When I started my style consulting business 17 years ago brown pants were very popular. It was a standard shade in pants you could find everywhere. The way it went back then was brown, gray and black pants were always available and navy pants could only be found during a small window in the calendar year, right around Easter. Over time, brown pants just disappeared and suddenly navy was a perennial shade you could find year round. I can vividly recall a client from a few years ago who was going crazy trying to find brown pants. I searched the internet and found one, just one, pair. One!
Brown pants are back
The one thing you can count on in fashion is if you wait around long enough things eventually come around again. It’s a slow trickle at the moment, but brown pants seem to be back. It’s so funny to have them back. For years, I would put all my clients in them and then stopped because they weren’t available. Now when I think about styling this color in pants I feel rusty and out of practice.
How to Wear Brown Pants
If you’re feeling out of practice styling brown pants, I put some work outfits together for this one item, five fashionable ways series, using this style from BOSS Hugo Boss to give you some ideas and inspiration.
Outfit #1
I love pink and brown styled together. Generally speaking, something to keep in mind is, in most cases whatever colors you can wear with navy or black, you can also wear with brown.
In the outfit above, I styled the pants with this burgundy sweater and pink blazer from Veronica Beard. I finished the look with burgundy pumps from Franco Sarto, brown bag from Brahmin and Rose Gold necklace from Tory Burch.
Outfit #2
Next, orange and brown, an easy combination. I styled this Vince Sweater with these pants and finished the outfit with green loafers from Boden, plaid scarf from Bp. and olive handbag from Madewell.
Outfit #3
In this look, I styled this pea green tunic sweater from Cos with the pants and finished the look with green earrings from Kendra Scott and a pop of yellow using these Everlane flat slingbacks and Gucci crossbody.
Outfit #4
One of my favorite ways to work with brown is tonally. There are so many rich shades making creating a chic look. I styled the pants with an earl gray cable sweater from 360 Cashmere and mushroom colored boots from Marc Fisher. To complete the look I added a burgundy bag from AllSaints and burgundy drop earrings from Talbots.
Outfit #5
In this last look, I styled the pants with a camel short sleeve sweater from Polo Ralph Lauren and olive jacket from Rag & Bone. I finished the outfit with leopard block heel pumps from Marc fisher, a gold necklace from Chico’s and camel handbag from Rebecca Minkoff.
Shop for brown pants
Now on the search for brown pants? Check out these additional styles.
