winter whites." It's not just winter whites that benefit from this color; blacks and camel tones look great with it too.
Wear a chocolate brown turtleneck as a second skin this winter
What we love so much about chocolate brown is that it works as an ideal base for winter outfits. In cold climates, layering is essential, but we don't want to compromise style for warmth. Since chocolate brown plays so well with other colors and tones, and looks great in a variety of textures, let pieces in this tone build your perfect look. A chocolate brown turtleneck will keep you snug while giving you the room to add a vest or shirt over top. Rock it with wide-leg trousers and a long, tonal teddy bear coat.