There are some questions that have plagued fashion for ages. To wit, some classic and modern dilemmas: what’s hotter, the bootcut jean or the skinny leg? Should blouses be tucked in or left loose? Is the LBD the be all and end all in sexy nighttime apparel? Can white in fact be worn after Labor Day; and if so, under what circumstances? While the answers to many of these questions change according to the trend and the era, certain style queries remain divisive as ever. One stumper that comes to mind concerns the mixing of two particular shades on the color wheel, inky black and earthy brown. Some people swear by the combination, others say it’s a no-no, and all we want to know is if the two hues can blend harmoniously.

Why It’s Sweet: Brown and black both make strong statements on their own, but combined the two can actually play up each other’s best qualities and tone them down where they’re inclined to go overboard—sleek, serious black is brought back down to earth by naturally rustic brown tones, and brown in turn sharpens up a bit when it has smooth, jet black lines to guide it. Plus, while we love a stylistically uniform ensemble, sometimes creating a little unexpected contrast is really the best thing you can do for a look. Catching sight of brown accents blended artfully into a black outfit (or vice versa) is like biting into a piece of chocolate to find there’s caramel inside—better than you expected and a yummy surprise!

Why It’s Sour: Mastering the art of pairing black with brown can be as delicate as painting a portrait. The two shades are so close on the color spectrum that sensitivity to the subtleties of tone becomes a must. While shades of black are more or less constant, shades of brown are so varied that finding those that mesh well with black can be quite the challenge. You can generally get away with wearing lighter brown hues alongside black, but rich chocolate can be harder to pair because they hang in a tricky, in-between place in the color balance—too different from black to blend in with it seamlessly, but not bright enough to provide a truly striking contrast to an outfit’s black details. And at that point, you’re left looking more mismatched than fashion-forward.

Our Conclusion: We have to say, when handled well, brown-on-black is one of our favorite looks. Since, as mentioned, picking a brown piece that pops against your black ones is the priority, try something in the tan family. Camel, toffee, and khaki all work beautifully both as details against black and as primary pieces with black accents. If you really can’t resist the lusciousness of dark chocolate tones, look for pieces whose fabrics provide depth and vibrancy—sheen finishes, metallic accents, and interesting textures are all ways to keep darker browns from looking muddy or dusty. Also reach for pieces that feature interesting cuts and intricate details, which will help the two colors appear more seamlessly integrated than the same tones would if worn as large, plain color blocks. Mix and match to see what this unexpectedly posh pairing can do for you. In the meantime, consider this one more question crossed off of our list of age-old fashion woes.

Where to Shop:
FreePeople.com
UrbanOutfitters.com
Topshop.com
Shopbop.com

Photos:
NYmag.com