Olive green and chocolate brown are the earthiest pairing in fall dressing, two colors that look like a walk in the woods. These four looks pair an olive cashmere sweater with brown corduroy trousers, a brown cardigan with an olive ribbed skirt, and an olive blouson over a brown polo sweater. Start with one piece of each and build from there.
Olive Green and Chocolate Brown Outfits to Try This Fall
In 1902, the US Army stopped using blue for its service uniforms and switched to olive drab and khaki, under General Order No. 81. The color it picked was meant to disappear into fields and woods, and for most of the century after that, olive meant utility.
Fashion has been borrowing it ever since, and chocolate brown is its natural partner. Both colors come straight from nature, so they never fight. Olive brings a little green life to brown, and brown makes olive look rich instead of military. Together they feel like a good jacket and a pair of old boots.
A quick test: put on an olive jacket or sweater with brown boots. If the two look like they belong on the same forest floor, every outfit below will work.
Start With One Piece of Each
These colors are easy to carry in suede and leather. JW Anderson's Loafer shoulder bag is army green suede with a slim top handle, and MM6 Maison Margiela's leather pumps are army green with a small bow and a block heel. For brown, Aquazzura's Sentier 75 ankle boots are chocolate suede with a pointed toe, and Anderson's suede belt is a tan you can wear with anything. Pick an olive piece and a brown piece and wear them with denim.
An Olive Sweater, Brown Corduroy Trousers
Jil Sander's cashmere sweater is a deep army green V-neck, and The Row's Frava corduroy pants are dark brown with a straight leg. Soft knit over ridged cord is about as cozy as an outfit gets. Staud's Wally ankle boots are dark brown snake-effect leather, and Dragon Diffusion's Santa Croce Big tote is woven army green leather.
How to wear it: let the sweater sit at the hip rather than tucking it, so the cords look long and straight.
A Brown Cardigan, an Olive Skirt
Sacai's wool cardigan is brown with a black scarf attached at the neck, so it looks styled before you do anything. Balmain's ribbed maxi skirt is a fitted army green knit that reaches the ankle. Le Monde Beryl's Stella flats are olive leather with a Mary Jane strap, and Khaite's Elena bag is tan suede covered in silver studs. It is a long, lean outfit with a lot of texture.
The Olive Dress, a Brown Plush Bomber
Altuzarra's Liza maxi dress is dark green jersey with a belt and tiers that swing when you walk. Zimmermann's Valiant bomber is a plush brown that looks like fur, and it makes the dress feel right for fall. Jimmy Choo's Eliot 45 ankle boots are chocolate suede on a low heel, and Bottega Veneta's Nodo pouch is green Intrecciato leather.
What I would skip: a tall boot. With a dress this long and a bomber this big, ankle boots keep the outfit from looking heavy.
An Olive Jacket Over Brown
Nili Lotan's Klaire blouson is army green cotton shell, the kind of jacket you will throw on every day. Under it, Alémais' Lasso polo sweater is brown with a cream collar and a green and cream pattern across the chest, and Agolde's Arc wide-leg pants are glossy brown leather blend. Chloé's Paddington bag is army green canvas with tan leather trim, which ties the jacket and pants together.
Olive and Chocolate Brown, Dressed Like the Woods
Olive and chocolate brown never clash, because they both come from nature. Choose olives that lean warm and a little brown, and browns that are deep enough to look like dark wood. Use suede, corduroy and leather to bring out the earthiness. If you only try one look, start with the olive sweater and brown cords. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Rust and Olive Green Outfits to Try This Fall and Butter Yellow and Chocolate Brown Outfits to Try This Fall. Olive also sits well beside something softer, so I wrote up an olive green and cream outfit built around ivory, ecru and oat.
