Despite being on the hot list for this season, brown has been getting some bad rep over the years as being boring, matronly and highly avoidable.
Admittedly, brown is the queen of neutral hues – hence it does not quite have the outstanding quality of, let’s say, neon green. However, it’s simplicity and exquisite adaptability make up for an irreplaceable wardrobe component.
WOW WITH STRUCTURE
The colour brown is naturally associated with warmth and coziness. If you are aspiring to keep it completely casual, that is fine. If you are looking to dress it up, you are in need of something extra. This is where the cut of the garment comes to play the crucial part. Wide leg pants are your friend. Puff sleeves are your best friend. Combine the two – absolutely fabulous!
PLAY WITH SHADES
The beauty of brown is that there are so many shades and hues available these days. To fully achieve the “earthy brown” look you should actually look to avoid the full monochrome – as there is no such thing in nature. Combining items of different tones is also a cool trick if you want to accentuate a certain part of your body. The eye is naturally drawn to the lightest hue – which you can use to your advantage.
MAKE IT POP WITH PRINT
Adding prints to your outfit reduces the chances of it being dull by 90% – scientifically proven (at least by our little style lab). Prints work fabulously with understated, neutral tones as they balance each other out, creating the perfect harmony. Whether you opt for a print with black or perhaps a pop of colour, earthy tones have the benefit of going famously well with everything. Complete the look with a few wisely chosen accessories and emerge like a style diva you are.
THE TALE OF TWO TEXTURES
As is with shades, textures also represent a very important aspect of rocking those neutrals. Although sticking to similar looking materials sometimes can look good, with brown it often turns out looking like a go-to work attire for when the laundry is due. The more textures differentiate, the more stylish you will look. Simply – leather and knit make the outfit a hit!
THROW SOME WHITE INTO THE MIX
Pairing earthy tones with crisp, clean white is never a bad idea. If you are worried you are playing it too safe by mixing two neutral colours, just choose items that have a more interesting or unusual structure for that extra edge. There is also something very elegant about the combination of brown and white – makes you think of something Princess Diana would wear.
How would you style it? Don’t be afraid to share your style wisdom in the comments!
As always, you can find all of these stunning outfits on TheKemist.com
Kris x
