Uniform Concept 001: Chocolate Brown & Heather Grey

Building your uniform by updating your color palette.

Hi and welcome to Uniform.  

Working in the fashion industry as a stylist and fashion editor I have become known for my take on uniform dressing.  My style philosophy is quality over quantity and keeping a very tightly edited wardrobe of pieces that you truly love and wear on repeat. I hope this weekly newsletter will help you build your personal style uniform and make getting dressed every day a little bit easier. Expect ideas on how to create and build your own uniform, styling updates to keep it fresh, deep dives into investment pieces, and mood boards and decoding runway trends to inspire. 

One thing to note! I embrace lists over paragraphs, with occasional grammar errors. Please let ideas compensate. 

Now onto 001: Chocolate Brown & Heather Grey…

Color is such a big part of identifying what works within a wardrobe. When any trend hits, including a color, I like to ask myself: Does this seamlessly fit into my current wardrobe? Will it be easy to style with many pieces I already own? If yes, I start integrating.

This past fall chocolate brown seemed to pop up everywhere- I liked how it felt elegant and rich (nothing too autumnal) and a very simple extension of my usual neutral tones.

With some of my pieces the pairing of black and brown felt a bit serious and heavy so I dug into a few references to guide me:

• Margiela for Hermes- his Fall ‘99 collection really shows the mix of soft grey with tailored and structured dark brown pieces.

• Miu Miu Spring 2022 - the subtle additions of chocolate created a very casual feeling, ie grey knit socks with a brown worn in loafer.

• Michael Kors final Celine show in 2004 -the combination of textures and styling stands out, mixing an essential, like a grey sweater, with a fashion item, like a croc leather skirt (don’t worry- no croc shopping options here!), creates a very effortless, lux look. You see it here at Jil Sander’s F/W 1997 show as well.

In all of these references there is a juxtaposition between the elegant chocolate brown and the soft, casual heather grey.

Images Clockwise from left: Miu Miu Spring 2022, Instagram: Emi Mess, Instagram: Sylviemus_ , Miu Miu Spring 2022, Hermes Fall 1999, Jil Sander Fall 1997, Celine Fall 2004, The Row Pre-Fall 2023, Officine Generale Fall 2023

With above in mind, here are some of my evolving outfit iterations, which I am especially into for these deep winter months-when you want that combination of light and heaviness.  

My key items: Metier bag, High Sport pants, Gucci shoes, &Daughter Sweater, Maria McManus pants, and Raey sweater. 

Suiting Take 

Raey button up sweater, Veronica De Piante Jacket, Toteme belt, Maria McManus trousers, Toteme faux fur flats

• I love a take on a suit but am less into an actual suit. I thought this was a great way to mix in the black but keep the look less serious.  

• The super soft light cashmere henley softens this look. The sleeves are extra extra long which I love—if you are afraid of them getting in your way for practicality reasons the fabric is so thin you can push them up without the bulk. I love it for a dinner out, in black as well.  

• The shape of the jacket and pant are quite masculine - I added an unexpected shoe to offset.

• These Maria McManus pants I bought at end of last summer and they are super lightweight (great right now too if you are in a temperate climate). They are comfortable and just hang off the body, but the pleats at the waist give them a tailored fit. I love Maria’s collections- she understands dressing women and sustainability. If you don’t have one of her split-sleeve knits I also highly recommend.  

The Row bag, Raey Sweater, Toteme blazer, Massimo Dutti flats, Maria McManus Trousers, Toteme Belt

The 2023 (and calling it for 2024) Go-To Pant 

&Daughter Sweater, A very sentimental necklace by Kloto, High Sport Pants (the choc brown is sold out everywhere but I honestly love every color- can never go wrong with black- a lighter brown shade below), Loewe Bag ( this is an older style, called the strip bag and unfortunately could not find on any resell sites) but I have been eyeing this new Loewe tote!

• These High Sport pants have been in heavy rotation since I got them. They are comfortable, easy to wear, polished, and pretty much every newsletter writer has proven their price per wear. Don’t drag your feet on them, they sell out!

• I surprised myself when I was willing to wear these pants with a short sweater- but they are that flattering and it is a great way to subtly nip your waist.  The chunky cuffs and collar on this &Daughter sweater (which I think is fantastic quality for price btw) balance out the proportions nicely of the flare cut pant.  

• The subtle white tee (this one is my newest favorite- light weight and super soft) seen at the neckline and black accessories ground the color combination.

• Also highly recommend these grey socks. lightweight and super soft. They will last you years! really cute with loafer and loafer boots!

  

  &Daughter Sweater, Proenza Schouler loafer boots, (also into these brown more classic loafer) High Sport Pants

Rich Tones

very old Toteme Polo Knit sweater- I have this Everlane one in black - great quality and love the cocoa color too, this one is also really pretty from Toteme, Toteme belt, Metier Bag, Theory old trousers, Toteme lace up booties- here if you are size 9! and a few available here in brown, Maria McManus Sweater- also older but love this one in grey!

• This look nods to the elegant and rich hues. The very dark chocolate knit has almost a bit of grey woven in the fabric. 

• Theory deep grey trousers, please re issue! They are lightweight, pleats at the waist and I have now been wearing for 5+ years. I think the below Cos pants are a great alternative. Also very much into these flannel ones from Theory- and on sale!

• Three touches of black – classic belt, lace up suede boots (just a hint of texture), and the look felt long and straight so I wrapped a sweater like a scarf around my shoulders to mix up the shape. You could do the same with this Cuyana scarf that has a little bit of structure.

Toteme brown turtleneck, Elleme brown bag- great price and back in stock, Cos Grey trouser, &Other Stories black knit, Le Monde Beryl suede ballet flat, same Toteme belt

Monochrome with Suede Accessories 

This outfit is all older pieces (Frankie Shop Shirt and Ven Store pants - who unfortunately closed shop) but a great example how re styling pieces you already own can go a long way! See below for some really good alternatives.

• These grey tones don’t match exactly but that’s ok! And just a hint of brown still gets the point across.

• I like to see the tie or tiny bit of a waistband on this shape of pant when paired with an oversized shirt. It makes it less dumpy. Cuff the sleeves to make it look as effortless as it feels.

• You could also recreate this look but with this brown shirt and this grey pant. great textures and tones together!

Toteme button down shirt- on sale!, Adidas Gazelle, Reformation drawstring waist trouser

Two-Way Tonal

• This combo feels like I’m combining a bunch of ideas in one outfit. It plays into both colors with lots of texture, which is most important thing with tonal dressing or else it can be flat and boring.

• This is the same flannel button down top and High Sport pant as above

• A suede Mary Jane would be really great with the kick flare pant -make the look more feminine.

• For a colder climate - throw on a rich brown coat (black would be great too- like this one) and throw the grey knit over your shoulders (over the coat).

  

  Metier Bag, Cos Turtleneck Sweater, Cos Brown Coat, Toteme Button Down, High Sport pant, Le Monde Beryl Mary Jane

Thanks for joining. Until next week,

X

ali