Brown has a wide range of shades. You can find the right tone for almost any fashionista. To understand what it is combined with, you need to find out your color type and the rules for combining shades.
The meaning of brown in clothing. Image psychology
Brown is considered a noble color. After examining Vasmer's dictionary, you can find out that the word comes from the word "cinnamon", which has a characteristic color. He personifies nature itself - the land and trees.
Brown has been perceived differently in different cultures. In ancient Rome, the color was not worn by the upper class, it was intended for slaves. But in Russia brown was worn by rich, well-to-do people. In medieval Europe, color meant wilting and hopelessness.
It was only by the 18th century that brown began to be actively used in clothing. Subtle options are suitable for casual looks, while deeper and richer colors are more often used for evening wear.
Brown clothes are more often worn in the autumn-winter period because of the "warming" effect. In cloudy weather, the color is pleasing to the eye, it creates a feeling of comfort and tranquility. In summer, brown is more common in safari style.
In psychology, brown means comfort and peace of mind. He disposes to himself. Clothes of this color are suitable for interviews, business meetings, as well as for personal frank conversations with friends.
Who is brown suitable for the color type of appearance
There are 4 color types of appearance - winter, spring, summer and autumn. It is determined by the totality of external data - hair color, eyes and skin tone.
Winter
The main feature of this type is contrast. The hair color of a winter woman is from dark brown to black, and the skin, on the contrary, is light. She is usually picky about tanning. The eyes of a woman of this type are often blue or green, less often light brown.
In winter, either bright, contrasting shades or dark and deep ones are suitable. For girls of this color type, clothes of chocolate, yellow-brown and red-brown shades are suitable as a base. Cold shades are suitable for a contrasting appearance; they perfectly emphasize the brightness of the appearance. Gray-brown, chocolate, dark chocolate looks good.
Spring
Spring girls always have light hair and pale skin with a noticeable blush. Moles are common on the skin.
For a spring girl, light shades of brown with a yellow or gold undertone are ideal.
Summer
A girl of a summer color type can be confused with a girl in spring. Hair is most often of a dusty light brown shade, but it can be darker. In any case, the hair has a cool shade, without a hint of red or blond. Skin color can be either porcelain white or with olive tint.
It is necessary to beware of brown with a yellow tint (mustard, ocher), and faded tones are also not recommended. Chocolate, golden brown, dark brown are ideal.
Fall
An autumn girl often becomes the owner of curly hair with a reddish undertone. It can also range in color from light brown to bright red. There is always a copper tint. The eyes can be green or brown. The color of milk chocolate, copper brown, light brown, will look good.
Main popular shades of brown
The most fashionable shades of brown in 2019 are toffee (caramel), brown granite, coffee and terracotta.
Toffee
The color is very reminiscent of the Soviet toffee candy. He is noble and pleasing to the eye. Light brown "Toffee" is perfect for tanned brunettes.
This shade should be present in the basic wardrobe of every fashionista. You can choose the most daring contrasting things of various colors to it. A deep emerald or turquoise will add piquancy to the image. But nobody canceled the classic nude - "Toffee" goes well with beige tones. Looks best on girls of a warm type of appearance (summer).
Brown granite
Brown is a deep color, it exudes calmness and self-confidence. With him, you can pick up a strict image consisting of one basic color.
But also brown granite is combined with different shades of red. The more complex and brighter the color, the more piquant the image becomes.
Also a safe option would be a combination with olive, muted wheat color. For business meetings, the Total Brown look is a good option, which includes several shades of brown. Red granite matches the color of milk chocolate or latte.
Coffee
The main advantage of brown is its versatility.
A woman with any type of appearance can easily fit a coffee shade into her everyday or evening look. The color goes well with both warm and cold shades.
You can use coffee color as a base, and add brightness to it in the form of fuchsia, bright green, blue. Such an image will be moderately catchy. The combination of dark coffee + bright always turns out to be successful. Brown is combined with white. This image will be more restrained. In 2019, the combination of coffee and beige colors is fashionable.
Terracotta
The color of fired clay has a specific reddish tint. The warming red-brown color is ideal for autumn and winter. Terracotta looks good on girls with a warm autumn type of appearance.
Red brown can be used as a base element. But don't overload the image with similar colors. Better to combine terracotta and neutral colors (gray, white, beige).
Rules for combining brown with other colors
Not every color goes well with brown, despite its versatility. The rules for combining color with other shades will help you figure out which combination is most successful.
