Recent times have seen a resurgence in brown hues with actresses like Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor to even Kendall and Kylie Jenner stepping out in a peculiar shade of brown. Once considered an unflattering colour associated with a librarian's wardrobe (before Prada popularised the librarian chic phenomenon), it has slowly risen the ranks of the colour hierarchy to be considered, now, even a red-carpet option.
With the onslaught of the Y2K movement and the recycling of early 2000s icons who came back on our moodboards, this espresso-like dark brown has become the underdog of the zeitgeist. Pop culture will remember 90s Bollywood heroines like Raveena Tandon who introduced us to the concept of a dark brown lipliner, a trend that a whole generation was quick to replicate. Now, it sees a resurgence in the wardrobes of all the girl the fashion circuit has their eyes on. Following the footsteps of Janhvi Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur, consider embracing monochromatic dark brown outfits.
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Janhvi Kapoor accentuated her ensemble with a sprinkle of gold jewellery and matching manicure. Or take a page out of Kylie Jenner's stylebook and explore different fabric textures. Jenner wore a sleek bonded leather corset by Ferragamo, complementing it with a sustainable viscose jersey dress. You can also go for suede, corduroy, and tweed to infuse your outfit with tactile dimension, making it stand out.
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If you are a print enthusiast like Bhumi Pednekar, animal prints, houndstooth, or plaid could be your thing. Pednekar's stunning appearance in a Sadek Majed ensemble during the grand launch of Jio World Plaza in Mumbai exemplified this trend, complete with an updo and a smoky eye.
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Corsets have gone in and out of fashion for centuries, and it is certainly Kim Kardashian's and Alia Bhatt's favourite way to introduce a little structure into their 2023 wardrobe. Bhatt seems to have taken a keen liking for the espresso hue with sightings in various brown ensembles, from her Gaurav Gupta structured dress for the Jio World Plaza launch to her ensemble we spotted in a sneak peek from the Koffee With Karan teaser.
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Layering different textures is a way to create visual depth and add intrigue to your outfits. Think of a knit cardigan over a darker brown top, as seen on Kendall Jenner, or a power blazer moment by Sav Lamba, like Tara Sutaria's, the possibilities are endless.
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You may have experimented with brown accessories, such as leather belts, shoes and bags. Consider taking it all up a notch higher with daytime affairs. Or consider mixing it up with other neutrals like black, grey, and navy is particularly striking in professional or business-casual settings. Alternatively, pairing brown with soft lilacs, pinks, and soft blues yields a chic and modern appearance.
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Whether you opt for classic brown leather or want to consider playing with chunkier textures, when accessorising a brown outfit, consider adding touches of gold jewellery or accessories in earthy tones, case in point, Katrina Kaif in a brown and gold Sabyasachi lehenga. This is your cue to embrace the earthy richness of brown in your wardrobe for the upcoming cold weather season.
