While change is constant, there are things that are timeless — for example, the classic camel brown shades for fall-winter. No matter what the occasion is, the fall-inspired shades of brown never fail to impress when paired with classic white and black. However, there is no need to play boring when you can have fun with complementary colours that add a glam twist to a classic camel brown base. We ask the fashion gurus to give us a fresh take on this fall favourite shade.
The colour wasn’t an overnight sensation, but with the return of normcore trends, it enjoyed a fair amount of attention on the runways as well as on the streets. Earth tones transmit soft warmth we could all use recalling the 90s’ minimalism effect. “Warm hues make us feel comfortable and bring us the feeling of safety,” says designer Aashima Behl as she adds, “For pre-fall, and several seasons prior, shades of camel, treacle and ginger have been percolating, and toppling the dominance of harsher navies and blacks. There is a certain softness that comes with these tones and they are feminine, rooted in the natural realm with subtle undertones. It has such a holiday feel, which represents summer, tans, but also all the desirable things in life, such as chocolates and caramel. When paired with a variety of other hues, brown looks surprisingly sophisticated, making it a great replacement for your standard-issue black.”
It can be masculine and feminine at the same time and exudes a warm or cool effect depending on the pairing. There is the traditional warm camel and then you can go more of the rose beige style camel if you have cool colouring. It can be paired with a lot of the darker shades like burgundy or some crystal shades to create a sensuous combination, says designer Sophiya Gupta. She says, “The camel brown hue has a pinkish tinge and is consider one of the warmest colours in the winter palette. The base colour looks lovely when paired with ivory pink or rose shades, making it an elegant combination. Invest in camel coloured pants with a darker shade top or pick an interesting brown palazzo with soild shirt to stand out. Another good combination would be dark flared pants with a camel colour Kurta for festive wear.”
Camel brown coats in unique styles are the best way to keep warm and look classy in fall, be it leather or faux fur, it will get you the right amount of attention. Designer Yadvi Agarwal mentions, “After being popularised as a go-to colour for coats in 1920s and onward, I still feel the best way to wear a camel brown is as outerwear. Although coats can be the focal point of investment, the list of camel brown pieces to invest in may include a pair of chunky-heeled boots, a skirt or jacket, or a turtleneck pullover as well. For a classic look people tend to pair camel brown with darker colours, white, or black, but for a fresh look one can pair it with brighter colours of the same (warm/cool) undertones. Similarly, bold prints can be worn while using a camel brown piece to balance out the look.”
Whereas, designer Kashish Chug calls it the new “It” shade and doles out a few tips to style it in different ways, as she suggests, “You can’t go wrong with styling a camel brown as it’s the new black, just be creative and could be played as a standalone shade. A good camel top can give a very hip look with cropped black pants or culottes. While a very casual look with blue denim and paired with subtle jewellery and shoes. On a more ethnic side, I love to pair brown corset blouses with fuchsia or yellow sari, it’s a new take altogether with the right amount of fusion. Not just like clothes, brown accessories go a long way to make a statement. A camel colour scarf, bag, shoes, watch or even belts can pop your outfit. For instance, camel brown shoes go brilliantly with blue suits for men.”
While the colour has a rich and luxurious feel to it, pair it with gold accessories to get the best results. Designer Sonali Dalwani calls it her wardrobe staple and adds her two cents, as she sums up, “Mix it with some bling glitter or metallics and you will look like a bronze goddess for the night. Wear a pair of camel sandals or boots with a beige tulle ankle-length skirt paired with an embellished denim jacket and leather camel belt and you are party-ready. It’s all about mix and match with camel brown shade that can take you from day to evening wear with ease.”