Brown and white
It combines 2 basic colors that should be present in the wardrobe of every fashionista. They are versatile and look very organic together. White fills the image with freshness, it dilutes some gloominess of brown.
The main color in the image can be either the first or the second shade. A suitable combination is a white dress with additional accessories in the form of brown belts, jewelry or shoes.
The image is rather restrained. This combination will look great at business meetings. If the image seems boring and faded, then you can dilute it with a third color. Looks good gold, turquoise.
Brown and black
Another combination with the base color. A look composed of black and dark brown will be heavy because of the little contrast between the two. It is better to avoid such a combination, or add a third color to the image.White details will balance it, make it more alive.
Black looks great with light shades of brown (beige, sand, toffee).
But the ideal option would be black + bright brown (with a red, yellow undertone). In this case, brown will make the look rich, and black will help keep it discreet.
Brown with red
Brown goes well with all shades of red. The main rule is to find the right tone. Red is catchy and defiant. And brown reflects calmness and self-confidence. 2 colors in a pair create a moderately bright image, but at the same time, without a hint of vulgarity.
Dark shades of brown work well with all reds. Light shades of brown are best combined with deep and rich red (brick, dark red).
Brown with green
Brown and green are literally made for each other. They both represent nature, tranquility. Almost every person has an association with a tree. Combining brown and green, the look is fresh. The gloom of brown fades into the background.
For each brown, you can find its own green. All colors are suitable. Starting from light green and ending with emerald. Brown and light greens will create a light and natural look, while dark greens will make it spectacular and elegant.
Brown and brown
Colors related to each other usually combine well in the final image, but the main thing is not to associate more than 2 colors. The ideal combination is classic brown and light (cream, beige, crème brulee).
Such a duet is self-sufficient, you don't even need to pick up an additional shade for it.
Brown and blue
Brown is combined with blue, if you follow some rules. They are described below. If, combining red with brown, you should adhere to the rule "light brown + bright red", then with blue everything is the opposite.
Dark brown looks great along with sky blue and other light shades of blue. Light brown (beige, cream) is best combined with dark deep shades of blue.
| Brown | Blue |
| Chocolate | Sky blue, pale blue |
| Beige | Aqua, dark blue |
| Caramel | Turquoise |
The 2019 trend is tawny brown and denim blue. Blue is rather cold and aloof. Brown emphasizes its depth.
The combination of brown and blue in clothes means self-confidence, inner strength and dedication. Therefore, some coldness of blue in this case is not a minus. Brown and orange tone
Orange is the result of a mix of red and yellow. Both colors are quite impulsive. Red even carries an overwhelming power. But orange looks more harmonious and optimistic.
The brown + orange look is warm and positive. Psychologists say orange can cheer you up in gloomy weather. Therefore, the combination is perfect for autumn walks. Dark shades of brown are suitable for orange. The richer and deeper the second shade, the more orange stands out.
In order to further show the contrast of colors, you can add white to the image.
An example of the look is orange pants, a brown trench coat and a white T-shirt. In this form, it is difficult to remain unnoticed.
Brown and yellow
Another option for a warm sunny color. To combine with brown, it is better to use blurry, not bright shades of yellow, so as not to overload your image. It is better if yellow with moderate brightness becomes the basis of the image, and brown notes will be present in the form of accessories.
Brown and purple
A calm brown will help bring out the full brightness of the purple hues. This combination looks good in the autumn season, when nature withers and becomes not as bright as in summer. The purple color in clothes will stand out even more successfully.
You can play with shades and add different purples (from lilac to bright purple) to dark brown (chocolate).
Brown and pink
An image consisting of these colors suits sophisticated, delicate girls. Do not add bright, flashy pink (fuchsia) to brown. Pastel pink looks advantageous along with dark deep brown. This range of colors is suitable for dates, business meetings, and gala evenings.
Brown and gold color
The combination is more appropriate for evening outings and holidays. In this case, the basic gold and brown in the form of accessories looks advantageous. The combination will emphasize sophistication and good taste.
For daytime, you can also use these two colors. But the base should be brown, and gold should be present only in the details.
Brown and silver (gray)
Both colors exude confidence and restraint. From them you can create many images - from business to solemn. For business meetings, a strict gray suit and a beige blouse will be the perfect combination. In this look, gray is the base color.
