It's Time For A Brown Suit

The many delights of swapping black tailoring for brown

Welcome to Week No.1 of 2025’s Workwear Month. Each week in February will (kind of) build on the previous and we are starting with my not so revolutionary but might just shorten your morning closet staring session tenfold idea of swapping your black pants and blazer for brown. Telling you that brown is trending is by no means news to your ears and I will roll over in my grave before telling you ‘brown is the new black’ bc lets face it, black will always be the new black. But there is something incredibly fresh and easy and spirited and subtle about brown tailoring at the moment. It’s not that far out of the box to experiment with for those “never color” types. It’s not so flashy that people will god forbid comment when you are trying to exude seniority amongst your peers and yet it feels fashion forward, quirky, personality-driven. And best of all, there are finally tons of options on the market.

So today, I am going to show you five ways to wear a brown suit plus five ways to wear your blazer and brown pants as separates. My brown suit happens to have flowers on it, because I do not work in a a corporate office. But for those that do, solid and checked suits abound. My top choices for you at the bottom.

Rachel Comey brown floral suit jacket and pants with a black silk shirt by Giuliva Heritage. THIS black silk shirt by Club Monaco is one of my favorites as immense number of buttons prevent it from gaping at the bust. If you’re looking for something more simple, I like this one bc it’s not too shiny, but I’d size up. And the Jimmy Choo pumps that I couldn’t live without after I saw Michelle Obama in them. They’re so cool and tough yet thoroughly conservative enough for the workplace.

We will start with the most and least obvious combination: layer a black silk shirt and black pumps with your brown suit. This is a simple idea but can be befuddling to those who have been falsely advised that brown and black shall not be combined. They most definitely should! What an elegant, dynamic way to NOT wear color to the office.

From there I kicked off my heels and paired the suit with a grey knit polo from Cos and my Bally loafers (but any loafer will do!) to create a more masculine/feminine look. If this is too dandy for you, just keep those Jimmy Choos on! I especially like preppy pieces with this suit because this particular one has has a bit of shine to it , giving those tomboy elements some balance. That and my pink lipstick, found thanks to Marisa Meltzer’s new newsletter!

Cos polo (gone now but Massimo Dutti is picking up the slack) over a white long sleeve tee, Bally loafers and Smartwool everyday socks. Someone asked about warm socks recently in the comments, I can’t remember who. But these are IT!

A note about this suit and ALL suiting. Do not expect it to fit you perfectly right out of the gate. I tailored the crap out of this suit to make it my dream suit (took in the shoulders and the back and hemmed the pants about eight inches). One take away I’d like you to consider about dressing for work is that you should consider tailoring costs into your purchases because a perfect fit will make you not only look like a million bucks but present like a million bucks and that is extremely helpful on your way to a million bucks, if you know what I mean!! There are very few of us with exact fit model proportions. 5’10, size 4. So know that it is totally NORMAL to have your tailoring need a little work.

The suit with a cream cashmere cardigan, buttoned as a top and dainty pumps. The buttons provide a little more interest than a plain shell, but a silk crewneck tee or thin textured sweater would also look lovely. The white provides an element of casualness that allows you to wear a more fun shoe. Something about the white makes the shoe less loud than black would, would you agree?

With a silky chambray and black block heeled boot, subtly giving us the zeitgeisty Bob Dylan/Chloe Girl vibes. TWP shirt (I’m wearing a medium for slouch), old Saint Laurent boots, truly the most beautifully shaped boot I’ve ever owned. I was looking for a comp for you, and there just isn’t one as perfect, so I will not dishonor them today 😆. Completedworks wire flower necklace.

With pastel! Brown is such a nice balance to pastel. Less harsh than black so try pairing your baby blues and pale pinks with brown tailoring and see what a nice palette it creates next to your face! I’m wearing a Sunspel sweater (old but the vest version is still available and this beautiful dusty blue long sleeve will be less scratchy and this short sleeve is gorge), fishnet socks and Valentino bow pumps.

The other great thing about brown tailoring, is that both the jacket and pants work so well as separates. All of a sudden my tuxedo is not such a statement for a client cocktail event. A fairisle sweater less flashy (balanced by another color instead of a sharp, jet black). And if the idea of mixing and matching still feels overwhelming, here is a trick: just pretend these pieces are black and throw them on with your go to skirt or power dress. I promise, it will look sensible and stylish at the same time. You can’t possibly argue with that.

The brown pants with my trusted tuxedo blazer. Mine is Max Mara but there are a million good ones. If you don’t already have one, consider 2025 the year to invest. You won’t wear it everyday, but you’ll be happy you have it when you need it! Also pictured, a big beaded necklace, whatever sentimental charm you’re feeling at the moment, and patent leather flats. Mine are Chanel, not shoppable online. But these look awesome. A solid day-into-evening combination.

With a cozy winter sweater. I really like this combination of black/white against the brown. (This sweater is a Bally men’s sale find and almost gone, but this is also great!) Again, I don’t work in a corporate office, so fairisle might be too much for you. But for those NOT in midtown, let it ride! For those with more traditional dress codes, something like this does the same thing, but slightly quieter. Another option could be a shaggy navy blue sweater if this is too much. Something with a little definition to balance the brown.

With your favorite skirt. This one is an older Maison Margiela bias cut wool skirt but anything giving this vibe makes a perfect pairing (More on skirts in two weeks! I can’t wait for the debate to ensue!!) The blazer with a ivory silk shirt (old Celine, what about this? She seems painfully elegant.) sheer stockings and the world’s best Jimmy Choos, once again. I love love love how the black tights and shoes provide an anchor for the lighter colors of this outfit. Importantly, the black (or navy) in the pattern of the skirt ties it all together. So when choosing your skirt or dress to pair with your brown blazer, consider the pattern before choosing shoes. If say the skirt were a big floral pattern with no dark color in the mix, I might do no tights and a brown pump.

And for those who do get to wear jeans to the office, how great does brown look against denim. Beyond!!! With my same ivory silk shirt from above (again, we like this or this!), Madewell 90s straight jeans and black Bally loafers.

And last but not least, we would not leave your favorite ‘work pants’ out of the mix. Lest they feel left out from you having such a great week with your brown suit, throw them on with a white blouse and pumps and be on your bossy way. These are old Toteme from an old “black pants” newsletter, but this is a good current season alt. Or whatever your favorite black pants in your closet happen to be! TWP tuxedo top and Jimmy Choos to round us out. If you are looking for a less detailed black pump, there is of course always Marion Parke!

Five fantastic suits in priority order, from left: Auralee jacket and pants - a faint prince of wales check in a lightweight fabric to allow for the perfect slouch.​ The Row jacket and pants - a beautiful subtle pinstripe​ with the perfect amount of sheen. If you are looking to wear one into evening often, this is it. ​Offiicine Generale "coffee" wool blazer and pants (not pictured). OG makes some of my favorite tailoring in my favorite fabrics. I often say their winter coats are the absolute BEST bang for your buck. Same goes for the tailoring. I'd take your normal size in the jacket or one size up if you'd like a slight oversized look. And one size up in the pants bc French girls somehow don't have hips? LOL. Hommegirls jacket and pants - a rich chocolate brown meticulously proportioned to look “borrowed from the boys” with a perfect little cinch in the waist. She is the coolest, if you are 5’5” or above. :) Matteau jacket and pants in a great medium weight tropical wool. I’d take your traditional size in the jacket and size up in the pants, they are slightly narrow in the hips.

See you back here next Sunday for Week No.2 where we will talk about extremely unbasic pieces that can hold their own as workhorses.

Until then, happy dressing.

Yours TRULY,

Becky