Brown is one of the most versatile neutrals you can have in your closet, and it happens to be one of my favorites to wear! From pants to outerwear to shoes, brown can be easy and fun to style with other neutrals or fun colors. Some people think of brown as a fall and winter color, but I have a lot of brown in my closet for each season. I love to mix and match different shades of brown throughout my outfit all year, whether I’m wearing a tonal look or pops of color. Today I’m sharing my favorite colors to wear with brown that work with different color palettes and some outfit ideas for each.
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What Color Goes With Brown?
Brown pairs beautifully with a wide range of colors, from cream and navy blue to sage green, light blue, red, and grey. The best combination often depends on the shade of brown you’re wearing, such as light brown versus a chocolate brown.
And, each brown has different undertones, so there’s always a shade of brown to go with different color palettes. I’m always surprised by how easy brown is to wear though – I typically look for warmer colors, but I can also wear a bitter chocolate brown, which tends to be cooler. So, it’s quite versatile!
How To Choose Colors That Go With Brown
I don’t believe everything in your outfit has to match perfectly. However, if you’re curious about what colors to wear with brown, here are a few tips. Brown is easiest to style with denim, cream, and khaki (think about khaki work pants).
If you wear warm colors, hazelnut and chocolate brown typically have warm undertones and pair well with other warm colors. If you like brown with cooler undertones, you may prefer to wear your brown pieces with colors like light blue or sage green.
The Best Colors To Wear With Brown
Brown goes with all different colors, whether you’re hoping to style it with another neutral or fun pops of color. Let’s discuss!
Brown and Cream or White
Brown and cream or white always look good together! It’s an easy color combination to wear since both colors bring a classic feel to your outfit. There are also so many ways to style these colors together throughout the year, whether you’re wearing a linen dress or wool pants and boots.
Wearing a cream or white top also makes it easy to mix and match different shades of brown throughout your outfit like I did below. The suede leather jacket I’m wearing is a total closet hero for me. It goes with so many different neutrals and a wide range of colors. I also wear the brown and white silk scarf as a belt with white dresses in the summer. You can obviously style it over your shoulders or around your neck like a classic scarf, too.
Brown and Navy Blue
You can style different shades of brown with navy blue. In the outfit below, I’m wearing a navy and white stripe shirt and a navy blue coat with different shades of brown. I love how the stripes on the button up make the outfit feel lighter and less like a color block look, which can create harsh lines that make me feel shorter.
One of my favorite things about navy blue is you can find it in both a warm or cool, so there’s truly a navy that works for everyone.
Brown shoes are also a good option when you need something to wear with navy blue bottoms or a navy blue dress. This is also true for dark denim that often resembles navy, and it’s why brown boots look so good with the darker denim we all love to turn to in the fall and winter.
Brown and Black
Some people are skeptical of wearing brown and black together, but I think it’s such a gorgeous combination! There are so many chic ways to style them together. I love to pair black jeans with a dark brown sweater as you can see below. It’s a simple combination that always works. This is a great outfit option for more casual days at work or for a casual work dress code.
This is another one of my favorite ways to style black and brown – it’s also simple but I felt chic in it with the fun shoes. I live in this outfit for running errands, travel days, and weekends. You could also add a fun pop of color or another pattern to this type of outfit by adding a scarf around your neck or on your bag.
For work, a black skirt or work pants will also look good with a brown sweater. These are obviously outfits for cooler weather. I love to style a brown linen dress with a simple black belt in the summer.
Brown and Green (Sage or Olive)
Olive green can be cool or warm, so it depends on the exact piece you wear. I like to style my olive green jacket with a warmer brown top since warm colors suit me the best. You can always wear whatever undertones work the best for you near your face to offset something else you’re wearing – think about a scarf, for example.
Sage green is typically a cool color. It’s an option for someone who wants to style green with a more bitter chocolate color, whether you’re wearing brown pants or just brown shoes.
Brown and Light Blue
You don’t have to rely on a big part of your outfit to match with whatever brown you’re wearing. I love how the light blue polka dots on this skirt serve as a fun pop of color against the various shades of brown I’m wearing throughout my outfit.
Brown and Red or Burgundy
Red and burgundy work well with different undertones – red is typically easy to pair with a warm shade of brown and burgundy typically works better with a dark, cool brown. But, I actually mix and match these undertones as you can see below!
You can style an outfit with different pieces in each color, whether you wear a burgundy outfit with brown shoes or you wear an outfit with more brown. In the first outfit below, I’m wearing a burgundy striped shirt and carrying a burgundy bag, while my shoes and belt are brown. I love how these accent pieces bring everything together.
I’m wearing the Max shirt, but I’m also including the Jade shirt in the same stripes since it’s more fully stocked. You can also check out my post on what to wear with brown loafers.
Here’s another example of how you can wear burgundy and different shades of brown together. My trench coat is a light brown and I also added a warm, hazelnut brown sweater around my waist. I styled this athleisure look for family errands.
Related: My blog post on monochromatic outfits for women
Brown and Rust or Orange
Rust and orange are fun colors all year, but I love them with brown in the fall and winter. It kind of feels like you’re wearing a pumpkin spice latte, which, to be fair, I don’t really drink but it makes me think of fall. Anyway, I’ve been eyeing these fun burnt orange pants from Sezane. I think they’d look so good with chocolate brown! They’re 100 percent wool, so they’ll definitely create a cozy outfit.
Brown and Mustard Yellow
Mustard yellow is a warm color that pairs perfectly with other warm brown colors, whether you want to wear dark brown or something like hazelnut. These fun mustard yellow pants or sweater are both pop of color options to pair with brown!
Brown and Pink
I love using pink as an accent color instead of wearing a pink top. However, I love how pink pants look with a brown sweater in the fall and winter. If you’re someone who looks good in brown but not pink, a pink skirt or a pair of pink pants is a fun way to incorporate a pop of color into your outfit while still wearing the color that suits you better near your face.
How To Wear Brown by Shade
Each shade of brown will look different with the colors above, so it all depends on your own personal color palette and the color combinations you enjoy wearing!
Light Brown
Light brown is one of those colors that I honestly wear all year. But, there’s something special about wearing it in the fall as we move away from summer pieces and look to create a cozy wardrobe. It’s also a great option for spring when you’re easing out of your winter wardrobe and want to wear it with colors that have a warmer spring feeling.
Tan
Tan always makes me think of a classic trench coat. It’s the perfect color for outerwear for spring and fall, so it makes sense.
Dark Brown
Dark brown is always easiest to pair with black, denim, and tonal looks. It brings a sophisticated feel to any outfit, and it’s a great option for styling brown for work.
Tips For Styling Brown Outfits
Brown is one of the easiest colors to style once you find a piece you like! If you’re new to styling brown, you can always start small with a brown bag or a pair of shoes. Or, simply pair a brown top with your favorite pair of jeans. You can also add in a brown belt if you want to, and they don’t have to match perfectly.
Brown is one of the best colors to use to build a tonal outfit – use different textures and patterns to create interest, such as a cashmere sweater, denim, suede shoes, and a scarf with a print.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match different shades of brown when you’re wearing a tonal outfit!
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