Blue Jeans Have Competition—Brown Denim Is the Fall Trend I'm Buying Into
These are slowly replacing my old reliables.
Blue jeans, in all their tried-and-true traditional glory, may be the backbone of a well-stocked wardrobe, but this fall, brown denim is making a play for its spot. From deep espresso to washed mocha, the earthy shade has begun appearing in jeans in every silhouette—slouchy wide legs, straight cuts, and relaxed barrel shapes included. The effect feels distinctly richer than classic indigo and perennially autumnal, while still offering the throw-on-and-go ease that makes denim indispensable.
Perhaps that’s precisely why brown jeans feel so right now. As wardrobes shift toward sumptuous neutrals, suede outerwear, chocolate brown leather, and tonal dressing, traditional blue denim can occasionally feel like an interruption, while brown slips seamlessly into the palette. Pair it with cream cashmere, a camel coat, or the unexpected oxblood-and-royal-purple combination—a coveted favorite among the fashion set. I'm not fully retiring my blues just yet, but their chocolate-colored competition is getting increasingly difficult to ignore.
Ahead, find must-have brown denim from Kallmeyer and Still Here NYC to St. Agni and TWP. Even the classic denim brands have followed suit, with styles from Gap, Frame, and Agolde.
