I owned at least 20 different black tops. But brown and orange? I only had a handful of items in those colors combined.

I didn't avoid brown or orange on purpose. When I saw them in stores, they just weren't my first choice. I was used to reaching for my favorite colors, like fuchsia and bright red, whenever they were an option.

In the fall, I naturally gravitate toward colors found in nature during this time of year like deep reds or greens, but this year I decided to expand my fall color palette. When I noticed brown was everywhere this fall (it was one of the season’s trendiest colors, especially since the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year was a shade of brown called Mocha Mousse), I decided to double down on it. The same with orange. I saw a lot of cute orange items pop up in one of my favorite stores, and I knew it was time to add a fresh pop of color to my wardrobe. And as a Bright Spring, orange and brown are definitely in my season.​

Here's the thing about trying new colors: you can't just grab any shade of a particular color and expect it to work for you.

As a Bright Spring, I needed to find the right shades of brown and orange that worked with my neutral warm skin undertone and high-contrast coloring.​

For brown, I looked for three things:

1. Very dark browns that look almost black – Black is one of my favorite colors, so I was searching for a neutral brown that was dark enough for me to substitute for black.

2. Neutral undertone – I have a neutral warm undertone to my skin so I wanted to stay away from browns that lean too cool, like gray-brown or cool taupe.

3. ​Dark enough for contrast – Since I'm high-contrast, the brown had to be dark enough to create contrast with the lighter and mid-tone colors I often wear like coral and kelly green.
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​For orange, I found my way in through red.

Orange is a combination of red and yellow, so by definition it shares properties with one of my favorite colors. And after becoming a certified color analyst, I realized a lot of the reds I wore were more red-orange than blue-red anyway. So expanding into orange wasn't much of a stretch, especially once I realized it was actually a really flattering color for me.

The key to finding the right shade of a particular color is working within your season or sister seasons (the seasons where you’re most likely to find other colors that flatter you). As a Bright Spring, my sister seasons are Warm Spring, Light Spring, and Bright Winter. Various shades of orange are commonly found in the Warm and Light Spring palettes. For example, the orange that I fell in love with this season is more of a Warm Spring (and arguably a Warm Autumn) shade (not as vibrant as the bright orange I typically favor but still flattering on me due to the warm undertone). Utilizing your sister seasons gives you flexibility while allowing you to stay true to what works for your natural coloring.
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My tip: Find connections to colors you already love. If you love red, try pink. If you love orange, try a warm or bright yellow. Choose new colors that share qualities with your favorites.

I went shopping for both brown and orange at the same time this fall. No massive closet overhaul, just strategic additions.

My first big purchase? I went on a brown shopping spree at Madewell. These items will take me through all four seasons.

I bought:

For orange, I found most of my pieces at Ann Taylor. Once I bought the orange turtleneck in-store, I searched for that specific color on their website (it was called Amaretto) so I could see all the items in that particular shade of orange. I did the same thing with the brown shade I loved (Pure Chocolate).

Why I shop in person: I like to try things on before I buy them, and I like to see the colors in person if possible. Online photos can sometimes be deceiving.

Here's my philosophy when adding new colors to your wardrobe: Choose one neutral and one non-neutral.

If you're looking to add more colors to your wardrobe, it can be overwhelming to add too many new colors at once. If you choose one neutral and one non-neutral color, it keeps it more manageable.

In theory, you should be able to pair the new neutral with anything else in your closet. For the non-neutral, I recommend consulting the color wheel before deciding which one to add.

And here's the best part, I started wearing my new purchases right away. No letting them sit in the closet collecting dust.

What worked: I received compliments on the chunky orange sweater the first time I wore it out. The brown and pink combo felt most "me" right away.

What didn't work: I tried pairing a brown and cream striped boatneck top with cream wide leg jeans. While the colors technically worked together, it didn't feel like me. For me personally, if I'm going to wear brown and cream together, I need to introduce a third color into the mix, like red or green. My preference is to wear a brown top with colorful pants.

The lesson? Not every combination will feel right, even if the colors technically match well. Your personal style matters just as much as color theory.​

Orange surprised me with how versatile it is. I think one of the reasons I didn't wear much orange before is because I wasn't sure what other colors to pair it with. I didn't want to pair it with black because it reminded me too much of Halloween. But when I started thinking "What other colors do you see orange with in nature?" and looked at where orange falls on the color wheel, that opened up a world of possibilities.

Brown can look just as sophisticated as black. For me personally, black has always been the personification of elegance. However, I'm starting to understand that brown has its own understated sophistication which is arguably more approachable.

These colors made me feel differently. The orange items make me feel more vibrant and energized. I also feel more confident because I know orange is one of my "wow" colors and really helps brighten my face, even when I'm not wearing makeup. I feel really grounded wearing brown.

It changed how I shop. My wardrobe is comprised of certain types of basics: crewneck tees and sweaters, turtlenecks, cardigan sweaters. I've now added brown and orange as colors that I need to have in these basics.

What I'd tell my past self? Try it on before you say no.

I'm not necessarily looking to add other colors right now, but I am curious about exploring other shades of the colors I already wear, like other shades of orange.

Based on my experience, here's what I'd suggest:

Start small. Ease into the new color by buying it in an accessory first, like a scarf, purse, or piece of jewelry. Or layer the color under something else so it's not necessarily the star of the show but more of an accent color. This lets you see how you feel without committing to a full outfit.

Don't spend much on your first item in case you decide the color really isn't for you.

How do you know which new color to try first? Look at what color is opposite your favorite color on the color wheel. Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel are called complementary colors. Complementary colors work beautifully together and are an easy way to mix and match colors.

The mistake to avoid: You need to consider the depth, saturation level, and undertone of the exact shade that you're adding.

For example, it's not enough to say "I'm going to start wearing pink." Pink is one of my favorite colors, and before I had my colors done, I used to wear all different shades of pink, including mauve. After having my colors done, I realized mauve is probably the worst shade of pink for me to wear due to its low saturation level.

This is where seasonal color analysis really helps. Knowing which season is your best season in the 12 season system gives you a roadmap for which shades will work best with your unique combination of hair, skin, and eyes.

Want to find out which colors make you look and feel your best? A color analysis session will give you your personalized and customized color palette—so you’ll never again have to guess when you’re out shopping.

Whether you're in Richmond, VA, or prefer a virtual color analysis, I can help you discover your season and create a personalized color palette that works for you.

​Book your color analysis session or schedule a wardrobe consultation to get help styling the colors you already own.