Chocolate Trousers

Brown pants do everything black trousers do, but they look warmer and a little more interesting. Chocolate and espresso pair with cream, pink, green, burgundy and blue, so they open up more outfits than black ever could.

Fabric changes the look. Fluid satin and twill pairs feel polished for work, while corduroy, velvet and suede look cozy and more casual.

I split the edit into two groups: tailored and wide leg trousers first, then textured corduroy, velvet and suede pairs.

Start here if you want brown pants for work and dinner. The pleated and tailored trousers look sharp with a tucked knit and loafers, and the satin wide leg pairs have a soft shine that looks lovely at night.

The drawstring pairs are the easiest on busy days, because they feel like sweatpants but look like trousers.

My fitting room test: sit down in them. Tailored pants should not pull across the hips or wrinkle hard at the lap. What I would skip: thin, see through fabric that shows pockets and lines.

Texture makes brown look even richer. The corduroy straight and wide leg pairs feel very seventies with a turtleneck, and the velvet and velveteen pants are perfect for the holidays.

The suede and faux suede pairs are the most polished casual pick. Wear them with a crisp white shirt and boots.

What I check: the shade in daylight. Chocolate can look almost black indoors and reddish outside. What I would skip: very stiff suede that creases at the knee right away.

Try chocolate trousers with a pale pink or cream sweater and black loafers for work. On weekends, wear brown cords with a green knit and a denim jacket.

Brown and navy look great together too, so a navy coat over brown pants is an easy upgrade.