There’s an uptick in the number of people veering towards wearing brown jeans. This season, we are setting aside—temporarily, at least— its more classic shades to explore a decidedly warmer and more sophisticated palette. The desire for an increasingly refined everyday wardrobe has made dark brown jeans—ranging from espresso to mocha to dark chocolate—a coveted choice. Brown jeans are practical and have an almost tailored allure, which makes it infinitesimally better than any other shade—especially in straight-leg, slightly wide-leg, or slim-fit styles, which really bring out the depth of the color. It’s a small wardrobe update that invites you to experiment with new combinations.
The secret to styling brown jeans is to play with color temperatures, alternating between sharp contrasts and tone-on-tone combinations. From black—once considered incompatible with brown—to sky blue, all the way to bright red that hints at the holiday season, we’ve identified five particularly interesting combinations to try this winter.
thecelebrityfinder/Bauer-Griffin
Brown jeans and black grunge top
We’re discarding the rule that black and brown—both dark tones—cannot be worn together. Pairing brown-colored jeans with black tops is one of the most sophisticated combinations to experiment with because it plays on the closeness of two deep shades without seeking an obvious contrast.
The key is to choose clean silhouettes and avoid excessive volume or too many layers. A fitted black turtleneck or a grungey top, worn with straight-leg brown jeans and black ankle boots, is all you need to create a minimalist, almost ’90s-inspired look. To finish it off, choose a thin black belt and a tailored coat: the proportions and different textures will make the whole outfit interesting.
Meridian knit top, Almost Gods, ₹7,500
Loose folded fit low-rise TRF jeans, Zara, ₹2,950
