(The Shopping List)

I’m Finally Coming Around To Brown Clothes & Accessories

Here are my favorite pieces for summer.

July 8, 2023

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Neutrals are my happy place in fashion. Black? Love it. Gray? A close second. White? I’ve come around to it once I got over the fear of potential stains. These hues lend themselves to a sleek monochrome outfit moment, no matter how casual the pieces are. As for brown, which you would think fits nicely into my love for a muted color palette, I’m still working on figuring out how to wear this shade. In the past, I’ve found that most brown clothes and accessories often fall flat against my skin; it would make me look super dull or completely washed out.

Still, I wanted to give the look a try, especially because both fashion girlies and celebrities like Kendall Jenner have embraced it with vigor. With a little bit more digging for the right piece, in the summer of 2019 I finally struck gold. It was peak Batsheva season, so frilly, ruffly creations were in and I had found the perfect dupe to their Dalmatian printed frocks with an equally as voluminous creation from Sister Jane. The toffee-colored number allowed me to dip my toes into wearing brown, albeit in a lighter shade. In the same season, I also stumbled upon an oversized structured shoulder blazer in a plaid print that came in a milky chocolate shade. With these two pieces in my closet, I felt confident there were options out there that complemented both my skin and style.

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@sammie_scottie

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Of all the finds in this neutral category so far though, my favorite is this illusion dress designed by Sarah Nicole Francois. It dropped right as I was trying to find a standout look for a 2000s-themed birthday party, and the mini more than delivered. Everything about it hits: the scandalous design, the nipped waist to accentuate an hourglass shape, and, of course, the shade closely matches my own. Additionally, I’m also now the proud owner of a breezy linen maxi from J. Crew that comes in a rich cocoa shade. All this to say, with a bit of research, and luck, I’m coming around to wearing the nutty look. I even dyed my hair a warm brown one weekend after several years of leaning into a variety of red tones.

Now that I’ve finally found the brown shades and silhouettes that work for me, here are the pieces on my shopping wish list.

One shoulder tops are my favorite silhouette to see and be seen in. I’ve had my eye on this one for a minute and finally hit purchase for a themed dinner (where we all wore nudes). The ribbed knit twist detail on the shoulder and side slits give the elevated basic a bit of character.

Aerie

Goals Crochet Inset 5" Bike Short

$40

$20

When looking for bottoms to go with the above SIR. top, I Googled “brown bike shorts” with the intention of doing a monochrome look, but instead found this pair. I love the unexpected graphic print, the two-tone look, and crochet details.

Ochre Lane

Ribbed Toweling Balconette Bra

$100

After months of targeted IG story ads, I was influenced into treating myself to this bikini for vacation. I’m typically skeptical of underwire tops, but the toweling material had me sold. The balconette style is comfortable and supportive, too.

Ochre Lane

Ribbed Toweling High Waist Bottom

$89

A good high-waisted bikini bottom can be hard to come by, so when I saw this one from the same label, I added it to cart for the complete set.

Senso

Maisy I

$149

One of the few brown items I have in my closet is a pair of vintage square-toe Bandolino crocodile leather mules from CornerNess. Once that falls apart beyond repair, I’ll replace it with this chic Senso pick.

If I could, I’d buy this Aesther Ekme tote in every color they offer, especially in this rich brown. Luckily, I discovered a similar option in my grandmother’s closet, but if you’re looking for a solid carry-all, scoop this one up.

Runaway The Label

Brozalia Top

$53

Though strapless tops are back in full force, I did not find an option worth adding to cart until this one. The check pattern, keyhole cutouts, and wooden bead detail take what can often be a boring basic to the next level. The matching skirt is also on my radar!