Which brings me to brown leggings. After years of automatically reaching for a black pair, chocolate brown leggings are suddenly everywhere – and they make a surprisingly convincing case for switching up the most dependable part of our wardrobes. They still behave like a neutral, working with cream knitwear, grey tailoring, our best jeans and autumnal burgundy, but feel just different enough to make an otherwise very simple outfit look a little more chic.
The only question is what to actually wear with them. Because while leggings might be straightforward, getting the proportions right can be a little trickier. From longline tops and oversized shirts to the jackets and shoes that make them feel decidedly more fashionable than activewear, here’s how I’m styling brown leggings this autumn as a fashion writer.
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The athleisure combination
Brown leggings really come into their own when you lean into their sporty side. A flared pair with a matching fitted top gives you that put-together activewear base, while an oversized sweatshirt stops it feeling too gym-specific. I’d finish with chunky dad trainers and a roomy tote for the sort of outfit that works for coffee runs, travel days and low-effort weekends. Chocolate brown makes the whole thing feel softer than black, too, particularly when mixed with cream, grey or washed-out neutrals.