saturation, and some of these combinations are pretty nice!
Cardigan and shell – J. Crew; trousers – Incotex
Double-breasted – J. Crew; embroidered – San Andres Milano; Trench – Halifax Traders
Earrings – Lauren Ralph Lauren; clutch – Menbur; flowered flats – Taryn Rose
Faux-wrap – Maison Margiela; tweed – A.P.C. Atelier; Flared – Jil Sander
garnet earrings – Alok Jain; garnet ring – Mahavir; pumps – Trotters
Sleeveless – Alexander Wang; rollneck – Proenza Schouler; V-neck – Kenzo
Brooch – Dolce & Gabbana; boots – Munro; crossbody bag – Brahmin
Draped – Uniqlo; long sleeve – Tulchan; Sleeveless – Dorothy Perkins
Scarf – Hermes De la Mer au Ciel; earrings – Alexis Bittar; oxfords – Munro
Jeans – Wrangler; cropped – Boden; Velvet-corduroy – Gucci
Scarf – Hermes l’Arbre du Vent; bracelet – Nordstrom; boots – Munro
9-button – Boden; cascade – DKNY; Dip-dyed – Ferrante
Necklace – Chuleekorn; tote – Longchamp
Down – Dorothy Perkins; cropped – Forte Forte; Belted – Erika Cavallini
Scarf – Laleh Fayaz; loafers – Nine West; socks – Hansel from Basel
Tie-front – Iris and Ink; short sleeve – Lanvin; Bow – Moschino
Earrings – Lafonn; bag – Nicole Miller; loafers – Kristin Cavallari
I think Brown & Pink as well as Brown & Wine are two of the nicest color combinations out there. Some of the others verge on Autumn Holiday for me (and I am a brown lover). I used to wear it in preference to black before my hair went gray. Now I find navy and gray/silver are more flattering choices for me.
I, too, prefer brown over black but like you, am finding the more silver my hair goes, the less flattering brown is on top. Navy, grey and plum seems to be the colors I will be turning to more and more.
Janice, this set is just wonderful. I adore brown.
I have always liked brown as my favorite neutral, and I was lucky that it is so much easier to find in Europe than it is in this country. Only in recent years have I paired it with a brighter color and have been pleasantly surprised. But my preference will always be brown with another soft neutral. However, paired with the right accessories, you have come with some beautiful choices. Brown trousers for this morning….
I lovel brown, and especially liked the brown/green combination above. Your basic pieces are very simple shapes, which keeps the whole thing crisp and avoids it getting too earthy/mother nature, as brown+green can sometimes be.
Alice
This is a pretty collection of pieces and makes me fantasize about having warm coloring so I could wear them. Sadly, brown will always be just a fantasy. I love that you're doing these harder/less common neutrals. I'm looking forward to olive green, and wonder if you might consider teal, plum, and winter white as additional neutrals for fall/winter wardrobes? Whatever you do, I'm sure it will be spectacular!
Brown is my favourite basic! My everyday look is built upon brown and one extra colour.
Thanks for the inspiration :)
I am a warm colour type, so for me dark brown is a good substitute for black. I combine it with red, orange, yellow, gold, green and lighter browns and play with patterns and structure.
Me too !
Brown and blue together is a delight to see.
Love this series, Janice! Thank you.
Now I am retired, I find I wear mostly a common wardrobe in black and denim with brights. I just added the Eileen Fisher skirted leggings for fall. How about doing these brights with a fall casual common wardrobe? Thanks!
Love the depth and luxe of these colors and combinations. You really are a wizard, Janice!
Brown has been my basic neutral for a very long time, so this set really gives me ideas. You find some of the best unique pieces and your eye for good quality basics is also finely honed. ( if eyes can be honed). This time you have me with the Gucci velvet jeans especially. I just decided that shades of olive is my new neutral so am looking forward to tomorrow big time.
Deb from Vancouver
Another brown girl here. With green, or purple for winter or serious, or even with black. Summer fades to taupe. Loved these combos.
Janice,
Thank you, thank you ! We females with warm coloring sometimes find it more challenging to find a variety of options in our colors when shopping. I once read that is because more women exist that look good in black. Since black is so ubiquitous, and offerings are many, I wish I could wear it, but it just makes me look like death warmed over. Thank you again for your generous and versatile consideration for we warm toned folks !
Oh, I forgot to tell you –from faithfully following your beautifully illustrated wardrobe mix-and-match roulette posts, I have just packed for 6 days of grand kid watching in an under-the-seat carry-on plus a tote. And it isn't just jeans and tee shirts, I like to feel a bit stylish even for so simple of a trip. Unheard of for me ! I keep going lighter and more happily –it has become a bit of a game for me to figure out how to pack lightly and yet still feel that I have plenty of options ! I happily hold you totally responsible, dear lady, thank you again! Even my husband has noticed that my luggage I use is getting smaller and smaller and lighter to load in the car on the way to and from the plane !
Many of us here are closer to achieving packing nirvana thanks to Janice!
These are such fun posts. Great to see how the same signature pieces looke with differnet colored basics!
Janice your creativity is mind-boggling! I cannot see beyond my nose. cannot wait to try some of these combos out! Especially since the heat/humidity wave will hopefully break here soon in L.A.–thanks!
I love this, I'm wearing brown today with coral and have been looking for a brown shorter cardigan for what feels like forever, I will have to check out J. Crew!! Thanks for this, lots of great inspiration
I am loving the brown base here. Great for me another warm but deepish person.
Janice, thanks for bringing brown to the forefront! I really like it with lilac and lavender too.
I love that gold blouse! Beautiful! I like brown, but I have so much black. I can wear brown too but it just really isn't in my plan any more. I really have always thought I was a "warm" just not sure. LOL. Thanks again Janice!
For me, dark and slate blue are the perfect combination, one I have almost never seen anywhere but on me.
My hair is brown, my skin and lips are pinkish, and my eyes are brown in the center and slate blue around the edges. Jeans and brown boots and jacket make a perfect outfit, whether the top underneath is in a light or dark tone. My second neutral is navy, and all of my browns and patterns go with it. I even have blue suede shoes. My signature combination is so easy to shop for―a quick glance down a row of clothing shows me whether there are any possibilities. Since I have the basics, I pretty much only look for slate-blue and brown patterns, or possible upgrades in style or material. I, too, love scarves and you can imagine how amazing it is to find ones in blue and brown!
I love your articles and illustrations. So much good information! You are the go-to for anyone looking for ideas.