Brown has become one of the most worn neutrals, and for good reason: it is softer than black, warmer than grey, and suits a very wide range of colourings. Knowing what goes with brown means knowing which brown you are working with, because a dark chocolate and a light tan pair with quite different colours.
This guide covers the main shades of brown, the colours that pair with each, and how to wear them. More in our Outfit Ideas section.
Know Your Brown
| Swatch | Shade | Hex | Works like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | #4E342E | A softer black | |
| Mid Brown | #7B4B2A | A warm dark neutral | |
| Camel | #C19A6B | A warm light neutral | |
| Tan | #D2B48C | A soft beige |
For combinations filtered by your season, the colour combination generator has a brown row.
Colours That Go With Brown
Cream and Ivory
The classic. Cream with chocolate is soft and rich; cream with camel is light and calm.
Navy
A sophisticated pairing of two dark neutrals — navy with camel or chocolate works in almost any setting.
Light Blue
Fresh and unexpected. A pale blue shirt with brown trousers is one of the best everyday combinations.
Pink
Soft pink with chocolate brown is warm and modern; dusty rose with camel is gentle.
Olive
Earthy and tonal. Olive and brown together read as a considered autumn palette. See what goes with olive green.
Other Browns
Tonal dressing — chocolate with camel, tan with mid brown — is one of the easiest ways to look put together. Vary the texture, not just the shade.
Rust and Burgundy
Rich accents. A rust knit or burgundy bag with brown deepens the whole outfit.
White
Crisp. A white shirt or trainers with brown looks clean and summery.
Black
Once considered a clash, now common. Black and chocolate together look deliberate when the pieces are clearly different in texture.
Who Brown Suits
Warm browns — camel, tan, chocolate with a red or golden cast — suit warm and olive undertones especially. Cooler colourings often do better with greyer, cooler browns such as taupe, or with brown kept away from the face. Deep and autumn seasons wear chocolate particularly well.
The undertone test and the best whites and neutrals for each undertone tell you which browns suit you. The Deep Autumn palette is built largely on warm browns.
Brown in a Wardrobe
Brown can replace black as a wardrobe’s darkest neutral, which softens the whole look. Brown shoes, bags and belts are also easier to pair than black with warm and earthy colours. The personal colour palette generator shows which browns belong in your palette, and building a wardrobe from your colour palette explains how to use them. For leather in brown, see how French women buy shoes and winter accessories worth investing in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colours go with brown clothes?
Cream, navy, light blue, pink, olive, rust, burgundy, white and other browns.
Does brown go with black?
Yes, when the pieces are clearly different in texture and shade. It looks deliberate rather than mismatched.
What colour top goes with brown trousers?
Cream, light blue, pink and white are the easiest. Navy works for a darker look.
Can I wear brown head to toe?
Yes. Tonal brown is polished, especially when you vary the shades and textures.
Who does brown suit?
Warm and olive undertones especially. Cooler colourings often prefer cooler browns like taupe, or brown away from the face.
For background, see brown and how colours relate on the colour wheel.