But if you take as a basis a brown shade of a dark color (chocolate, dark coffee) and add accessories of silver color to it, then the image will become warmer, prompting a conversation. The combination is suitable for dates and friendships.
Brown accessories and shoes
To complete the image, you need to choose the right accessories and shoes. The brown color will help make the Look complete.
Footwear
For strict looks, you should choose sophisticated caramel-colored pumps. They fit perfectly into looks where white, gray or beige is the base color. For evening outings, you can wear brown shoes with a green dress. Its hue ranges from emerald to olive.
Brown shoes look advantageous, closer to terracotta. An urban casual look can be diluted with a small backpack made of eco-leather in a neutral color or a hobo bag. Boots can be replaced with high boots of this color with flat soles.
Handbags
It used to be that a bag and shoes should always be the same color. Fashion has become more democratic in 2019. But there should be no combinations that will “cut your eyes”.
If bright shoes are chosen, then the bag should be in a minimalist style of washed out brown.
The brown bag becomes a basic accessory and goes well with many things. A capacious everyday bag will match your casual clothes. A small brown backpack in milk chocolate color will add a playful look. A deep chocolate clutch is perfect for gala evenings in combination with a formal suit in white or emerald green.
Scarf or shawl
An accessory can make a boring look memorable. In 2019, animal prints are the trend. Brave girls choose fur scarves made of eco-fur in dark shades.
Belt
The belt is needed not only to hold in place a thing that turned out to be a little large, but also to make the image complete. A boring black dress can be tied with a wide brown belt - the image has become more daring and defiant. But it is worth remembering that a wide belt is suitable for tall girls. On a girl of small stature, a thin strap looks elegantly.
Above has already been described a successful combination of green and brown. Therefore, a brown belt or a chocolate-colored strap is ideal for a green dress.
In the new year, the combination of denim and brown shades is fashionable. Boyfriend jeans, returning from past years, do not go out of trend for more than a season. A successful combination of jeans with a high rise in faded blue plus brown with a reddish tint.Adding a white T-shirt or oversized T-shirt tucked into jeans will make the look both simple and interesting.
Decorations
Eco-jewelry made from natural materials is at the height of fashion. Massive wooden earrings fit into basic everyday looks. A casual look can be diluted with similar large bracelets and watches in the minimalism style. Geometric shapes and leather straps are in fashion.
Fashion returned from the 90s, when girls decorated their hair with headbands, headbands and large hairpins.
A reddish brown wide bandage can dilute the everyday faded look. Less flashy headbands and headbands can be used. Beige and cream go well with almost all everyday looks.
Voluminous hairpins that imitate wood are especially relevant. They will remove hair that grows into the eyes, and also complete the image. You can pick up 2 hairpins and pin them on the hair in the temporal part, making a slightly side parting.
Hats
Turban is especially popular today. A knitted headdress decorated with a large brooch is a modern adaptation of the turban that came from the peoples of North Africa, India and Asia.
A brown turban can be paired with a long coat in a neutral color. Related colors (beige, hazel) look good. A more daring combination of a muted leather jacket and a caramel-colored knit turban.
But don't forget about the classic hats. Large knitted hats are in fashion. Colors that suit any color type - beige, hazel, toffee.
What brown does not match
Brown goes well with all colors. Today's fashion is so democratic that even the most daring combination is acceptable. All primary colors paired with brown look harmonious.
But it's worth remembering that each color has a warm and cold shade. In brown, this is not so pronounced due to its neutrality, but in order to look 100% you need to learn how to choose a shade according to your color type.
The winter girl has a bright contrasting appearance. Therefore, she should avoid faded colors. Pastel shades paired with brown do not match the light skin tone inherent in the winter color type. Therefore, it is worth choosing chocolate shades of brown paired with the boldest colors - red, purple, orange.
Girls with a summer color type of appearance have light brown hair and muted eye color. Therefore, bright and contrasting colors can overshadow the natural appearance.
Light brown in combination with sky blue, light green, white is suitable here. But this applies to the summer period. In colder autumn weather, you can give preference to outerwear of a darker color.
Spring and fall girls shouldn't choose cool shades of brown. All shades and combinations that include red are more suitable for them. This includes a combination of warm shades of brown and orange, gold, yellow, olive. Looks great reddish brown with a copper undertone.
Brown is a versatile color. A correctly selected tone should be combined with the color type of the appearance. It is suitable for both casual looks and festive evenings.
Video about the right color combination for clothes
How to combine different colors of clothes: