Black and brown: do not frown | The Fashion Dungjen

I am a really big fan of mixing black and brown. I mean, a really big fan. I've never been one to buy into the thinking you can't mix the two - it's kind of the same with mixing metals. I'm all about mixing golds with silvers. Sometimes, the best way to match is to mismatch.

Keeping your blacks and browns separate is nothing more than a fashion myth that your mom or grandma force-fed you growing up so now it's what you actually believe. I can't say I blame you. To me, the idea was unthinkable just a few years ago, but it's probably my most abused color combination to date.

During no-pants week there was a lot of great conversation, a lot of great comments. You guys, seriously, were awesome. I feel like I introduced myself to a lot of new bloggers and new bloggers introduced themselves to me. From last week alone, I added seven new blogs to my Google reader. Some of these bloggers offered constructive criticism, which I appreciate. Without it, where would we be, ya know?

That said, I can't say I necessarily agree with all of their criticism.

So, here's where I'll try to convince you that black and brown isn't bad, just, perhaps, unfamiliar.

Sally Jane Vintage. One of my favorite blogs. She's adorably fabulous and uniquely chic with her every day outfits inspired by vintage finds. I wish I was half as excellent as she is. From what I've gathered of her, from months of reading blog posts and admiring outfits, she's a proponent of black and brown, as you can see from the photos above. I think it works. Some might disagree.

Chictopia, one of those excellent social networking fashion blog it-does-everything sites often features winning outfits in a black and brown pallet.

So, where and when is it appropriate? Is it every appropriate? I did some reading on different forums. Some say only camels work with black, some say only dark chocolate colors, more closely identifiable as black, work with black. Where do you draw the line?

I stand firm next to my black outfit with my brown boots from day five. The key to wearing black and brown is to tie it all together. That day, for instance, I wore a brown belt that was the same color as my boots and a leopard-print scarf as extra brown additions. In fact, I am positive that an all black outfit can be worn with just brown boots or just a prominent brown accessory.

When it really comes down to it, it's going to be up to personal preference, as is always the case with fashion. What are you comfortable with? I suggest you give it a try, and I'm not just talking a black and brown outfit, I mean anything in fashion that makes you a little uneasy. What do you have to lose? A days worth of habit-based dressing? Big deal. There's always tomorrow.

So, I'm asking you, dear reader, to weigh in. What's your take on black and brown? Let's get to the bottom of this. Post any pictures you have of black and brown being used in an outfit. Does it work? Does it not? Why? At the very least, let us know what you think. I'm incredibly curious.