Chocolate is everywhere. Seemingly the colour of the moment, shades of rich brown are taking over our wardrobes, our shoe collections and even our homes.
“The colour embodies a more low-intervention approach to production and consumption,” Tully Walter, futures strategist at Soon says. “Historically, we have a strong emotional and evolutionary bond with natural colours. An earth-drawn palette can quite literally reduce our cortisol levels.” And as a responsible mindset becomes more mainstream, she predicts “a circular palette, from raw naturals to plant-based dyes will emerge as key directional colours for a new decade”.
We’ve had a taste of chocolate over the past few seasons. Daniel Lee’s Bottega Veneta arguably ignited our addiction with its spring/summer 2020 collection. Then Andy Sachs Anne Hathaway sat front row at NYFW in September last year wearing a rich brown croc-embossed coat, and there’s been no denying our constant cravings since.
The outfit, including a sweeping front fringe, drew parallels to the final look Hathaway’s character wore in the Devil Wears Prada. And just as Meryl Streep’s “cerulean blue” spiel taught us in 2006, chocolate brown has filtered down through the fashion ecosystem and is finally reaching peak saturation this season.
“The colours that surround us from season to season are almost inextricably linked to the cultural context we live [in],” says Walter. After the 2008 financial crisis, for example, “Phoebe Philo’s minimalism stormed the runways for Celine, demonstrating that the customer craved a cleanse.”
And while black and navy have had a chokehold on our wardrobes, brown is set to be crowned the “new neutral”.
When it comes to tailoring, some of our favourite suiting brands prove the black blazer is out. Long live cocoa-coloured pieces. Indulge in the Irvine silhouette and matching pants from Lee Mathews. Binge on Assembly Label’s update to the Daria blazer and trousers. Or let Wynn Hamlyn’s boxy jacket and partnering pants sate you.
Chocolate coated gets a new meaning this winter thanks to Country Road, Sass & Bide, Assembly Label and Friends With Frank. The latter’s beloved Greta chinos are also updated in the hue this season, as are Henne’s vegan leather Sanna pants and Core-Pret’s made-to-order Monday silhouette.
Then there are choc-tops from brands like Dominique Healy, Christopher Esber and Esse Studios. And new-season knits that feel richer than ever. See Kowtow, Camilla and Marc, Assembly Label and Francie for proof.
Sir makes a case for the little brown dress with its Sandrine mini. But the decadence doesn’t stop there: the brand’s Bettina, Aries and Selita styles are also rendered in the delicious shade this season. Meanwhile, Elka Collective’s Jil Dress demonstrates the power of print.
And while I personally stan a top-to-toe chocolate ensemble, you don’t always want to go full Augustus Gloop.
The colour adds a refined touch to accessories, another place we have typically favoured black. From A Emery’s Odin Boots to this choc croc update on Nelson Made’s Raul sandals, and even New Balance’s iconic 574s, shoes are an excellent starting point. Deadly Ponies and Hommey even have you covered when it comes to slipper silhouettes that are acceptable to wear out of the house.
Then there’s the Teresa Tote in coffee from sustainable New Zealand handbag brand Yu Mei, as well as Rylan Studio’s signature satchel reworked in a polished cacao colourway. Leaning into the retro feel this hue conjures, July amped up its trunk suitcase with a limited-edition Heritage collection earlier this year. The matte brown colourway is currently sold out but set to be restocked soon.
But it’s not just about our wardrobes. Homewares are hitting the sweet spot too.
“Aesthetic experiences have important implications for human wellbeing,” Walter says – something that’s increasingly well recognised, as the growing interest in the field of neuroaesthetics indicates. “At a time where the wellbeing of societies is being dramatically impacted by the stressors of a global permacrisis and traditional health services face mounting strain, we will seek alternate modalities to support our mental health.”
She adds that during periods when it feels like negative emotions are recurring, creating the right sensory environment can help bolster our emotional state. “Studies show that humans register art in the same cortex of the brain that we register emotion. There are opportunities to utilise neuroaesthetics, particularly colour, in the products we use and the spaces we dwell.”
It might have started with Sarah Ellison’s Float sofa in Piccolo – a hue developed in collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute – but Double’s machine-washable Joy rug and this cacao bedding set from Bed Threads have spiked our blood-sugar levels lately.
Then Hommey’s reversible blanket, In Bed’s striped alpaca throw and this chocolate-mousse-check style from Curio Practice arrived just in time for our retreat into hibernation. Towels from Kobn and Baina might be just the ticket to warming up cold bathrooms this winter.
And when it comes to beauty, the glazed doughnut nail trend, popularised by Hailey Beiber during the northern hemisphere’s last autumn, is sure to make waves in the coming months. Make your next manicure a delight with Essie’s No To-Do shade or the carob colourway in this autumnal set from J Hannah.
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