Colors in Men’s Fashion: Brown & Tans
When it comes to choosing which colors to wear on any given day, a lot of people don’t realize just how much psychology is often involved. Even if you don’t realize what you’re doing, there’s no getting around the fact that you’re likely choosing certain colors for a reason. After all, each and every color comes along with its own set of connotations, and some are far more suitable for certain scenarios than others. Brown happens to be one of the most often-worn colors by those who work in business-casual environments, thus making it an important color to learn about. Subtle and earthy, brown can add effective support to practically any ensemble when properly worn. The following are just a few important characteristics of brown to understand if you find yourself wearing the color on a regular basis.
Strength and Reliability
Regardless of whether or not people realize it, one of the main reasons why brown is popularly worn in business settings is because it conveys strength and reliability by the person who wears it. In comparison to certain other colors, brown is considered to be exceptionally stable and grounded. It should come as no surprise, then, that brown pieces often serve as a base for the rest of an ensemble. Brown also happens to be one of the most popular colors in men’s footwear, perhaps as a result of its versatility in fashion. So long as you aren’t wearing a fair amount of black or grey, you can usually incorporate brown into just about any type of ensemble; casual or formal.
Comfort Above All Else
Brown may be strong and reliable, but there’s a lot more to this color than many people realize. It has been hypothesized that brown is the color that people feel most comfortable wearing, regardless of what type of scenario they’re dressing for. The earthy nature of brown makes it extremely subtle, and doesn’t typically cause one to stand out from the crowd. While some people certainly go to great lengths to build an appearance that differs from the norm, there’s something to be said for wearing ensembles that don’t attract a great deal of attention. Business-casual outfits, for example, tend to be relatively subdued and low-key, which is one of the main reasons why brown and other, similar neutrals (tan, khaki) are so popularly worn to the office.
Wearing Brown Effectively
One of the greatest things about brown is that you’ll be hard-pressed to have a difficult time wearing it. As a neutral, it can be incorporated into countless ensembles of all different styles, making it one of the most versatile options in the color spectrum. Generally, it’s best to keep brown to the bottom half of your body; think dress pants and dress shoes. This will allow you to create contrast by choosing the perfect-colored shirt, such as cornflower blue or even a light yellow. Accessories such as belts and wallets also tend to be most effective when they are brown, although it should be noted that you should do everything possible to avoid wearing black with brown accessories, as clashing can occur.
Finally, brown, when compared to black, is much more casual, making it unsuited for black-tie attire and other formal events. In fact there is a saying in England that reads “No brown after 6 PM” (referring to a man’s footwear).
A Note on Brown Ties
The brown tie is a rarely chosen accessory. Nevertheless adding a brown necktie to your ensemble can create the perfect contrast. What matters most is the shade of brown. Very light browns with a large portion of white (such as ivory, cream, tan, and champagne) are formal, elegant, and popular choices for weddings. Dark browns (such as chocolate and espresso) are great choices for Fall ensembles – especially when paired with midnight blue suits.
Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team