Pantone’s 2025 Colour of the Year – Mocha Mousse – is “a mellow brown hue whose inherent richness and sensorial and comforting warmth extends further into our desire for comfort, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others,” explains Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute in New Jersey, USA. Capturing the global zeitgeist in a constantly changing and turbulent world, there really is a sense that these rich, velvety browns provide that same sense of warmth – and comfort – as a steaming cup of coffee on a cold day… or an outrageously good chocolate pudding.
Take all this delicious inspiration to the international fashion weeks where lashings of chocolate, hazelnut, and mocha were heralded as the season’s new neutrals from Miu Miu to South African designers Thebe Magugu and MAXHOSA AFRICA, whose collections shown at Paris Fashion Week also embraced the trend.
Inherently sophisticated and versatile, brown comes as a chic alternative to winter greys and classic black. The palette ranges from cocoa and cinnamon to caramel, as seen at PoetryxKluk, and cappuccino, and is all about tone and texture. It can be worn from head to toe, seen at Balmain and Louis Vuitton, with a zesty pop of orange, or as a refined nod to quiet luxury combined with shades of navy and burgundy. Add an investment piece, such as Gucci’s leather shoulder bag, for a look that will never go out of style.
The key is to create sartorial layers of interest by mixing and matching textures within everyday looks. Ralph Lauren’s leather midi skirt is paired with oversized cashmere or a slim-fit cardigan; Gucci’s suede jacket is worn with denim or corduroy; and Miu Miu’s statement coat adds a luxurious layer, day or night.
For fashion lovers who can’t live without animal print, adding a spot of leopard to chocolate brown is bang on trend. We love Dolce & Gabbana’s velvet ballet flats and the must-have Adidas Sambas. And we’ll also take the Jacquemus sunglasses worn by Aimee Lou Wood in the latest series of The White Lotus. They literally go with everything.
The beauty of brown
Mix it with denim: For chic street or weekend style, pair a brown jacket with low-slung baggy jeans or track pants, a baseball cap or beanie, and sneakers.
Break an all-black outfit: Add a dark brown leather jacket, long or slouchy brown boots and a classic brown belt to break an all-black look; it will effortlessly take you from the boardroom to the bar.
Add accessories: Update your winter wardrobe with dark brown loafers, an oversized tote and big sunglasses. Gold jewellery and a beautiful timepiece will finish the look.
YourLuxury Africa’s Top Picks:
- LV Crush Monogram beanie, R10 300, louisvuitton.co.za
- Dark brown leather belt, POA, zegna.com
- Men’s Nevver-Striped Pu Document Bag in chocolate brown, R1 899, tedbaker.co.za
- Bvlgari Serpenti Forever Butterfly acetate sunglasses in brown, R11 385, picotandmoss.co.za
- Ralph Lauren A-line soft leather midi skirt, R50 589, farfetch.com
- MAXHOSA AFRICA track pants, R12 500, shopmaxhosa.africa
- Memo Abu Dhabi 75ml EDP, R6 020, skins.co.za
- Felicity Trench coat, R3 999, pringleofscotland.co.za
- Jacquesmus Ovalo sunglasses, R5 803, farfetch.com (mentioned in text)
- Men’s textured chukka boots, R3 299, polo.co.za
- Gold signet ring, from R26 500, charlesgreig.co.za
- Printed velvet ballet flats, R19 000, dolceandgabanna.com (mentioned)
- Dzata bow blouse, R4 599, rubiconclothing.co.za
- Karl Lagerfeld long-sleeved belted knit dress, R6 990, europaart.co.za
- Plain 100% cashmere cardigan, R2 599, zara.com
