I mentioned in my Fall Fashion Trends Forecast that chocolate brown is going to be big this fall—but you don’t have to wait to start wearing it. If you love this rich, earthy shade, there are so many great pieces available now that you can wear through the summer and easily transition into fall as the weather cools down.
Sanctuary Charisma Dolman Mesh Tee (S) // MOTHER denim (30) (budget option) // Dolce Vita heels (8) // similar hoops // beaded bracelet
Take this fern print top, for example. The sheer mesh fabric and muscle-tee cut keep it light and breathable for hot days, but the chocolate brown print gives it just a hint of fall. And if you prefer a less body-con fit, it also comes in a pintuck pleat linen blend tank (on sale at Zappos) with the same print!
I love how I styled it here with white flare jeans and neutral strappy sandals for a polished yet relaxed summer look. (And if white jeans aren’t your thing, you could easily swap in flax linen pants or even light wash denim.)
Later, when the calendar says fall but the temps still feel like summer, you can swap the white jeans for chocolate brown ankle pants or a darker denim for a more tonal look.
PAIGE Anessa High Waist Ankle Wide Leg Utility Pants (29) (option/option) // Sanctuary Charisma Dolman Mesh Tee (S) // Loeffler Randall Dana Brown Strappy Jelly Sandal (8) // similar hoops // beaded bracelet // similar woven crossbody // Tom Ford sunnies
Here, I styled the mesh top with the PAIGE Anessa utility pants in Rich Chocolate from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and a pair of trendy brown jelly sandals for a chic, monochromatic outfit that works perfectly during that transitional time of year. (FYI, these jelly sandals have finally been restocked!)
When I want to take the PAIGE Anessa utility pants even further into fall, I’ll swap out the sandals for these leopard slingback pumps.
PAIGE Syrie Top (M) // PAIGE Anessa High Waist Ankle Wide Leg Utility Pants (29) (option/option) // PAIGE Wren Slingback Pump (8) // similar hoops // beaded bracelet // similar woven crossbody // Tom Ford sunnies
I love this pairing with the brown cable knit sweater tank, and if it’s getting chilly, I’ll top it off with my brown faux leather bomber jacket. (Here’s hoping they bring it back this year!)
And how fun would this outfit be with these chocolate brown coated wide leg pants?
Here’s one more example of how I’m wearing chocolate brown this summer. Some of you probably remember this look from my (much debated!) post on the shoelace drawstring denim trend. It’s the Z Supply Long Weekends Tank in the aptly named Espresso Martini (love that!) with those wide leg shoelace drawstring jeans and the same brown jelly sandals.
Z Supply Long Weekends Tank (M) // KUT from the Kloth Holly W Drawstring (6) // Loeffler Randall Dana Brown Strappy Jelly Sandal (8) // J.Crew Woven Chainlink Earrings // similar camera bag // Tom Ford sunnies
The relaxed fit and earthy tones give this look a super casual, almost boho feel—and that’s exactly what I love about it. It’s easy, unfussy, and perfect for laid-back summer days.
Once we get into early fall, I might swap out the sandals for sneakers and add an off-white twill jacket to give it a more seasonal vibe without adding too much warmth… or the Green Sorrel could work too!
Chocolate brown might be a classic fall shade, but with the right fabrics and styling, it works surprisingly well for summer too. It’s all about the contrast—pairing lightweight textures and breezy silhouettes with deeper tones to create a look that feels grounded but still seasonally appropriate. I’ll definitely be keeping this shade in rotation as we move closer to fall!
More Chocolate Brown Picks
If you’re looking to add more chocolate brown to your wardrobe, I rounded up a few extra pieces to check out—breezy summer tops, transitional layers, and accessories that will carry you right into fall.
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28 Responses
I have always loved chocolate brown – so glad it’s trending this year!
Do the jelly sandals have any cushion under the heel? I love the look of them.
Love the chocolate slingbacks
I wish I could wear brown. Unfortunately, I’m a winter and that color doesn’t do me any favors. Makes me look tired and washed out. I have to sit this one out.
Even chocolate brown? I’m a winter, and it’s the only brown I can wear near my face. I’ve been buying up all the chocolate brown for the past 2 years when it came back again because it’s been many years since I’ve been able to find it… stockings up because I love it so much 🙂
Btw, I wear colors I love that aren’t good near my face either as bottoms, shoes, or bag.
