Krissy Turner Girl on a budget
Brown is the new black (again)
Personally, I love the smug feeling when something I’ve been waxing lyrical about becomes an “on-trend” item. There’s been many a winter where I’ve been after a brown knit (not camel, mind, that’s a whole different ballgame – I’m talking warm cinnamon) and I’ve filtered the life out of Asos, from 910 random jumpers down to just four or five decent chestnut ones. But, this season I’m in heaven, as my favourite lesser-spotted colour has finally made it into the fashion spotlight.
At the height of summer I bought a pleated chocolate maxi (it sounds vile but it’s divine) from H&M. I’ve never had so many compliments on a dress, and at £39.99 (hm. com, also available in black) it was the ultimate humblebrag. I paired it with everything from Converse, a denim jacket and a cream crossbody for picnics in the park, to tan slides, tortoiseshell sunnies and a straw tote on holiday.
I wore it recently (it’s long-sleeved and quite weighty, ticking more autumnal boxes) with white trainers and a camel bag and a colleague noted that I’d nailed “cappuccino dressing”, a brilliant phrase she coined for wearing a tonal coffee-brown look. It’s now my sartorial goal of the season, and as the weather’s cooled down, my mocha addiction is reaching its peak. Where the lighter toffee and treacle options were endless in June and July, the shops are now full of deeper espresso shades. Sign me up, Starbucks. Alongside purple and yellow, brown has previously divided opinion. You either loved it and subconsciously looked out for it in every store you entered, or you hated it and thought it wouldn’t suit you. If you’re in the latter camp, I’d counsel you to give it a try before you write it off this season.
Should you be willing, it’s likely you’ll steer towards pairing it with black, but this would be a waste of the chic cappuccino dressing opportunities. A tonal look (think rust corduroy trousers with a chunky walnut knit) is more modern and of the moment. It looks equally good with other autumn staple colours such as navy, grey and burgundy, too.
Unlike black, it adds a lovely warmth to all skin tones, though I’ve found that darker shades like amber look striking against fairer skin, and that medium and darker skin tones pop nicely against rust and bronze. All these spicy hues are the perfect antidote to oxblood and navy, which are also in abundance. I say stock up while you can.
The shops are now full of deeper espresso shades… Sign me up, Starbucks