Someone once told me never to wear brown and black together. I believed it for years, and I'm a little annoyed about it, because it's one of my favorite pairings now. Chocolate brown next to black looks rich and quiet, like dark coffee in a black mug.

Start with brown near your face, where it's softer than black. Khaite's Everheart cardigan in Coffee is a neat, fitted knit with small buttons, and Balmain's lace-trimmed tank is a brown knit with a lace V at the neck. Cult Gaia's Brunella coat is long and dark brown, and Nour Hammour's Hadley jacket is calf hair with a short, boxy cut. Calf hair and corduroy add texture, which helps brown stand apart from the black. A chocolate cardigan buttoned up over black trousers is a good first try.

For the bottom half, Nili Lotan's Megan pants are wide-leg corduroy at $450, and Cult Gaia's Lazuli skirt is long, straight and dark brown. Simkhai's Eiana skirt is $245 with a shell detail at the hip. Maygel Coronel's Ceniza dress is ruched jersey, easy with black boots.

The darker the brown, the easier it is to wear with black. Save tan and camel for another day.

Black is the half you probably already own, so choose pieces with an interesting shape.

Khaite's Demi dress in black wool silk is a long, sleeveless column, and Simkhai's Nancie dress has a draped cape at the shoulders at $477. Nour Hammour's Viret skirt is black leather with a knot at the hip, and Dolce&Gabbana's lace bustier top is for evenings with a brown coat thrown over it.

For every day, Toteme's jersey cardigan is simple with patch pockets, and Agolde's Ambika utility pants are cotton sateen with a barrel leg at $370. Cult Gaia's Pasha knit top is a textured, loopy knit, and Simkhai's Estelle top is a draped sleeveless style at $155.

Mix textures here too. Black leather, jersey and knit next to brown suede or corduroy make the pairing feel deliberate rather than accidental.

A brown knit with black pants and brown boots is the outfit I'd start with. It works almost anywhere.

Brown accessories are what make black look softer. Swap one black bag or pair of boots for brown and the whole outfit warms up.

Neous's Nervia 60 ankle boots are dark brown leather with a slim heel, and Alaïa's Le Coeur wedge mules mix brown suede with clear PVC. Cult Gaia's Maddie sandal has a sculpted heel in dark brown.

For bags, Saint Laurent's Gaby Vanity is a small quilted suede case with a top handle, and DeMellier's Brooklyn is a big, structured brown leather tote at $835. DeMellier's New York crossbody is smaller at $560. For belts, Khaite's Dome belt is dark brown suede with a silver buckle, and Anderson's suede belt is $210 with a gold buckle. Silver hardware looks crisp with this pairing and gold makes it warmer, so pick whichever you already wear.

A brown belt on black trousers is the quickest way to try this pairing.