I’m a winter too and chocolate brown is a good color for me. It helps that I also love it!
Another winter, but this is the one brown I can wear near my face. But largely in fall I’ve always loved this color with black. I just found a chocolate brown puffer vest! Look forward to wearing it with black or dark wash denim and a white shirt.
Hi Rose, as a winter, the chocolate brown tank from Evereve (Z Supply weekend tank) might work for you. I’m a deep Autumn, so I can wear all sorts of browns and chocolate browns, unless they have too much black in them, which cools them down too much for my warm complexion. That Evereve tank didn’t do me any favors, as it seems to have a black undertone in it. I couldn’t tell in the store under their lighting, but when I got it home and compared it in natural light to the rest of my chocolate browns, I could see it. And back it went! Just a thought. 🙂 That said, for me, I adore chocolate brown, it is one of my best colors, and it is well represented in my wardrobe. I just got a chocolate brown dress from the NAS. LOVE! Can’t wait to wear it this fall! 🙂
Chiming in as a fellow “winter”. I feel like the cooler shades of brown work for me. It may not be my most flattering color but I love it. All that to say, if you don’t like it, then by all means skip it. There are plenty of other trending colors you can wear. But if you like it, you might wanna give it a try and see how you feel in it.
100%!!! You winter gals can pull off the cooler browns. 🙂 But Jo-Lynne has a good point – if you don’t like it, don’t bother. 🙂
I was half summer and half winter and I wear brown. What I was told when I had my colors done was my coloring was both and I was at the mid way point in-between. So I could wear summer darker colors and winter lighter colors. Chocolate brown is one I can wear. It isn’t my favorite but oddly enough my mom loved that color on me. I have clear blue eyes and the contrast with my eyes makes it work I think. I use to do colors on people with makeup and color swatches for best colors also with a cosmetic company and this is what all I learned in classes we attended. If you want to wear an off color consider a deeper neckline so not up right under the face or use a scarf in your colors to tie at neckline. My favorite colors are blue, green, turquoise, pink, lighter burgundy, red, navy etc.
Like the chocolate brown color
Love this… just ordered both the mesh tee and tank. I’m not into bright colors so I love a way to wear my dark neutrals in summer.
I love the brown sleeveless sweater on you! Brown looks great on you!
Thanks! I’m enjoying it. 🙂
Have you seen this Sanctuary top in chocolate brown? Nordstrom and Evereve carry it. It’s an elevated t-shirt.
Sanctuary So Twisted Asymmetric top:
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/so-twisted-asymmetric-top/8341951?origin=bag
That’s pretty but I tried a similar style from Gap Factory and it showed my bra strap on that one side. 🙃
Thank you for all the hard work you do to give us great information. I do have a question. I have a pair of black patent leather thicker soled shoes with white soles. I haven’t worn them for a long time because I feel they’re dated. I would appreciate your input on this. Thank you.
Yeah it sounds like it. I’m not seeing a lot of chunky loafers right now. More ladylike styles seem to be having their moment.
Thank goodness! I bought a pair last year and they looked like clown shoes on my petite size 5 foot!
What a great color! I will definitely add something to my closet. 🤎 Random question, I ordered the Steve Madden Dorothea boots in black size 8 1/2. They are very narrow and almost tight and I have very skinny, narrow feet as it is. Did yours in the Grey Suede feel that way as well?
I have them in brown, and they are comfortable to me, but I have rather flat feet and narrow heels.
Does the z supply brown tank run big or small? I love it
I feel like it runs a bit small. I would go with the larger of your two regular sizes, if that makes sense.
I love the Paige leopard sling backs that you paired with Paige brown pants, which I own! I’m thinking about ordering the shoes, but they don’t have great reviews. I’m curious what size you bought and if you found them to be true to size? Also, the reviews mentioned that the backstrap appears flimsy. What’s your thoughts about the shoe overall? I’m on the fence but want to order them cause I love a leopard sling back.
I love them but they do run a bit narrow. I tried the 8 and 8.5 and kept the 8. I was walking out of the 8.5.
Thanks! I’m typically an 8.5 but I’m going to try the 8. Or maybe order both.
I love all of these styles!