How to Style Chocolate Brown for Fall and Beyond

Brown is naturally an autumnal color, but this fall, a rich chocolately hue is hot hot hot. Seen on the runways of labels like Miu Miu and The Row, chocolate brown is a surprisingly easy color to style with current color trends as well as colors that may already be in your closet.

How to Style Chocolate Brown for Fall and Beyond

Pantone deemed Mocha Mousse the 2025 Color of the Year. While a rich color, Mocha Mousse is more like the color of coffee with cream, or the delicatable dessert for which it is named. However, as we head into fall, you're going to see a lot more dark chocolate than delicate mocha, and you'll find it proves far more versatile a color.

Style Chocolate Brown with Other Autumnal Colors

Not everyone likes wearing brown, and that's okay. There is no need to add brown to your wardrobe this season. Current fashion trends are not as strict as they were when we were younger; you can pass on any fashion trend and still look modern and stylish.

Style Chocolate Brown with Cool Tones

Style Chocolate Brown with Other Autumnal Colors: collage of chocolate brown pantsuit with cool colors

But maybe, like what happened to me, you may think you're not one to wear brown, but as you see the chocolatey hues this season, it may have you thinking twice. And possibly these suggestions on how to style chocolate brown may have you wanting to add it to your existing closet.

Style Chocolate Brown with Unexpected Brights

how to style chocolate brown with olive green by pairing with bright color

This season, you will see a lot of skin prints and textures: leopard and cheetah print, cow and pony print, and crocodile embossing. All of these look great and often incorporate chocolate brown.

Style Chocolate Brown with Neutrals

how to style chocolate brown corduroy pants with light blue and gold accessories

Mixing of neutrals is a great way to elevate a look. Pair chocolate brown with mocha mousse and other browns like tan and camel. Chocolate looks great with cream and ivory, and can look very modern paired with black (yes, you can wear brown and black together!).

You will see a lot of brown suede this season, which I personally love, even though I don't wear a lot of brown clothing. It gives off a richness and brings in the texture trend, which is very big this season. Croco-embossed accessories and shoes also bring in chocolate brown and texture to your ensemble. Both finishes are classics and will get you miles of wear beyond this year.

how to style chocolate brown for fall by wardrobe oxygen

Tips for Styling Chocolate Brown

To keep chocolate brown looking modern and fresh this fall, here are some tips:

Same color, different textures. If you're mixing chocolate with chocolate, or even similar tones of brown, add contrast with texture. For example: brown wool pants with a brown silk blouse and brown croco-embossed belt and brown leather boots.
Go rich or go home. This is not the season for faded or muddy brown colors. Rich, deep, and saturated colors are where it's at. To ensure this, seek out fabrics that are tightly woven, hold dye well, and/or catch the light. This is when a hint of synthetic can be your friend.
Try unexpected pairings. Brown is often paired with other autumnal colors like pumpkin, plum, and mustard. Try cool colors like teal, acidic colors like chartreuse, and feminine colors like shades of pink and purple. Instead of balancing the darkness of chocolate with a light color, pair with another dark color like navy, black, or deep purple. Unexpected pairings feel very current and cool.
Go dark for denim. If pairing chocolate brown with jeans and denim, consider darker washes and rinse denim. This pairing is going to give the most modern effect and highlight the richness of the color.
Add a pop of color. Tomato red. Fuschia. Apple green. Cerulean. A pop of an unexpected color can truly elevate brown and give it a luxe and modern touch. Even better if the pop of color is a texture. Patent leather, satin, velvet, calfhair, suede, corduroy… texture can elevate any look!

I hope these tips for styling chocolate brown and the sample outfits prove helpful when shopping and getting dressed this season. Will you be incorporting chocolate brown into your wardrobe?