The chocolate addiction you don’t need to quit this winter

Do I need to kick my wardrobe addiction to chocolate?

The only time that I will endorse rich, dark chocolate over delicious, crumbly white chocolate is when it comes to winter dressing. While colour forecaster Pantone named paler “Mocha Mousse” the colour of 2025, I find its duskier relative far more intriguing.

Chocolate lends itself to tonal dressing, with multiple layers creating a satisfying symphony of colour; paler shades can result in a disappointing wall of, well, beige. To avoid off-notes, though, pay close attention to different textures, such as pairing suede with wool and thick cotton. The result is “warmer” than black and less vulnerable to grime than cream.

In the past, brown was revived by designers keen to create a bohemian, ’70s mood on the runway, but, thanks to dresses and coats at The Row, Zimmermann, Saint Laurent and Christopher Esber, it has been elevated to luxury status alongside black and navy blues. Lean into the glamour with gold accessories or add further lustre with a glimpse of pearl. In other words, leave the macramé necklaces at home.

If a top-to-toe brownout feels too ambitious, maintain the semi-formal feel by introducing some black basics or take the colour to the street by wearing it with denim. Worried about chocolate being too “this year” and having an in-built expiry date that coincides with fireworks ushering in 2026? Just keep brown and carry on: Pantone has identified “Hot Chocolate” as one of the standout colours at London Fashion Week’s Autumn/Winter 2025/26 collection.

Got a style conundrum? Email damien.woolnough@nine.com.au

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